https://luudisk.org/mediawiki/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Traditional_Blankets_and_CrestsTraditional Blankets and Crests - Revision history2026-07-27T16:49:34ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.5https://luudisk.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Traditional_Blankets_and_Crests&diff=24&oldid=prevAmusterer: initiation2025-12-05T14:17:55Z<p>initiation</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>= Traditional Blankets and Crests =<br />
Traditional blankets and crests are central expressions of Tsm’syen identity, authority, lineage, and territorial rights. <br />
They are not decorations — they are legal, political, and spiritual symbols governed by ayaawx.<br />
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== What a Crest Represents ==<br />
A crest is the visual expression of a Wilp’s identity. <br />
It represents:<br />
* Ancient encounters and adaawx <br />
* Territorial claims <br />
* Lineage authority <br />
* Rights earned through history <br />
* Responsibilities that must be upheld <br />
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Crests belong to the Wilp, not to individuals. <br />
A person may wear a crest only if they are a recognized member of the Wilp through bloodline or proper adoption.<br />
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== Crest Origins (Adaawx) ==<br />
Each crest originates from a specific adaawx. <br />
These histories may involve:<br />
* Encounters with supernatural beings <br />
* Transformations <br />
* Acts of survival or victory <br />
* Claims to specific territories (lax’yip) <br />
* Gifts or permissions granted to the ancestors <br />
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Because crests are rooted in history, they cannot be invented, borrowed, or altered.<br />
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== Rights to Use a Crest ==<br />
Rights to a crest include:<br />
* Wearing it on blankets <br />
* Painting it on regalia or bentwood boxes <br />
* Displaying it on posts or totem poles <br />
* Using it in dances, songs, and feasts <br />
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Only those with Wilp recognition may carry a crest. <br />
Unauthorized use is a violation of ayaawx.<br />
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== Traditional Blankets ==<br />
Blankets are more than clothing — they are legal garments of identity and rank.<br />
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Types include:<br />
* Chilkat blankets <br />
* Button blankets <br />
* Clan or Wilp regalia blankets <br />
* Raven’s Tail woven blankets <br />
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Each blanket:<br />
* Displays the crest(s) of the wearer’s Wilp <br />
* Confirms their role or status in feast law <br />
* Acts as a public declaration of who they represent <br />
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A blanket is often the most valuable object a person owns, not for money but for meaning.<br />
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== Blankets as Legal Garments ==<br />
Blankets play roles in:<br />
* Name feasts <br />
* Chief-making feasts <br />
* Adoptions <br />
* Marriages <br />
* Territorial declarations <br />
* Funeral and memorial ceremonies <br />
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When a blanket is worn:<br />
* The Wilp stands behind the wearer <br />
* The crest speaks for the house <br />
* The actions of the person are tied to the lineage they represent <br />
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The blanket is considered a shield of honour and responsibility.<br />
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== Making a Traditional Blanket ==<br />
Creating a blanket is a sacred act. <br />
It requires:<br />
* Permission from the Wilp <br />
* Correct crest design <br />
* Knowledge of formline rules <br />
* Cultural guidance from weavers or elders <br />
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Materials may include:<br />
* Wool <br />
* Mountain goat hair <br />
* Cedar bark (for older weaving forms) <br />
* Buttons (shell, abalone, or modern substitutes) <br />
* Appliqué materials <br />
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The blanket must follow established lineage designs and motifs.<br />
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== Formline (Ovoids, U-forms, S-forms) ==<br />
Formline is a visual language. <br />
Its elements include:<br />
* Ovoid shapes <br />
* U-forms <br />
* S-forms <br />
* Split-U designs <br />
* Tapered formline <br />
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These are not artistic preferences — they are law-guided symbols passed through generations. <br />
Improper formline breaks the meaning of the crest.<br />
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== Who Can Wear a Blanket ==<br />
A blanket is worn by:<br />
* Members of the Wilp <br />
* Holders of names <br />
* Chiefs and speakers <br />
* Individuals acting on behalf of the house <br />
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Children may wear simplified blankets for:<br />
* Hlgu Ḵ’uuyem (children’s feasts) <br />
* Teaching occasions <br />
* Cerem*</div>Amusterer