Felted wool button blanket with large central design. Edges are red, scalloped on the inside border, with a narrow strip of white, also scalloped, and a black interior panel. On this panel sits the emblem of an eagle, wings spread, head to the side, atop a whale in profile, tail up. Over 2200 buttons in shell and abalone outline the crest and borders of the blanket. A half circle is cut out of the top edge to fit around the wearer’s neck. A strip of black felt sits to the side, to be fastened around the neck.

• Narrative

  Glenn Tallio created the eagle and whale design for the blanket, with the assistance of his grandmother, Gertrude Schooner. Glenn and Constance Tallio made the blanket (their first) for their daughter Maureen's high school graduation. The shell and abalone buttons were purchased from Papas Furs in Vancouver in 1980. Maureen wore the blanket, apron and head piece for her graduation in June 1980, being the first girl in the province to graduate wearing her traditional regalia. She received a standing ovation from the audience in attendace at Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver.

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• Type of Item blanket
• Culture Nuxalk, Heiltsuk
• Material wool fibre, shell, abalone shell, fibre, plastic
• Measurements height 119.0 cm, width 130.0 cm, depth 0.7 cm (overall)

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• Creator Glenn Tallio, Constance Tallio
• Previous Owner Constance Tallio, Glenn Tallio, Maureen Tallio
• Received from Glenn Tallio, Constance Tallio

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• Made in North Vancouver

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• Creation Date during 1980
• Ownership Date before November 26, 2014, between 1980 and 1982
• Acquisition Date on November 26, 2014

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• Item Classes textiles
• Condition good
• Accession Number 3089/0001