Star QuiltsA History of the Plains Indians Quilting Traditions

Plains Indians

• Reside in the Northwestern United States

• Montana tribes– Assiniboine– Sioux– Gros Ventre– Chippewa-

Cree– Blackfeet– Kootenai– Salish– Pend d’Oreille– Crow– Northern

Cheyenne

Early 1800’s

• Plains Indians relied on the buffalo for survival– Food, clothing, and shelter

• Led a nomadic lifestyle – Had to follow the buffalo herds

• Painted geometrical designs and symbols on buffalo hides– Hides were used for bedding,

teepees, and clothing

Late 1800’s

• Buffalo became extinct• Hides were no longer

available• Plains Indians turned to

missionaries, fur traders, and explorers to obtain supplies

• Missionaries taught Indian women how to make quilts

The Beginnings of the Star Quilt

• Why did Indian women need to learn how to quilt?– To make bedding, since buffalo

hides were no longer available

• Began incorporating the symbols seen in the past on buffalo hides into quilting designs

Morning Star

• Became the dominant quilt design for Plains Indians

• Represents a new day and new beginnings

The Star Quilt

• The morning star design is now known as the Star Quilt

• Made up of MANY small diamonds

Star Quilt Construction

The Number 4

• A sacred number that represents– The directions of the four winds– The four powers of the universe– The four seasons

• Shown in the morning star design – The four directions that the star

points

• It is common for 4 colors to be used in star quilts

Making Quilting Their Own

• Plains Indians have made quilting their own cultural art form

• Star quilts have become a very important part of their culture

• The star quilt is the modern equivalent to painted buffalo hides

Giveaway Ceremonies

• Giveaway ceremonies are seen as hospitality Indian style

• Star quilts are given away at many different events – Memorial services– Graduations– Weddings– Funerals– Births– Powwows – Basketball games– Naming Ceremonies

Symbolic Meaning of Giveaways

• Quilter is spreading love and friendship

• Quilter is giving part of themselves to another person

• Honors the recipient and the quilter

• Recipients experience joy from this gift

What do Star Quilts teach us about Native Americans?

• History– Survival

• Had to find something to replace buffalo hides

– Necessity• Had to have bedding to keep warm

• Culture– Morning star symbolism– The sacred number 4– Giveaways