Button Blanket

Decorative/Traditional arts by Samantha Pelkey

Chief Commissioner Buller was presented and blanketed with this button blanket during entertainment night at the Vancouver Community Hearings on behalf of Saa-ust Centre and the Urban Indigenous Advisory Committee for the City of Vancouver. Each part of the blanket has meaning. The black border represents ashes, the white center represents hope, the opening at the top is a smoke hole for all the prayers of families of MMIWG and survivors of violence. The butterfly represents transformation. It was presented in memory and support of MMIWG and families and travelled with the National Inquiry to every hearing and event. It was made and donated by Samantha Pelkey (Namgis First Nation).