$208.00
Emulating the breathtaking colors of the Montana skies, this stunning wool blanket was designed by Inspired Natives Project Collaborator, John Isaiah Pepion (Blackfeet), and pays tribute to the vibrant Plains Indian Horse culture.
The first horse that came to the Blackfeet (Piikani) became known as the Elk Dog, revolutionizing the way the Piikani were able to hunt and becoming an integral part of everyday life on the Plains. Here, John has painted the horses as they were sometimes painted before going on a hunt, raid, or into battle - with circles above their eyes to make them see farther and lightning on their bodies to make them run faster.
John says, "Being a collaborator with the Inspired Natives Project means that I get to bring light to Plains Indian culture. And being a member of the Piikani band of the Blackfoot Confederacy, it was important to me to represent the horse on my first wool blanket. It's still such a major part of our lives on the Plains today; the Plains Indian horse culture is alive and well."
5% of all blanket sales support the Inspired Natives Grant for emerging arts entrepreneurs.
John Isaiah Pepion is a Plains Indian Graphic artist from the Piikani Band of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He is based out of the Blackfeet reservation in north-central Montana, where the Rocky Mountains meet the plains. John is best known for his ledger art, an art tradition that developed in Plains tribes as the buffalo hide they traditionally used for painting became scarce, and they were forced to adapt to making artwork on the ledger paper from accounting books. He comes from a family of artists, and ledger art has been in his family for hundreds of years.
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Adapted from the beautiful "Buffalo Medicine" Throw Blanket design, these vibrant crew socks are the perfect way to rock bold Blackfeet art on the go!
The buffalo was the staff of life for most Plains Indian Nations. Today the buffalo is still a central part of life, from food to ceremony. Originally drawn on the ledger paper used across much of John's work, this particular piece pays tribute to the power and sacrifice that the buffalo continues to give.
The bold design incorporates important symbols from Blackfeet art to depict rich concepts in a lively, graphic way. The lifeline, or sacred breath of the buffalo is represented here with an arrow, and the circles along the top and bottom borders depict stars. The cross symbol at the top of the design represents the Morning Star, which plays an important role in creation and ceremony among Plains Indian Nations.
$32.00
Designed by Inspired Natives collaborator, John Isaiah Pepion (Blackfeet), the Resilient Earrings are a tribute to...
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The buffalo was the staff of life for most Plains Indian Nations. Today the buffalo...
$48.00
This beautiful scarf features the signature ledger artwork of Blackfeet artist and Inspired Natives Project Collaborator John Isaiah Pepion.
The buffalo was the staff of life for most Plains Indian Nations. Today the buffalo is still a central part of life, from food to ceremony. John's buffalo design pays tribute to the power and sacrifice that the buffalo continues to give.
