The bright sun begins to set across the desert, painting the sky in streaks of blush, burnt orange, and indigo. Its evening light casts a ray upon the sacred yucca plant whose stalk of bell-shaped flowers grow from a shrub of strong leaves. As you begin to harvest this good medicine, you start to feel within yourself the lessons that have been passed down through your family for generations: The natural world around us takes care of us, heals us, and protects us. In the words of poet Luci Tapahonso, these teachings and stories become metaphorical “blankets of love and wisdom” that protect us no matter wherever we go.
In collaboration with NDN Girls Book Club (NGBC) programs director Kinsale Drake (Diné – Nat’oh Dine’é Tachiini), Community Coordinator Lily Painter (Kiowa & Winnebago), and college graduate & artist Jenabah Yazzie (Diné - Todichiinii/Bitter Water Clan) we honor the importance of the Yucca plant in our Stories Woven in Bloom Wool Blanket.
A 501(c)3 literary nonprofit, NGBC’s mission is to make quality Indigenous literature accessible to everyone. The organization gives away books and care packages, hosts free community writing and editing workshops, and organizes Indigenous literature talks. To date, NGBC has distributed nearly 40,000 free books by Indigenous authors. Eighth Generation is honored to donate a portion of first-year sales from this blanket to NGBC to further their important mission.
Product Specifications:
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Our first blanket ever crafted from unbrushed wool
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This makes the wool "pile" more compact and less fluffy, even though it is the exact same weight as our typical "brushed" signature wool blankets
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Microsuede edge band measuring at 1.25" (note: this is a smaller edge band than most of our blankets; this blanket is our only one on offer with this special band)
- 2-sided design
- Covers top of queen size bed (59 in x 78 in/ 200 cm x 150 cm)
- Colors include turquoise, coral, pink, and blue
- 100% wool pile; 100% polyester warp
- Designed by Jenabah Yazzie (Diné - Todichiinii/Bitter Water Clan)
- Imported
- Dry clean
- Thank you for supporting Inspired Natives®, not "Native-inspired."
In vibrant shades of turquoise, coral, pink, and blue, Jenabah has beautifully captured the colors of the Diné and Kiowa homelands, where NGBC was founded. The turquoise and coral represent Diné Bikeyah (land of the people) and contrast with the sacred white of the morning sky, while the pink and blue honor the rippling sunsets of Kiowa country. Together, these colors create a sense of harmony and balance between us and the natural world. At the heart of the design, yucca plants bloom, honoring the significance they hold for Diné and Kiowa people. Yucca is associated with good health and is used in traditional medicine and cleansing, as well as for ceremonial purposes. An oak leaf motif is woven into the blanket’s corners, symbolizing the Kiowa community and their migration as a people to their current homelands, while the circular patterns represent balance, harmony, and interconnection.
"My art is inspired by the teachings of traditional ceremonies and my faith. This blanket design is a reminder of how the natural elements, like plants, take care of us, providing medicine and protection. Plants are sacred, and thanks to Mother Earth, she provides for us. This blanket shows the beauty of her creations," Jenabah shares.
NGBC is founded on the belief that our teachings and stories become a part of us. They are more than “just stories,” but a part of our spirit where we gain our wisdom and remain rooted to those we love. Everything is connected—what we do in the future, comes from the teachings taught in the past.
"To us, this blanket symbolizes the strong history of women that have endured our survival, including our queer relatives who have always been a part of our communities. We want this blanket to serve as an opportunity to uplift our queer and trans Indigenous storytellers and scholars in particular,” Kinsale and Lily share. “We believe that the stories we hear growing up are not just passed down for teaching and cultural significance, but for comfort. We want the love we hold for our storytellers, and the privilege we feel as listeners, to hug whomever wraps themselves in this blanket."
