Jennifer Rafferty Handmade

Dog blankets that were heavily embellished started with the Métis people in what is now known as central Canada and eventually moved west and north to the people in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Yukon Territory, and Alaska.  Sewers in the NWT embraced floral beadwork and embroidery, incorporating this feature into  gorgeous sets of dog blankets. While researching for a paper in grad school, I came across a stunning photo in Kate Duncan's book Northern Athapaskan Art: A Beadwork Tradition (1989).  From that moment, I fell in love and dreamed of making a dog blanket of my own. 

Little did I know that I would move to a place where they were regularly made with love and care and pride- where the dogs would don such beautiful outfits to greet people and make splashy entrances into nearby settlements.  It was really hard to find information on how to construct them. I really struggled with my first blanket. 

I have been blessed to see several beaded dog blankets in person. The McCord Museum in Montreal has a nice collection; I have seen one there.  Another in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, ON; at the Norman Wells Historical Society Museum; at the Old Log Church Museum in Whitehorse, YT; and a few at The Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre in Fort Smith, NT.  Meeting these blankets is something I never forget.  Creating these blankets is a way for me to connect with the people and the land of the NWT. It is a way to honour all the outstanding sewers that came before me and will come after me.  I hope to connect more people with dog blankets, and to generate more conversations about these incredible feats of beauty.  I hope you enjoy it!