k'angextola (Button Blanket)

According to Sally Williams, this blanket was used with the apron 1508/2. Both of these, and an old apron were inherited by her sister and kept together in one trunk. She inherited them from their father, Chief Fred Williams of Hopetown, and from his father-in-law, Chief Tom Patch Wamiss from Kingcome. She said that the textiles were used for many potlatches: naming ceremonies, memorials, and marriages. Her father and grandfather were known for their potlatches.

ceremonial

Emblems or crests distinguish different social groups (lineages, phratries, or moieties) and symbolize their privileges. They can be shown on any material possessions, such as totem poles or robes, and each group owns the right to display specific crests. Within each group, families or individuals have the right to show the general crests is specific ways.

Button blanket made of green wool with red cotton borders along three sides, excepting a short gap at the top centre filled with paisley patterned fabric. There is a red cotton appliqued design in centre of the blanket, all trimmed with off-white shell buttons and sequin-like pieces of dark brown shell. The centre design is of two wolf figures facing each other and holding a copper. The eyes of the wolves are decorated with grey shell buttons and their nostrils with black shell buttons.