Sugpiaq Imaq Blanket

This blanket celebrates a rebirth of the Alutiiq culture of Native Alaskans indigenous to Kodiak Island and parts of the mainland. The design is based on ancestral art created by Kodiak craftsman and artist Jerry Laktonen. The 18th-century sealskin baidarka (the Russian name for a forked-bow sea kayak) could handle severe weather and carry a big load of supplies or furs. In the middle hole sits an Alutiiq in a conical ceremonial hat. The figure is silhouetted by a setting sun, suggesting the loss of the culture for a time. The rising sun represents the cultural resurgence and Alaska's midnight sun. The red sea and whales remind us that the sea was in the blood of this whaling culture. The central figure is a bird mask based on an original from a Russian collection housed in St. Petersburg. The name Sugpiaq is what the Kodiak's Native people call themselves, and Imaq means "ocean." This blanket is impressive as a wall hanging and practical when folded on a sofa or at the foot of a bed. Napped. Felt bound. 82% pure virgin wool/18% cotton. Dry clean. Made in the USA. 64" x 80".

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