A historic artifact from the Rahr-West Art Museum is going to Alaska.
A blanket that’s known as a Chilkat blanket has been in possession of the museum since it opened in the 1950s, and Executive Director Greg Vadney says there isn’t much information about its history.
A representative from the SeaAlaska Heritage Institute in Juneau, who will borrow the blanket, came to Manitowoc last Friday to retrieve it, and explain information about it.
SeaAlaska Heritage Chief of Operations Lee Kadinger says that the blanket is very important to different tribes of Alaskan Natives because it not only tells someone’s story but also has its own spirit.
“The importance of reuniting a blanket with the clan is of utmost importance to SeaAlaska Heritage,” he explained. “So, we came back here not only to look at this piece but to bring it back home and learn more about the piece.”
Kadinger says it’s exciting to see the piece knowing that it will go back to Alaska, and that clan leaders and members will be able to see the blanket returned to its native land.
The blanket itself would is made from hair of a Mountain Goat and woven to designs and symbols that have meaning to clan’s people, including the face of a Chilcat member.
Those fibers will be tested at SeaAlaska to determine who it could belong to and where it should return.
“It tells a story, so when it comes back home, it will be like a family reunion” he states. “It’s this piece coming back and means that much.”
Kadinger himself also has ties to eastern Wisconsin, going to Lakeland University.
“For four years I lived a mere 20 miles from here, and it wasn’t until I got to Alaska that I actually knew the significance of this,” he said. “So, to be able to come back home here is really something special.”
Vadney says the process is very exciting to not only find out more about the blanket but to share the blanket with the tribes who created it in the first place.
The blanket might not return to Manitowoc, depending on what’s found out about it.
It will be stored in a more proper place as well at the institute.
