Quilting was introduced by Christian mission schools in the nineteenth century, around the same time when buffalo herds were being exterminated by white hunters. In the twentieth century a star quilt replaced the traditional buffalo robe in various ceremonies where the quilt was used as a marker of community recognition.
Among the Assiniboine and Sioux of northeastern Montana (USA), a star quilt may be given as a mark of respect to a returning veteran or to a retiring public official. For the Lakota Sioux, the star quilt pattern has become associated with traditional stories of the Morning Star, a symbol of life and death. Lakota owinja (‘quilt’ in the Lakota language) usually feature a large eight-pointed star, made by sewing small diamond-shaped patches together. The Lakota often present a star quilt to a couple during the marriage ceremony or to a child at its naming ceremony. They also drape star quilts over coffins during funerals.
Sources:
- www.americanindian.si.edu/education (retrieved 7 May 2016).
- www.montanaquilts.com (retrieved 7 May 2016).
- www.aktalakota.stjo.org (retrieved 7 May 2016).
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 30 June 2016).
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