COASTAL SALISH BLANKETS

[Puffer]

On a "Scots forum", A Young LADY, who BTW is a fantastic Knitter & "studies the "craft" have been discussing FACT, that the Coastal Salish, prior to the early 1800s Wove Blankets from many fibers, but what is to me the MOST fascinating, is that they actually bred DOGS  ( the Salish Wool Dog ) esp. for this Purpose  

Puffer

[Captchee]

very cool puffer .
 i seem to recall reading something about that  but its been along time

[Kermit]

Years back I read a good bit about these dogs. Can't recall much anymore, but do remember that the breed was essentially destroyed by the importing of the white man's mutts, which interbred with these specialized dogs. No more "wool dogs."

[Uncle Russ]

Years back I read a good bit about these dogs. Can't recall much anymore, but do remember that the breed was essentially destroyed by the importing of the white man's mutts, which interbred with these specialized dogs. No more "wool dogs."

Kermit, Puffer, I remember more about the loss of the "wool dog", than I can remember reading about  the dog itself.
When we lived in Olympia years ago, my wife owned a pure white Samoyed Husky, she was a real sweet heart of a dog with a sold black /  dark purple tongue, and a long fluffy white tail...she could curl up in a ball using her tail as a blanket, or so it seemed.
My neighbor told me the hair from this dog could be used for weaving, and the native peoples had done it for years. I believed that at the time, but I had never heard of this before, and that is the one thing that got me checking on not only the Samoyed but the Salish Wool Dog.....I found out that many Samoyed dogs are sold as "Wool Dogs", but they are far from being the true wool dog as it has been totally extinct for some time....

Still yet, the Samoyed's are absolutely beautiful white dogs that never seem to get dirty, for whatever that may be worth.

Uncle Russ...

[Indiana]

Interesting bit of history, Puffer!  Thanks for posting it.

[Swamp]

Wow, that is very interesting! Thanks Puffer for posting this! You learn something everyday!  

[Double Barrel]

Neat!

[Trois Castors]

What does the blanket smell like if it gets wet?

[Puffer]

Just was sent this - http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedi ... &O=Generic

About 1/3rd down a "study of the "Salish wool dog.

Here is a "sketch' of it & a "village dog"-

 

smaller than a Samoyed but looks like  

Puffer

[gunmaker]

I've got a black & silver dog hair sock cap made by a lassie out in w. Washington many years ago---30 + some kind a "husky" wool.  Very warm & NO smell when wet, as a former resident of Forks I know wet..........Tom

[Fletcher]

We did a lot with the coastal 'button blanket' in the NW Order of the Arrow
in the Boy Scouts.

There was a lot of talk about the source of the black wool for the ancient blankets.

I remember some talk about dog wool but thought that was speculation.

I guess there is really some truth to it.
I would like to know more.

[Uncle Russ]

Fletch, I found this on Wikipedia....

The Salish Wool Dog is an extinct breed of white, long-haired, Spitz-type dog that was developed and bred by the native peoples of what is now Washington State and British Columbia.

The Salish Wool Dog is the only[verification needed] known prehistoric North American dog developed by true animal husbandry. The small long-haired wool dog and the coyote-like village dog were deliberately maintained as separate populations. The dogs were kept in packs of about 12 to 20 animals, and fed primarily raw and cooked salmon. To keep the breed true to type and the preferred white color, Salish Wool Dogs were confined on islands and in gated caves.

The fur of the Salish Wool Dog was prized for making the famous and rare "Salish" blankets, as the Salish tribe did not have sheep and wild mountain goat wool was difficult to gather. The dogs were sheared like sheep in May or June. The sheared fur was so thick that Captain Vancouver could pick up a corner and the whole fleece would hold together. Ceremonial blankets were prized items in the pre-contact potlatch distribution economic system, almost as valuable as slaves. The dog hair was frequently mixed with mountain goat wool, feathers, and plant fibers to change the yarn quality and to extend the supply of fiber.

The extinction of the Salish Wool Dog began with European contact. A combination of 1) the availability of Hudson Bay blankets and later sheep, and 2) decimation of the indigenous population by European diseases causing the breakup of the native culture, caused the Salish Wool Dog to interbreed with other dogs and lose its unique identity. By 1858, the Salish Wool Dog was considered extinct as a distinct breed. The last identifiable wool dog died in 1940.

(My emphasis with the underline.)

Here's the link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salish_Wool_Dog

Uncle Russ...

[rickevans]

Thanks for the notes. Interesting stuff there.

[Fletcher]

The history of the button blanket is varied, probably by locality and legend in the stories.
However it seems that the consistent color is a deep black with trims in red and white.
It is also most common to the coastal tribes who no doubt traded with the Salish - but I
understand them to be mostly farther inland.

I wonder if this dog wool was traded, and if their means of dying fabric with natural
materials would be a possible answer to the connection.

It is interesting that in the articles you all show this wool is predominately white.

Great topic - I learn so much from you guys

PS  Puffer - send me a pm.  What the heck have you been up to and where is Beaverman???

[huntinguy]

It would be kind of interesting if it were possible to find some DNA from a wool dog and revive the breed.