On Friday night at the Pow-Wow there is a Trading Blanket session. I have two boxes full of items I'm hoping someone can use and will trade with me. I've never participated in this before. I've traded quite a bit at gatherings, but always one-on-one.

Has anyone ever participated in a Trade Blanket? I've searched for information, decorum, traditions, etc. and can't find a thing. I'd rather not be totally clueless.

I'm not too familiar with Trading Blanket Sessions, but would like to see what does surface about the topic.

After joining in the Creek Stomp Dance on Friday night at the October Pow-Wow, we were walking back to our lodge and passed by those settling in for the Trade Blanket. Squirrel was apparently the "moderator" and was going over the rules.

I wished I had stopped to listen for at least a few minutes. But it was midnight, I didn't have anything to trade, and was bone tired. So even if I'm clueless at the start, there will be someone to guide me. Squirrel is a great teacher and I'm confident my first Trade Blanket event will be a good one, if I don't doze off!

I'm not certain if the practical joking tradition extends to the Trade Blanket. One certainly doesn't leave the auction for a bathroom or coffee break, or you'll return to find you've bought something

Blankets are an integral part of Native American culture and survival.

In his surrender speech of 1897, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce said: "It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are�perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

I am curious what a Trade Blanket event will be like. Blankets in the old days were used for trade for foods and other necessities -- blankets are part of the Native American's life from birth to death.

There is some interesting information on this at Indian Trade Blankets

Friday night's Trade Blanket was definitely a learning experience. There were quite a few vendors, friends, guests, and children who had their first Trade Blanket and each trade made by a "first timer" was celebrated.

My first was with another first timer and as usual, it had to be in threes, as I was also the first person to make a mistake. There is so much information on the blankets, but I couldn't find anything on-line about this traditional form of commerce. But it's actually so much more than just that.

Each Trade Blanket has a moderator called the Blanket Master and Grey Squirrel is not only a traditional Blanket Master, but a very patient teacher. He also had an apprentice helping out and learning the old ways. A blanket is placed in the middle of a circle and the traders gather round.

When American Indians began trading with the Europeans, one of the most desired items was cast iron for cooking. It's much sturdier than turtle shells or animal bladders. So it became a tradition to begin the Trade Blanket with cast iron. Ours started with a pot. Those who wanted the pot placed their items near it on the blanket and then someone is chosen for the trade. The trade is concluded with a handshake or a hug.

One important point is that equal monetary value is irrelevant here. A fair trade is based on need and desire. My first trade was with a young man for small wooden plaque with 2 eagles burned in the wood. NO, I didn't really need that, but I had something I thought he would like and could use. My heart proved correct and he chose me for his first trade.

My mistake - I stepped on the blanket when placing my item down. This can be taken as offering oneself for trade and very inappropriate, considering I'm married and this was a teenage boy. However, Grey Squirrel graciously took my faux pas and turned it into a teaching moment for everyone. He is a wonderfully considerate teacher, and did not allow my mistake to be hurtful or embarrassing.

The Blanket Master calls on the next person in the circle who has something to trade and it can take a while to go around the circle a few times until all items are traded. We started around 10pm and finished up after 1am. My husband had security duty. He finally got back to the camper around 4am and I had some explaining to do. There was an elk antler in the camper!

NO, I didn't need that either and have absolutely NO idea what I am going to do with it. But there are also "Medicine" Trades, when there is a connection with an item, or a strong need revealed. One of the guest drum members saw my sheep skin. It was needed to wrap their beaters to minimize the vibrations and prevent their fingers going numb while drumming. This might not be the best example of a "Medicine" Trade, but knowing my item will be used to help a drum group is "Medicine" for me.

That elk antler would make a very nice stand for a pipe or flute and one might come to me at the next Trade Blanket.

This is really interesting, lcp. I have never heard of this type of trading. Can more than one person place an item down on the blanket then the owner choose the one he wants?

Yes, anyone in the Circle who desires the item on the blanket can add their item(s). A recipient is selected from all those offering to trade. You can also add things to your initial offer to make it more enticing.

Another very important thing is no "hard" feelings are allowed. Everyone must respect the trader's choice for a recipient, or if no trade is accepted and the item is withdrawn. That can be done as well.

One lady offered a very unique buffalo hide bag. The flap was covered with thick buffalo hair and reminded me of Cousin It on The Addams Family. A lovely leather vest was placed on the blanket, and I offered my vintage fringed vest, not as nice. I just knew my offer was "trumped" when the leather bolero jacket went down on the blanket. For whatever reason I was chosen and honored. That trade was finalized with a hug!

Now this caught me by surprise, but I was there to learn. Later in the Trade Blanket, the lady offered up the fringed vest she had traded with me. One might think that a bit rude. Why would you trade for something and then try to get rid of it? I remembered the eagle plaque. I had followed my heart in that trade, as I really didn't need the item received.

The lovely lady had followed her heart in our trade as well. Perhaps it was to make my first Trade Blanket experience a success. Or maybe that very unique, crazy-looking bag needed to be with someone equally unique and crazy

That is a precious experience to share. If she did choose your vest to make your first experience with the Trade Blanket memorable, that was very loving of her.

I think my husband will make arrangements to stay for the entire Trade Blanket next time. Saturday morning during coffee, he was going through my boxes to see what I had gotten rid of and what I had received.

He was both amused and confused, especially by the ARMY ribbon shirt (He's retired Navy and already has one). He just shook his head at the "Cousin It" buffalo bag. He was there for the eagle plaque trade. When he got down to the broken, knock-off army knife, he just had to ask, "What did you trade for THIS?" Nothin' The elk antler guy threw it in for the sheepskin trade.

I have been trying to pare things down in our house and we took a bunch of stuff to gift, trade, etc. The intention was to return home with much less. I've been unpacking the camper all day. Well, we almost succeeded.

That's funny -- that you came back with more things to store away. What will you do with them? The antlers would make a nice stand for a pipe or flute. What about "Cousin It"?

Cousin It Bag (It already has a name!) is going with me this weekend to SC. The kids will love it. The leather is so soft, it may be brain tanned. I need to look at that closer. The hair on the flap is a huge, bunched, unruly mess. Now that I think about it, it looks a little bit like scalps.

Hummm... Cousin It Bag might be better than a can of pepper spray. Ain't nobody going to mess with a woman with "scalps" on her bag!!

Braid the hair in a bunch of little pigtails with a ribbon bow on the end. That would sure fend off anyone looking to cause problems. <Either that or they would be immobilized with rolling with laughter.>

Introducing the Cousin It Bag! I'm sorry the photo doesn't do the weirdness justice.

The cloth dress next to it I'll be wearing at the Strong Sun Pow-Wow in NC in July. The fabric has thousands of basket prints and patterns. My husband knew it spoke to me and commented "if you leave this booth without that dress you'll kick yourself."

Aw! I like Cousin It. I also love the print on that fabric.

Sorry Beetle, no braids with ribbons and bows. Not the ribbon/bow type of gal. One of the Elders actually asked my husband, "if they stopped making camouflage, would she have anything to wear?"

The menfolk at the Trade Blanket were surprised with some of the items from my boxes. I lucked up one day while "junkin" and found brand new, Army green military accessories. The young men eagerly traded for the knife cases and small ammo pouch. I had no idea what the other item was, larger pouches and straps.

I shared in the surprise when this was identified as a grenade vest! I had described it as an ammo pouch "thingy" (very technical term). With several vets in the circle, this led to a short discussion on whether grenades are ammo or ordinance. It ended with my comment, "Well they all go BANG!" and several vets almost tumbling from their chairs laughing at me.

I got the turkey tail feathers

Finally got my first article as editor trainee submitted, and it might cause a little confusion. I have searched high and low with no clear result. Is it "Trade Blanket" or "Trading Blanket?" I honestly don't know. Perhaps it's one of those slight regional differences in terms.

However, the Blanket Master graciously took a few minutes of his packing time to review the article and make certain my description was accurate. That was a priority.

The article contains some additional information and I hope you enjoy it.

Jane, I loved your article on the Trading Blanket Event.

I have never attended one of these events and it really seems like fun. I like the history and traditions of it.

Oh my Goodness, I forgot the link! Wait just a minute - I haven't gotten to that part of the training yet.

Phyllis, thanks for helping out!

Good write-up. I look forward to my first experience at a Trading Blanket - even if it is only to observe.

If you do have the opportunity to attend a Trading Blanket, and also have a few days beforehand to prepare, go ready to participate.

You never know what will be placed on the blanket for trade, or if something you have might be badly needed. You could end up being part of a Medicine Trade.

Towards the end of this Trade Blanket, I still had one knife case left in my box. The young apprentice was trying to sweeten an offer and his father was nearby. I gave the case to his father and asked him to either add it to the offer, or just give it to his son for a job well done. It was one less thing to bring back home. If it didn't help with the trade, it may have been a nice surprise for the apprentice afterwards.

Cousin It Bag Update: This week I had the good fortune to meet and spend some time with the beautiful lady who traded with me. Cousin It was a Hit at our Tribal Fun Day in SC. A little one ran to her Mother saying "I just touched a Buffalo!" Her Mother had to come over and see.

Cousin It's second appearance was this week at the Diversity Fair and my new friend was there to witness the children's reaction to it. The bag had been gifted to her years ago and it was time to pass it on. When she found out Cousin It's new role as a teaching aid, she was more than pleased. Even more humorous than the children's squeals when touching the hair, is that the bag had been called "Cousin It" from the start!

The elk horn was a big hit with the kids as well. There will probably be a photo of it perched on a young man's head in the base newspaper this week.

I can't wait for the next Trading Blanket in October! One box already has a few items.