First Nations Celebration Unity Game Coast Salish Blanket by Debra Sparrow

This one-of-one handwoven Coast Salish blanket was commissioned by Vancouver for the team’s First Nations Celebration Unity Game and created by Debra Sparrow (Musqueam Nation), an acclaimed weaver and cultural leader whose work has helped revitalize traditional Coast Salish weaving practices.

Debra Sparrow is widely recognized for her role in restoring and sharing Musqueam weaving traditions. Self-taught in Salish design, she combines decades of research, cultural knowledge, and lived experience in her work. Through traditional techniques and symbolic patterns, her textiles carry forward the stories, teachings, and resilience of the Musqueam people while connecting contemporary audiences with Coast Salish culture.

Her work has received national and international recognition, with designs featured in museums and major public spaces, including installations at Vancouver International Airport and the University of British Columbia. Sparrow also designed the logo for Canada’s men’s and women’s national ice hockey teams during the 2010 Winter Olympics, bringing Coast Salish design to a global sporting stage.

Created specifically for Vancouver’s First Nations Celebration Unity Game, this woven blanket is dedicated to mothers. The piece honors the strength, guidance, and love that women bring to families and communities. Across generations, mothers have served as teachers, knowledge keepers, and protectors of culture, making this dedication especially meaningful within the context of women’s sport and community celebration.

The blanket reflects the stories, resilience, and cultural knowledge of the Musqueam people, connecting traditional Coast Salish textile practices with contemporary spaces and audiences.

Dimensions: 5ft x 5ft

Auction proceeds will support I·SPARC (Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council) in British Columbia. I·SPARC works to advance sport, physical activity, and recreation opportunities for Indigenous communities across the province and collaborates with partners on initiatives such as the RISE program, which helps remove barriers to participation in sport and recreation for Indigenous youth.