Woven Traditions
By Amy McPherson
The sash or Ceinture fléchée has been an icon for the Métis nation for hundreds of years. Today the sash is worn in recognition of the Métis Nation. The sash was a tool for surviving the vast terrain of what is now Canada.
There were many uses for the sash like using them as strappings to tie loads down on the Red River carts and canoes. It was used to brace the men’s backs while carrying heavy loads over portages also for saving anyone who fell overboard in waters.
The colors of the Métis sash each have specific meanings: red represents the Red River Homeland as well as the blood shed by the people, white symbolizes their connection to the earth and Creator, blue signifies the depth of their spirits, green stands for the fertility of their nation, and yellow represents the prospect of prosperity. Additionally, black reflects the dark period of suppression and dispossession of Métis land.
These colors woven together tell the stories of one of the most resilient Nations in Canada.
150cm Woven Traditions Canvas
100% Polyester
