Jasmine Phetsacksith is the winning artist of the Nation’s Sesquicentennial Blanket Design contest.
More than 50 submissions were entered with a seven-person panel selecting Phetsacksith’s design for quality of design, originality, message, subject accessibility, and appeal.
“Having my design chosen feels surreal and exciting,” Phetsacksith said. “As a young artist exploring new mediums, it truly means the world to me. My hopes are for this blanket to represent all of our people and everything we’ve experienced in this time. I do want to thank the Nation, Pendleton, as well as everyone involved for hosting the blanket contest and providing the opportunity to represent our people through our 150th Commemoration.”
The blanket is part of the Nation’s commemoration of its 150th anniversary of its removal from Kansas to its present-day Oklahoma reservation lands. The Osage Nation Congress has appropriated more than $200,000 for the celebration, set for Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.
“I want my design to speak to the 150th commemoration by representing everything our people have gone through, accomplished, and what we’re striving for,” Phetsacksith said. “My hope is to display how unique and important our Osage community is to us. Time after time we always seem to lean on one another and I feel like it’s a true testament of how close we are. I chose the heart ribbonwork design to follow this meaning and represent our compassion and love for ourselves and the community that surrounds us.”
Osages, like many other Native Americans and First Nations peoples, have worn blankets made by Pendleton woolen mills since its founding in 1863. Pendleton blankets are part of the Osage culture and are used as gifts during Inlonshka ceremonies and other cultural ceremonies where appropriate. According to Pendleton.com, Pendleton makes its blankets for Native Americans and they support the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.
According to an ON release, the Nation will order 250 blankets with a portion available for purchase at the ON Visitor’s Center. Additional blankets may be ordered based on demand. The Visitor’s Center does note that due to supply chain disturbances, the availability date is pending. The blanket design will be made into a custom Pendleton blanket.
The selection panel consisted of Osage Nation employees Vann Bighorse (Language Department), Genie Herren (Operations), Casey Johnson (Operations), Abby Mashunkashey (Wahzhazhe Communications), Marla Redcorn Miller (Osage Nation Museum) Jane Perrier (Human Resources), and Braxton Redeagle (Language Department), according to the release.
Phetsacksith made the following statement about her design:
“I knew I wanted to incorporate ribbonwork into my design because it’s something that I’ve always admired about our Osage people,” Phetsacksith said in an artist’s statement. “I also wanted to combine designs that are seen between both men and women. I was also inspired by modern color palettes and their meaning. The beige background represents a neutral and calm environment.”
“Whenever all of our Osage people come together whether it is for special events or occasions everything seems to always fall into place even during an uncertain time. I chose to use royal blue and hunter green for the center heart design for the boldness to offset the neutral tones of the background and stripes.
“These colors represent health, growth, and prosperity. For the stripes, crossing diamonds, and diamonds along the top and bottom edge are an ombre of browns, pinks, and purples. I chose these colors to represent how precious our people are and the love we share for one another.”
Phetsacksith is from the ZonZoLi District and of the Sun Carrier clan. She is the founder of Ribbon Roots, a Native American apparel business where she designs ribbon skirts, dresses, bags and baby bonnets. Her work will be featured in the upcoming, “What we Wear,” a fashion show hosted by Red Earth in Oklahoma City on April 28. Other Osage artists featured in the show include Dr. Jessica Moore Harjo and Jarica Walsh. Phetsacksith is a recent graduate from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics & Statistics, Actuarial Science and a minor in Finance. She is also the current Tulsa Powwow Princess, a past Kihekah Steh Princess and past Osage Nation Princess. Follow her on social media @ribbonroots @jasminephetsacksith
