SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Star quilts are one of the most valued gifts among Native Americans, often made for events to recognize someone special or who has made a difference for the Native American culture.
KELOLAND News paid a visit to the Santee Sioux Tribe in Flandreau, where quilters have been busy sewing together a timeless heritage that honors and respects anyone who gets one.
We recently told you about award-winning quilter Bonnie LeBeaux, who opened her own star quilt store in Rapid City.
She has been making star quilts for close to 30 years, mostly as gifts.
“We like to be within our culture, we like to honor the achievements of our people, of our children when they do significant acts of achievement or valor. Graduation is always the biggest time of the year,” owner of Bonnie LeBeaux said.
Unlike LeBeaux, Marilyn and Mae Allen of Flandreau, who are cousins, learned how to make star quilts just this year.
“I just thought, you know, I’ll just learn, I’m going to have to learn,” Marilyn said.
Marilyn says sewing together star quilts is a great way to honor her Native American heritage.
She started in February after getting a quick lesson from a relative.
“I made my first one, took me about a week, it ended up being king size, which was huge, so from their we just started making more quilts,” Marilyn said.
And she hasn’t quit. These are some of her latest ones that she’s posted on her facebook page to try and raffle off.
So far, she’s sewn 20. In a variety of colors, fabrics, and styles.
But they must all contain a star.
“The star, I guess with our creation stories of coming from the stars; like remembrance of where we come from and acknowledging the star,” Marilyn said.
Marilyn says she’s gotten pretty accustomed to making star quilts in a short amount of time and now she can make one in about three days.
Her cousin, Mae Allen, is blanketed with pride over the star quilts she’s sewn together.
“Ever since I was little, especially at funerals, everybody from the community will display the star quilts along the outside wherever the wake is being held and seeing every single wall had a start quilt on it and how beautiful they are, it’s just magnificent,” Mae said.
And so is the meaning behind a star quilt.
It’s an honor to receive a star quilt. This one hasn’t been gifted yet, but eventually it will be and when it is, that person should feel special.
“I feel like it’s a great privilege, especially coming from a tribe not just one that your parents got and gave you, but actually coming from a community it’s a lot more, like a bigger accomplishment or bigger recognition of your achievements,” Mae said.
Like the time our former General Manager of KELOLAND TV, Jay Huizenga was gifted a star quilt during a special ceremony after he made the decision to move our KPLO tower off Native American sacred land in central South Dakota.
A star quilt is also given away every state basketball tournament to an outstanding senior player who exemplifies the life of SuAnne Big Crow of Pine Ridge.
SuAnne was killed in a car accident on her way to the Miss Basketball Banquet in 1992.
The player is judged in the categories of outstanding athletic ability, leadership, character, sportsmanship and grade point average.
But star quilts are gifted to people for a variety of reasons.
“If you’re getting a star quilt, it’s typically for different honorings; graduations, different milestones in your life, if a baby is born, if someone passes away typically people will bring star quilts and give those to people who attend the funeral, it really just depends on what the occasion is,” Marilyn said.
But no matter what it is, to give a star quilt is to show the utmost respect, honor, and admiration to a person.
If you were to buy a star quilt they range in price from $250 to $500 dollars.
Marilyn and Mae will be hosting a star quilting workshop in Flandreau at the Tribal Headquarters’ Community Center June 5th through the 8th. To learn more click here.
