Wenonah’s Blanket: The Story of the Blanket Flower

Long, long ago before flowers bloomed on the prairie, a mother wove a blanket of red and gold for First Daughter Wenonah. Wenonah grew into a healthy and strong girl. She loved her mother and father and her people. She loved her blanket more than anything she possessed. It kept her warm and safe from the cold prairie winds. A bad spirit descended upon her people and they had to go to war to protect their lives. When Wenonah’s father was leaving with the other warriors, she gave him her blanket to protect him and keep him warm. When the men returned to camp, battle-scarred and weary, Wenonah’s father was not with them. She and her mother mourned for him and Wenonah slipped away during the cold dark night to find him. She travelled until she could walk no further, then rested beneath a tree waiting for the sun to rise. She was cold and afraid and longed for her warm blanket. Shivering she fell asleep, fearing she would never see her father or mother again. During the night a blanket of red and gold wildflowers grew over Wenonah to keep her warm and safe from the harsh prairie winds. When she woke in the morning, safe and warm, and covered over with a blanket of wildflowers, her father was there standing beside her wearing her blanket over his shoulders. Flowers bloomed all over the prairie, covering the land like her warm and colorful blanket. Together they walked back to their people to tell them of the miracle. Now every spring, at just the right time, Indian Blanket flowers cover the prairies to remind us of brave Wenonah and her blanket.