A new Oregon heirloom.
From their design and production to the impact of every purchase, the Home Flight blankets have a story we’re proud to share — Native-designed, UO student-designed, and produced by Eighth Generation, the first Native-owned company to ever produce wool blankets. Proceeds benefit students and alumni through the Many Nations Longhouse and the Native Duck Nation Alumni Network
The Home Flight blankets are a collaboration between the UO Alumni Association, the Many Nations Longhouse, and The Duck Store. They were designed by Kale’a Calica-Younker (Coquille/Coos/Warm Springs/Yakama) who is an art student at the University of Oregon, and her father Shirod Younker (Coquille/Miluk Coos/Umpqua).
"When the artist creates these things, it goes into every single blanket, and then when you give those blankets away or you sell those blankets, that positive spirit carries on to the individual that has it."
-Jason Younker, Chief of the Coquille Indian Tribe and Assistant Vice President and Advisor to the President on Sovereignty and Government-to-Government Relations at the University of Oregon
The Home Flight blanket is inspired by traditional basket designs and seasonal changes. The double-sided print highlights the return patterns of ducks working together to navigate a long journey. The blankets remind us of the beauty found in nature and mixes that with UO’s traditional green and yellow.
"Because the blankets will be available at a time when alumni are reconnecting with one another and with campus after a long hiatus due to the pandemic, the name 'Home Flight' for us represents reconnecting the Duck community on campus."
-Raphe Beck, Executive Director, UO Alumni Association
When you purchase the Home Flight Blanket, proceeds will go towards the Home Flight Scholars program and the Native Duck Nation Alumni Network.