Well friends it was a stressful time frame for the delivery of the first West Coast Native Button Blanket, created for an astronaut by the name of Bob Thirsk.

Of course if you have followed my career you know that i have worked with our Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk since 1993, working together to create 3 patches for 2 missions, the latest being his incredible 6 month stay at the International Space Station, returning on the first of December on board the Russian Soyuz space transport vehicle.

When Bob exited the space capsule he was wrapped in a traditional west coast native button blanket created by my mother Carole and I. It was then delivered by the skin of our teeth and barely making the incredible journey to Moscowand then to the landing site outside of Cazikstan. The team from the Canadian Space Agency made the journey along with Thirsks family, who had to wait a couple extra days to see Bob because of the weather, talk about patience.

CREATIVE PROCESS

The creative process began about a year before the May 09 launch and consisted of many e-mails that came from Bob`s training locations in Russia, Japan and Texas but started once again in Parksville B.C. For me it was definitely the most challenging creative task I have ever endeavoured, which was unique this time compared to the first patches I created back in 1993, which was done through the now dated methods of fax machine and courier.

ADVANCED CHALLENGE

Bob really took advantage of my well trained computor designing skills and used me as his designing mechanism, maybe comparable to the CADARM. I loved it, and so did he, and we came up with a pretty special T-Bird design that was later transformed into his special welcoming security blanket.

It was the head team at  CSA that came up with the idea to give this one of kind space blanket as a surprise gift to their college and friend for his love and dedication to the space program. They contacted me and asked me if I knew any button blanket makers and fortunately my mother, Carole Helin ( Robes of Power blanket artist) was willing to come out of retirement to sew the special fabrics and abalone buttons to form the traditional art into a wearable ceremonial blanket that is out of this world.

TEAMWORK

There were also numerous helpers on our team that played important roles including my daughter Reanna Mae, who was blessed to work with her Nana and carry on the Tsimshian traditions of her ancestors. Also my Moms friend Bonnie helped with the painstaking button application, David Hanes cut the materials out with his laser cutting system and I drove back and forth with materials and large designs for the vector imaging process. I had to simplify the blanket design so it would be suitable for the blanket image, all of which under the gun took us bout a week and a half with numerous challenges that will be explained in more detail when I finish the full story and video production.

Welcome back to earth Bob, we look forward to your next visit to Parksville. And thank you for your passion to explore and to proudly represent our First Nations Indian traditions and Canada, in outer space and on earth. Bless you and your family and all the team at the Canadian Space Agency. It has taken a  lot of sacrifice and dedication, you are a true role model to our children and future generations, I wish the rest of our so called leaders and super stars could learn from your example.

DETAILS

For more on Dr. Thirsk, his incredible space journeys and career, visit the CSA website at: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions/expedition20-21/default.asp