Canadian Tire is set to sell the iconic Hudson’s Bay point blankets and has announced its commitment to carry on a donation program initiated by HBC to aid Indigenous-led initiatives. Through an extended partnership with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, Canadian Tire has ensured a minimum annual contribution of $1 million to support Oshki Wupoowane, The Blanket Fund.
The funds will be allocated for grants supporting grassroots Indigenous groups and various cultural, artistic, and educational projects. Earlier this year, Canadian Tire acquired HBC’s intellectual property, including the renowned Hudson’s Bay stripes, for $30 million as part of the retailer’s closure. Notably, the deal did not encompass the company’s art, artifacts, and archives, some of which are scheduled to be auctioned next month.
While the HBC point blankets are presently popular among consumers, they possess a contentious history due to their ties to the company’s colonial past. These blankets were once utilized as a form of currency by early European settlers in Canada and there are accounts suggesting their deliberate use to spread smallpox among Indigenous communities in the 1700s and 1800s.
The Blanket Fund was initiated in 2022 as a step towards truth and reconciliation, with an initial investment of $1 million from the Hudson’s Bay Foundation and a commitment to allocate 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of Hudson’s Bay point blankets to the fund.
Greg Hicks, President and CEO of Canadian Tire, expressed pride in being entrusted with HBC’s legacy and emphasized the company’s dedication to upholding the cultural significance of the Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket and fostering meaningful reconciliation for future generations through an enhanced collaboration with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.