A Journey of Learning Together - The Witness Blanket Project
Jan 19, 2024 | Ishmael Van Der Rassel, Student Storyteller
Canadore College, Nipissing University, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights unveiled the Witness Blanket Project in the Village - an extraordinary art installation paying tribute to and commemorating the Indigenous children who endured the harrowing experience of the Canadian Indian Residential School System.
The Witness Blanket Project's core objective is to cast light upon the enduring impact on survivors of the residential school system, which operated for a staggering 160 years until 1996. Throughout this dark chapter, the schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into Canadian culture, severing ties with their heritage and familial roots.
Shawn Chorney, Vice President of Strategic Infrastructure, Indigenous, and Learner Services, described the Witness Blanket Exhibit as "an incredibly personal and moving glimpse into the reality of the legacy and trauma of the residential school system in Canada." Canadore College, through its commitment to truth and reconciliation, proudly supports this exhibit as a means of fostering education and reflection.
In 2013, the Witness Blanket team embarked on a nationwide journey, collecting over 800 reclaimed historical items and artifacts that now compose the heart of the Witness Blanket. This collaborative approach symbolizes reconciliation, underscoring the importance of collective participation in the journey toward Truth and Reconciliation.
Micheline Demers, Project Manager at The Village, expressed the profound impact of this collaboration, stating, "It has been an amazing collaboration...a major success for Canadore College and Nipissing University." The exhibition is not confined to the campus; it travels across the province, enriching various communities with its powerful message.
The Witness Blanket, woven from cedar, incorporates 887 pieces, including letters, photos, books, clothing, art, and remnants of buildings. Donations poured in from band offices, residential school survivors, their families, friendship centers, and governments, creating a rich tapestry of shared history and resilience.
This profound creation stands as a testament to our ability to unite people from every corner of our nation in a collective journey of learning and support for the healing process of Indigenous communities. It emphasizes the critical importance of acknowledging the Truth before embarking on the path of reconciliation, providing a platform for individual survivor stories to be shared, shedding light on the isolation and abuse endured by all.
The community is invited to view the Witness Blanket Exhibit from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in The Village at the Canadore College Education Centre from January 22-February 16.