The Witness Blanket is more than a wooden representation of a woven blanket. It is the story of Canada’s indigenous people who came before. The website dedicated to the project says, “Inspired by a woven blanket, the Witness Blanket is a large-scale work of art. It contains hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures from across Canada.”
Located in Chalmers gym this November, the display was open to students to show the story of resilience and heartbreak left behind from the residential school system. Bathurst is the second place in New Brunswick to have the honour of displaying it to schools and public.
The blanket contains the items collected by Carey Newman and displays the effects of the mass genocide that occurred. Every piece tells a story, every piece depicts the darkest place in Canada’s history.
It is a reminder of all the students who never made it home and all the loss caused by the schools.
The blanket includes hundreds of pieces collected from across Canada, all with their own stories that could have been left forgotten in the darkest corner of Canada’s history, but that are now being brought to light once again to help Canadians see the truth of the effects of the residential school system.
Every time a person looks at the witness blanket, they are bound to find something new that they missed the previous time. An interactive website can help viewers understand what each item is and its significance. For example, one of the artifacts is a piece of a swing that was contributed by Councilor Richard Stonechild. The description reads that it is a “piece of a swing set that was at the File Hills Residential School near Balcarres, Saskatchewan. The school was located on the Okanese First Nation and is surrounded by 3 other First Nations. StarBlanket, Little Black Bear First Nation, Peepeekisis First Nation.”
Some students who viewed the blanket had deeply emotional reactions. One student group had the opportunity to make their own art piece depicting how they perceived the whole experience. These art pieces made by students will be displayed in learning centres in Bathurst as a testament to the impact the Witness Blanket has.
Hannah Moreau
