Carey Newman's 'Witness Blanket' installation recalls tragic chapter in Canadian Indigenous history.
Photo Credit: Witness Blanket/Carey Newman

‘Witness Blanket’ recalls tragic chapter of Canadian Indigenous history

A tragic chapter of Canadian history involving the forced separation of Indigenous children from their families and homes to be educated in so-called “residential schools” is being remembered through a touring art project called the “Witness Blanket”.

The residential schools organized by the Canadian government in the 19th century and operated often by religious orders until the mid-1990s saw some 150,000 Indigenous children taken from their homes, denied their Indigenous language and traditions, and sometimes abused by the teachers of the schools.

To create a dialogue and an awareness of what happened, Indigenous artist Carey Newman has coordinated and produced an ambitious project called the “Witness Blanket” that incorporates pieces of the residential schools and other artifacts into a 40-foot installation.

The latest version of the “Witness Blanket” will be shown in Vancouver at Capilano University starting October 7. A pan-Canadian tour is being planned, as well as an expanded website.

RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda spoke to Carey Newman about the project, and why he started it.

Listen

More information:
Witness Blanket website – witnessblanket.ca

twitter.com/wojtekgwiazda

Categories: Indigenous, Society
Tags: ,

Do you want to report an error or a typo? Click here!

For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.