Bearing witness to those affected by Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, the Witness Blanket installation is stopping in London two years into its cross-Canada tour. Victoria Master Carver Carey Newman (Ha-yalth-kingeme) pieced together this 40-foot long collection of found objects, from Residential Schools to Friendship Centres, all centred around a door from the infirmary of St. Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay. These pieces, including braids of hair and small moccasins, are reminders of the 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children forced to leave their homes for school from 1840 to 1996. The blanket, a traditional source of comfort, stands here to tell stories of loss, strength, reconciliation and pride. A special welcome on June 21st for National Aboriginal Day.
The Witness Blanket is brought to you by London Community Foundation through the Community Fund for Canada’s 150.
