A powerful monument will be on display in Quesnel’s College of New Caledonia’s campus starting tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 5.
The Witness Blanket, created by Carey Newman, whose traditional name is Ha̱yałka̱ng̱a̱me’, is from the Kwakwaka’wakw, Coast Salish, and Stó:lō Nation in the Fraser Valley from his father’s side, and English-Irish heritage from his mother’s. Newman was inspired by the stories of his father’s experiences at a residential school, and traveled across the country to collect items that tell the stories of loss, strength, reconciliation, and pride.
The result is the Witness Blanket, made from 887 reclaimed and donated items, symbolizing ongoing reconciliation.
“What Carey Newman has created is impossible to describe in a few words,” says Dr. Jessie King, the College of New Caledonia (CNC)’s Vice-President, Indigenization.
“The piece is inspired by a woven blanket; it is a huge, large-scale piece of artwork that connects items that have been reclaimed from government buildings, churches, homes, traditional and cultural pieces from across Canada, and residential schools.”
The Blanket itself will take up a large space in both campuses. Dr. King hopes that visitors to the exhibition will truly be able to engage with the piece as they walk around.
“They will be able to walk through one of the doors that’s available and was reclaimed, and really understand the impacts of racism, colonialism, and ultimately genocide,” Dr. King says. “It also reveals the opportunity for conversing on the ongoing harms that were caused by the legacy of Canada’s residential school systems.”
The exhibition is in collaboration with the Quesnel Tilicum Society and CNC, and there will be an opening event, free to the college communities and public, on November 13 at 10 a.m. at the Quesnel Campus.
The event will also be showing the documentary Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of The Witness Blanket, which follows artist Carey Newman’s journey in creating this monumental project.
“We are welcoming community members, people who want to come and join a safe space to engage with the art piece, but also to engage with one another as survivors and to take the time to honour those who didn’t come home,” Dr. King says.
“It’s going to offer a new perspective for folks to witness, listen, and honour the truth that is within those pieces.”
The Witness Blanket Exhibition will be at CNC’s Quesnel campus from November 5 until November 21. Then it will be moved and on display in Prince George’s campus from November 27 to December 30.
Details for the opening event in Prince George will be coming and announced by CNC soon.
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