Viewing the Indigenous Witness Blanket

By Oluwabusola Olaniyan, 1st year MDP student

It was opportune to be in Hamilton during the tour of the witness blanket. I visited the Central Library in Hamilton Ontario to have a feel of the historical, scriptural piece and strengthen my indigenous knowledge awareness with particular reference to Indigenous peoples of Canada and their encounter with the Indian Residential Schools.

Oluwabusola in front of the Witness Blanket

The witness blanket exhibition and tour across specific locations in Canada is in accordance with the settlement agreement established by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is considered a national monument and evidence of the occurrences narrated by the residential school survivors. The Witness Blanket is scheduled for a seven-year national tour across Canada and the artifacts were gathered from the residential school survivors, families, churches and others with memories or relationship with residential schools. The architect of the piece, Newman (Ha-yalth-kingeme), the son of a residential-school survivor planned the seven years national tour.

 

Indeed, the Witness Blanket reflects the strength of the Indigenous people of Canada. When I stood in witness of this piece, it was an emotional experience for me viewing all that it represented. The Witness Blanket can be described as a wood based-First Nations art installation that explains the adversity during the Residential School era. It is 40 feet long and over eight feet tall. It has 13 panels holding over 800 collected objects and the multimedia design of the pieces connects eyewitnesses to residential school experiences in a personal way. Each viewer of this piece would probably be touched and reflect on it as well as taking a piece into their heart.

Reflecting on the significance of the historical piece as the journey of reconciliation progresses, the Witness Blanket would recount for future generations the true story of loss, strength and reconciliation. Simultaneously, it depicts the price of the Indian Residential School experience while honouring the survivors. Besides, it serves as a remembrance for those children who were lost and it is hope re-assuring for future generations.

Voices From The Prairies

By Ginikachi Obah, 1st year MDP student

 

My current sojourn at Blue Quills has inspired my lost creativity in poetry which was re-enkindled by the amazing cultural experience in the college. I wrote the following poem to whisper in my personal feelings on the history of residential school and the cultural camp experience. 

Echoes From The Eagle Spirit Society

The reverberating sounds of the Drums and the sweet melodies

The wavering movements of the tree suggest that they enjoy the rhythm that they hear

Tepees and feathers creating an artistic view of cultural connotation

Men and women blown away in preparation

I can see generations connecting to the ways of their forefathers

I can see the land and its spirituality through the teaching of Neyihaw

Mother Earth smiles to the spirituality and reciprocity hovering round the indigenous mind

I can see disembodied walls coming together to create a wonderful atmosphere for social interaction

I can see children and youth strolling back to cultural identity

I can hear the healing process echoing through the circles

I see the world views flowing within my mind through the cultural teachings of ceremonies

When I stand in the mirror am drenched in the reflection of the similarities that exist between the two cultures

The similarities keeps crawling back like a recurring decimal each time am lost in cultural oblivion

Culture indeed is an art that sits patiently in our heart waiting to be expressed by ceremonies

Culture is a parrot or porte-parole that speaks volumes of our identity

Culture is the sustaining power of our four dimensions that keep our body and soul together

Culture was brutalised and kicked out in the hands of residential schools

Children becoming strangers to whom they are

Oh my God it killed their culture it killed their spirit          

It dismantled the social fabric of family and community

Like lost but found item my creativity has found me in this wilderness of cultural revitalisation

Which I wish to empty with my busy hands dancing to the songs of my creativity

These are the echoes from the Eagle Spirit Society

Ginikachi (L) with Ferlin McGillivery, Cree Language Instructor (R)