The travelling Witness Blanket exhibition will be mounted at the Cedar Hill Recreation and Arts Centre Gallery in Saanich, just outside Victoria, from Nov. 16 through Dec. 12.
The exhibition contains a full-scale replica of the original Witness Blanket project, which encapsulated the atrocities that occurred in residential schools and was intended to convey the experiences of residential school survivors.
“I am excited to have this replica come so close to home and for it to be available to schools and other groups in our community,” said Carey Newman (Hayalthkin’geme), master carver and the artist behind the piece.
Resembling a woven blanket with original cedar-framed artwork, the original piece was made from more than 800 items from residential schools, survivors, churches, governments and other cultural sites across Canada. Each detailed element tells a story of loss, strength, resilience and pride.
The original Witness Blanket began its tour in 2014 in Victoria and is currently located at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, where it is undergoing conservation after a three-year tour.
The new exhibit will be on display during Cedar Hill’s facility hours and private viewings may be booked by Indigenous families and organizations. Schools and community organizations are encouraged to pre-book viewings.
To learn more about the Witness Blanket and the exhibition visit saanich.ca/witnessblanket.