Inspired by a woven blanket, this large‐scale art installation by Carey Newman, whose traditional name is Ha̱yałka̱ng̱a̱me’, is made from pieces of history – hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and other cultural structures across Canada.
The Witness Blanket (Level 4)
This exhibition highlights the truth about residential schools through the Stories and experiences of Survivors.
September 20, 2024 to September 20, 2027
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Photo: CMHR, Aaron Cohen
Exhibition details
Contributions to the Witness Blanket were donated by residential school survivors and their families, band offices, friendship centres and governments. Other items were reclaimed from former residential school sites. Those responsible for the school system – churches and the Canadian federal government – have also donated pieces for this installation as a gesture towards reconciliation.
More than 800 items from 77 communities were gathered for this artwork. They include letters, photos, stories, books, clothing, art and fragments of buildings.
The Witness Blanket is a large‐scale work of art that contains hundreds of items from across the country related to residential schools.
Photo: CMHR, Aaron CohenThe Witness Blanket stands as a national monument to recognize the atrocities of the Indian residential school era, to honour the children and to symbolize ongoing reconciliation. More than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced into residential schools in Canada between 1870 and 1996.
We all have stories to tell and, in order to grow in tolerance and understanding, we must listen to the stories of others.
Pieces of history: Four objects from the Witness Blanket
The following are examples of the hundreds of items that make up the Witness Blanket – each with their own powerful story.
Braids of hair
Marion and Ellen Newman – sisters of the artist and daughters of residential school survivor Victor Newman – grew their hair for over a year, then cut their braids during an eight‐day traditional ceremony. “It was a way to honour our dad, but a way to honour all the children…because it was just a universal experience,” Ellen told The Globe and Mail. Children had their hair cut or shaved on their first day of school – a traumatic practice for many Indigenous children whose hair was a large part of their cultural identity and cut only in mourning.
Proficiency badges
Starting in the 1940s, students in residential schools would receive badges for proficiency in cooking, sewing, weaving, knitting, housekeeping, gardening, leather work, dairying and poultry raising. This system, instituted by the Canadian government, emphasized manual labour over academics. Emma Gladue, a survivor of the Blue Quills Residential School in Alberta, contributed these badges, which she says were earned through abuse and slavery.
Shoe
Harold Gatensby, a survivor of the Carcross Residential School in the Yukon, found this child’s shoe while he was showing Witness Blanket project coordinator Rosy Hartman the site of the original school, which had burned down in the early 1900s. Both Rosy and artist Carey Newman felt a very clear spirit or presence attached to the shoe – which became one of the more powerful pieces that they collected. In the Blanket, the shoe is not only behind plexiglass to protect it, it has also been wrapped with a braid of sweetgrass, surrounded by sage (traditional medicines) and bound with red cloth, a symbol of healing and protection.
Gordon Soldier Lady Hawks 1996 Hockey Trophy
This trophy was contributed by Ed Bitternose, a survivor of the last residential school to operate in Canada. It illustrates how recently Indigenous children attended residential school.
Visit witnessblanket.ca to experience the Stories of this artwork in more detail.
Documentary
View an abridged (8‑minute) version of the documentary Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket.
Video: Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket, 8 minutes and 32 seconds
The Witness Blanket is a complete record of the Stories and the experiences of residential school Survivors. It stands to bear witness to the victims and the perpetrators of violence. It stands to bear witness to the resilience of Indigenous peoples and cultures from coast to coast to coast.
This exhibition of the Witness Blanket marks the first phase of its eventual permanent placement at the CMHR. It runs in the Actions Count gallery on Level 4 until September 2027.
See more at the Museum
Ask yourself
What did you learn about residential schools?
What old colonial ideas and racist stereotypes continue to influence us in Canada today?
What can you do to support reconciliation?
Dive Deeper
The Witness Blanket
This monumental work of art honours Survivors of Canada’s residential schools. A new website lets you learn from their experiences and bear witness to their stories.
Indigenous history and human rights
Discover the stories of Indigenous people and communities. Learn about Canada's history of colonialism and genocide. Reflect on how we can collectively work towards reconciliation.
