The Witness Blanket

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we are observing the Witness Blanket exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. Created by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Carey Newman (Hayalthkin’geme), this powerful 12-metre-long installation was built to honour the legacy of the Indigenous children who were forced into Indian residential schools across Canada. The Witness Blanket consists of more than 800 items such as photos, books, braids, letters, clothing and art. Every object here bears witness to the stories of the residential school survivors. This exhibit signifies the importance of commitment to reconciliation and invites visitors to understand and confront the atrocities faced by the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
© Aaron Cohen/Carey Newman/Canadian Museum for Human Rights