Bear Witness to the Blanket: A Lesson about Residential School Survivors

"Orange Shirt Day" also known as Day of Truth and Reconciliation is observed on September 30th in Canada to honor Indigenous children who attended residential schools. The day's name originates from the story of Phyllis Webstad, a survivor of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School in British Columbia, who had her new orange shirt taken away upon her arrival at the school. Since, it symbolizes reconciliation and the recognition that every child matters.

While wearing orange shirts is a common practice on this day, it's important for educators to go beyond symbolic gestures. Teachers should engage students in learning about the history and impact of residential schools, including personal stories from survivors. By actively participating in discussions and educational activities, students can develop empathy and understanding, contributing to reconciliation efforts in Canada.

One way to do this is by incorporating educational resources such as The Witness Blanket which provides videos featuring Indigenous individuals sharing their experiences of attending residential schools. . The 'blanket' is large-scale art piece that is now showcased online. Parts of the blanket have links of the videos. These personal accounts help students understand the human impact of this dark chapter in Canadian history and foster empathy and understanding, and help build a clearer connection between "Orange Shirt Day" and residential school survivors.

After viewing videos featuring accounts from Indigenous survivors of residential schools, my grade 6/7 students expressed deep empathy and outrage. One student remarked, "I hate the people who did this to them," while another emphasized, "That's humiliating to get your hair cut without consent." These powerful reactions were evoked by these videos, created by members of the Indigenous community in Canada, which I incorporated into our lesson.

The stories shared in the videos were unfathomable, unjust, and inhumane, prompting my students to pause and reflect on the enduring trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada for nearly a century. To further engage them, I invited them to create their own patch of the blanket and depict their response to what they had 'witnessed'. This activity allowed them to express their empathy and understanding while also fostering a deeper connection to the history and experiences of Indigenous communities in Canada.

The students also wrote heartfelt reflections on their pieces and their emotional responses to the videos they watched. Their genuine expressions demonstrated a deep understanding of the lesson and the realization that past events continue to impact the present. They recognized the lingering hurt, trauma, and sadness experienced by survivors, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and understanding the ongoing effects of historical injustices. These reflections reinforced the idea that history shapes our present and underscored the significance of ongoing efforts towards healing and reconciliation.

The Witness Blanket is a large-scale-work of art conceptualized by Carey Newman/Hayalthkin’geme, master carver, contemporary artist, and through his father, he is Kwakwak'awakw from the Kukwekum, Giiksam, and WaWalaby'ie clans of northern Vancouver Island. The blanket is comprised of hundreds of items collected by several members of Indigenous communities. Each piece was reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and cultural buildings across the country. Each item is a piece of history that connects to this tragic past.

My students witnessed a more in-depth insight behind the meaning of "Orange Shirt Day" and have more empathy than before. And it is this why I hoped they'd feel after this lesson. I'm thankful for the survivors, artists, and Carey Newman/Hayalthkin'geme for granting us the opportunity to witness, understand, and learn.

Source:

https://witnessblanket.ca/about-the-blanket