VANCOUVER and MUSQUEAM, SQUAMISH and TSLEIL-WAUTUTH TERRITORIES — Telus Communications, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) and Indigenous artist Carey Newman today announced the launch of a new online platform, witnessblanket.ca, which invites Canadians to bear witness to the experiences of residential school survivors.
The digital platform shares stories from the Witness Blanket, “a powerful work of art made from over 800 items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and other important cultural sites across Canada,” explains a Telus press release.
Newman, a master carver and Indigenous artist, created the artwork “as a national monument to recognize the atrocities of the residential school era, honour the children, Survivors, and symbolize ongoing reconciliation,” the release says.
“In the oral tradition of my ancestors, a witness has an important role to make sure things are not forgotten. A witness watches, listens, and then shares with others,” Newman said in the release. “As we launch this new platform today, I invite everyone to explore these stories, become witnesses to the voices and memories of Survivors and share their truths in your communities.”
On the website, visitors “can explore 10 original stories that weave together video testimony from Survivors with information about a piece of the artwork,” the release says. “These stories share the significance of items that carry a deep personal and cultural connection to the residential school era and its legacy such as braided hair, a mush hole bowl, Inuvik stone, and letters.”
Users can also explore the full artwork and find out where individual pieces were located and who contributed them, the release adds.
The platform includes a resource guide for teachers, providing “foundational teaching strategies, guidance on how to welcome Elders, Survivors and Indigenous community members into the classroom, and detailed lesson plans for teaching about residential schools to students of all ages.”
Created through a partnership between Newman, the CMHR, Animikii Indigenous Technology, Media One Inc. and Telus, the digital Witness Blanket project was made possible by a $1 million donation from Telus and the Telus Friendly Future Foundation, and an additional $100,000 from the Entwistle Family Foundation. The project’s development was guided by a Survivors Circle brought together through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
The launch of witnessblanket.ca represents the first phase of this partnership, according to the press release.
“Moving forward, it will leverage TELUS’ technological expertise to create augmented reality, virtual reality led by Camosun Innovates, and projection mapping experiences that will further expand the reach of the Witness Blanket,” the release says.
Telus’ $1 million gift to support the digital Witness Blanket project is part of the company’s larger $8 million commitment, made in 2021, “to stand in solidarity with Survivors and their families by supporting Indigenous-led entrepreneurs, projects and initiatives,” the release explains.
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Witness Blanket image provided by Telus.
