Introduction
The history of any country is written both in blood and glory. Canada is no exception, with the nation harboring some dark truths about the treatment of its indigenous people by the Canadian government. The art installation The Witness Blanket is dedicated to one of the elements of the anti-indigenous movement initiated in the late 19th century. Carey Newman’s powerful installation sheds light on the Indian residential school system, the atrocities carried out within it toward children, and the impact it had on the culture of the Indigenous people. It aims to honor all those harmed by the system and continue the reconciliation of communities. This reflection concerns the documentary Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket on the installation and my impressions of it.
Discussion
The Witness Blanket is an extremely poignant work of art. The name of the installation itself invokes a strong reaction as it urges the viewers to become eyewitnesses to the turbulent Indian residential school era. I believe that through the name itself, we are made part of history and forced to admit the wrongdoings of the government and the people and take on the responsibility of witnesses to a crime. We have to carry that burden, speak about the crimes committed, and work toward reconciliation and a more accepting community. Moreover, it is our responsibility to continue this conversation with future generations to ensure that such atrocities never happen in Canada or other nations again. I think that the act of admitting the offenses committed toward Indigenous people is a crucial step in being able to recognize that there are parts of our history we should not be proud of. Nevertheless, we have to acknowledge them and learn from them. One’s culture is a precious gift, and it should never be stripped away from the people forcefully.
The name The Witness Blanket also gives me an impression of unity and harmony. I think, for many, including myself, the concept of a blanket represents warmth, family, and friendship. The act of wrapping someone in a blanket demonstrates kindness and care for them. In addition, in Indigenous culture, a gift of a blanket seals relationships between people. Thus, the art installation urges us to acknowledge the damage made to the relationship with Indigenous people and work towards healing that connection through kindness and honoring the victims and the traditions lost. In my opinion, the most memorable artifacts from the installation are the pieces of the residential schools themselves: the bricks and wood planks collected across Canada (Canadian Museum for Human Rights, 2022). It is a powerful statement that the pieces of the buildings in whose walls thousands of Indigenous children were stripped of their heritage are now building blocks in an installation striving to repair the damage. Moreover, it is a symbol that the society has within it the capacity to right its wrongs and grow.
Conclusion
Overall, the art installation The Witness Blanket is one of the ways we can keep history alive. It helps us honor the lives lost by openly admitting the faults of the past, restoring the damaged cultures, and actively working towards a better future. In addition, it helps us learn and grow as a society and teaches us to consider the impact of our actions on those around us. The Witness Blanket is a lesson in empathy, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and I urge every citizen of Canada to pay their respects by learning more about the era most people would prefer to forget.
Reference
Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (2022). Picking up the pieces: The making of the witness blanket [Video]. Vimeo. Web.