“The Making of the Witness Blanket” Film Screening & conversation with Carey, Marion & Ellen Newman

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Inspired to know more about his father’s time at residential school, Kwagiulth master carver and artist Carey Newman created the Witness Blanket - a wall-sized monument that commemorates the experiences of residential Survivors and their families, as well as the children who didn’t make it home. The Witness Blanket is constructed from hundreds of everyday items collected from residential schools, churches, government buildings and cultural structures across Canada. Each object has a story to tell, each Survivor has something to say. Narrated by the artist, this 90-minute film weaves together those stories with Carey’s personal journey, examining how art can open our hearts to the pain of truth and the beauty of resiliency.
“The film screening was preceded by a welcome from Musqueam Elder Gail Sparrow and opening remarks by Chief Dr. Robert Joseph and IRSHDC Academic Director Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond (Aki-Kwe). Following the film, a live Q&A with Carey Newman, his sisters Ellen and Marion and parents Edith and Victor was moderated by Dr. Turpel-Lafond. Audience members were invited to submit questions via chat. The event concluded with Syilx Okanagan Nation member Amber Cardenas singing “The Traveling Song.””
This event is part of the UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre’s Orange Shirt Day | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation programming. It is presented in partnership with the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, First Nations House of Learning, UBC Learning Circle and the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health.