Lloydminster Museum & Archives will open the doors on a powerful piece of Canadian history this Sunday, when the Witness Blanket exhibit goes on public display from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.
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An opening ceremony is set for Nov. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. and will include music, speeches, refreshments and time for visitors to walk through the exhibit on their own.
Organizers say the event is meant to create a space for reflection on the experiences of residential school survivors and on the ongoing work of truth and reconciliation, a theme the Border City has leaned into in recent years, including when the community marked Truth and Reconciliation Day last month.
A blanket woven from 887 pieces of history
The original Witness Blanket was created by Indigenous artist Carey Newman, whose traditional name is Ha-Yalth-Kin-Geme. Newman built the installation after reckoning with his own father’s experience in the residential school system.
Between 2013 and 2014, Newman and his team travelled the country gathering 887 items donated or reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and cultural sites. Each piece, woven together into a single installation, carries part of a larger story of loss, resilience and cultural identity.
The completed work has since become one of Canada’s most recognized reconciliation art projects. The original remains on permanent display in Winnipeg, and what’s coming to Lloydminster is a high-resolution photographic replica, allowing local visitors to experience the installation and learn the stories behind its objects without leaving the Border City.
Organizers say the exhibit is designed to encourage reflection on remembrance and truth while also recognizing the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, a conversation that has only grown more urgent as Indigenous communities continue pushing back against claims that downplay residential school history.
Part of a growing roster at the Lloydminster Museum
The Witness Blanket joins a string of exhibits the museum has hosted over the past couple of years that aim to put Indigenous history and culture front and centre for local audiences, from the community treasures exhibit earlier this year to past cultural showcases exploring Prairie life and Indigenous traditions.
For residents who want to mark the occasion with a visit, the opening ceremony is free and open to the public on Nov. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m., with the exhibit remaining on display through the end of December. More information is available on the City of Lloydminster’s exhibits page.
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