Click here to download the PowerPoint that was show at today’s session.

The UBC Learning Circle is pleased to present a unique initiative called “The Witness Blanket.” Inspired by a woven blanket, Master Carver Carey Newman is creating a large-scale art installation from items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures including Friendship Centres, Band Offices, treatment centres and universities across Canada. When completed, the Witness Blanket will stand as a national monument to recognize the atrocity of the Indian Residential School era, honour the children, and symbolize ongoing reconciliation.

People from all across Canada of all faiths, ethnicities and generations are called upon to participate. Project organizers are looking for wood, shingles, brick, glass, metal, books, photographs and other materials from residential school sites and affiliated structures including churches, courthouses, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures. Their goal is to collect 2,500 Pieces of History for their blanket. Read more…

Session Video

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PST

Location: Participate live via videoconference OR computer webinar. Want to know the difference between videoconference and computer webinar? Click here to find out.

About the Presenters

With a strong belief in the importance of tradition, Carey Newman is active within his culture, a role for which he has been given the traditional name Ha-yalth-kingeme. Under the influence and support of his father and mother, Carey developed his artistic ability and cultural knowledge from an early age. His father Victor, his great, great grandfather Charlie James, and his great aunt Ellen Neel, all renowned wood carvers, each contribute to the artistry in his blood.

Being of British, Kwagiulth and Salish descent, Carey has been able to draw upon each of these cultures for his inspiration. While this does add a contemporary flare to his work, he is very careful to adhere to traditional rules and values. Finding ways to innovate without disregarding history is extremely important to him. Carey is always looking for ways to improve his artistic repertoire.

Mastering as many techniques and mediums as possible is one of the keys to his continual inspiration. Wood, stone, gold, silver, gems, glass, painting and more recently steel and bronze are all mediums that Carey works with. A dedicated artist, Carey’s goal is to follow the footpaths of those who influence him the most: his father, for his belief in artistic integrity, quality, and self-respect, and Bill Reid, for his ability with many mediums.

Carey opened the Blue Raven Gallery on Vancouver Island in 1996. With the help of family, the gallery continues to showcase not only his work, but also that of his father Victor and his mother Edith. After completing 20 plus sell out silkscreen print editions he moved on to numerous private commissions from around the world.

Read a recent article in the Globe and Mail about Carey Newman here.

Rosy Steinhauer is of Cree ancestry from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation on her father’s side and Scottish ancestry on her mother’s side. She was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley, BC. In May of 2007 she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science and a minor in Canadian Studies from Mt. Allison University. Rosy has spent the past five years working for the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres in Victoria and greatly values all of the experiences that she gained working for the Friendship Centre movement.

Rosy feels very fortunate to be able to be a part of the Witness Blanket project team and to be a part of a project of this magnitude.  She has witnessed the impact of Residential Schools not just on her own family, but on Aboriginal peoples across Canada and hopes that through this project all Canadians can learn more about the true history of the Residential School era.

Special Additional Presentation

Click here to download the PowerPoint that was shown for this presentation.

In addition to the Witness Blanket Project, there will be a presentation by Education Coordinator Kerrie Charnley on the UBC Certificate in Aboriginal Health and Community Administration program. Launched in 2004, AHCAP is designed to support Aboriginal communities in increasing their capacity to deliver services, coordinate programs and promote the health of their peoples. The program expands its focus beyond health delivery to include environmental and other community health concerns.  January 2014 will be the eighth year for this program that has won awards for its innovative blended learning format of both face-to-face in-person and online learning.  AHCAP is oriented towards Aboriginal health managers, directors, and others involved in health leadership in communities and for those who would like to transition to those leadership roles.

Kerrie Charnley works as the education coordinator at the Institute for Aboriginal Health at the University of British Columbia where she has been running the Summer Science Program for Aboriginal Youth and the Aboriginal Health and Community Administration Program for the last five years.  She is a Sessional Lecturer at the University of British Columbia where she teaches fourth year courses in inter-professional health and human services on the historical and contemporary issues of First Nations Health in Canada and Cultural Competency in Approaching Traditional Healing Modalities in Aboriginal Health.  Kerrie is in her third year of doctoral studies leading to a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education in the area of Language and Literacy Education. Her research focus is on indigenous research methodologies and Coast Salish pedagogy connected to land/place and transforming ideas of education, learning and teaching beyond the classroom.