Picking up the pieces : residential school memories and the making of the witness blanket

Title:

Author:

Newman, Carey, 1975- author.

ISBN:

9781459819955

Physical Description:

vii, 170 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 27 cm

Reading Level:

1020 Lexile.

Subject Term:

Art -- Canada.

Indians of North America -- Cultural assimilation -- History.

Off-reservation boarding schools -- Canada -- History.

Added Author:

Hudson, Kirstie, 1976-

Summary:

Picking Up the Pieces tells the story of the making of the Witness Blanket, a living work of art conceived and created by Indigenous artist Carey Newman. It includes hundreds of items collected from residential schools across Canada, everything from bricks, photos and letters to hockey skates, dolls and braids. Every object tells a story. Carey takes the reader on a journey from the initial idea behind the Witness Blanket to the challenges in making it work to its completion. The story is told through the objects and the Survivors who donated them to the project. At every step in this important journey for children and adults alike, Carey is a guide, sharing his process and motivation behind the art. It's a personal project. Carey's father is a residential school Survivor. Like the Blanket itself, Picking Up the Pieces calls on readers of all ages to bear witness to the residential school experience, a tragic piece of Canada's history.

Holds:

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Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Stillwater Public Library	371.8299 NEW	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

"Will educate and enlighten Canadians for generations to come. It's a must-read for anyone seeking to understand Canada's residential-school saga. Most importantly, it's a touchstone of community for those survivors and their families still on the path to healing."--Waubgeshig Rice, journalist and author of Moon of the Crusted Snow

Carey takes the reader on a journey from the initial idea behind the Witness Blanket to the challenges in making it work to its completion. The story is told through the objects and the Survivors who donated them to the project. At every step in this important journey for children and adults alike, Carey is a guide, sharing his process and motivation behind the art. It's a personal project. Carey's father is a residential school Survivor. Like the Blanket itself, Picking Up the Piecescalls on readers of all ages to bear witness to the residential school experience, a tragic piece of Canada's legacy.

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Canada has a checkered past regarding its treatment of First Nations people, exemplified by the the government's long-term residential school system and the lasting negative impact on the young people who were sent there. Author and artist Newman felt compelled to bear witness to these experiences, and in response to a Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission proposal, he began to collect objects from the school to create a sculptural blanket. This richly illustrated book records his process and the ultimate product. Each chapter focuses on one type of artifact, ranging from plastic dolls to simple dishes. Historic and current photographs and artwork frequently complement the engaging text, which is written in a personal and compelling style. The book concludes with a glossary, bibliographies, and an index. Picking Up the Pieces has the feeling of a coffee-table book while presenting substantive content. Readers will gain an insight into the lives of First Nation families who endured Canada's historic residential school system and will see how current-day efforts address the aftermath of this tragic practice.--Lesley Farmer Copyright 2010 Booklist

Library Journal Review

Created by master carver Newman, of Kwakwaka'wakw and Coast Salish descent, he Witness Blanket is a living piece of artwork and contribution to the efforts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to illuminate the experiences of Indigenous children within government-sanctioned boarding schools between 1870 and 1998. The schools, operated by a variety of religious groups, were intended to force the assimilation of students by denying them their cultural practices. While assimilation ultimately failed, it marked more than a century of violations of the human rights of the children, their families, and communities. The variety of Indigenous experiences shaped the blanket, which initially began as an effort to build art using materials from each of the schools but evolved as other types of artifacts, such as dolls and bowls, were incorporated. This copiously illustrated work is a moving catalog, cowritten with journalist Hudson, of a permanent exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. VERDICT Readers interested in American Indian history or education will find important insights into the significance of the Witness Blanket and its component parts. Also consider the companion documentary, Picking Up the Pieces.--John R. Burch, Univ. of Tennessee at Martin

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