ESTEVAN - More than 70 people were taken on a journey through Canadian Indigenous history during a Kairos Blanket Exercise at St. Paul's United Church on Saturday afternoon.
The event was an opportunity to learn more about the relationship between settlers and Indigenous people, as well as the trauma that has been inflicted on Indigenous people over the years. The gathering was held on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, and most of the people present sported orange shirts with the reminder that Every Child Matters.
Rev. Alex Campbell from the Anglican Church of Canada, who is a minister in charge of Indigenous ministry based in Yorkton, said he was pleased when he was contacted by Rev. Wilma Woods of St. Giles' Anglican Church about coming to Estevan.
"She wants to get something done, and the first step of getting things done in our communities was to get this … Kairos Blanket Exercise into our communities so our community learned the ways and means of the Indigenous people of this land we are on," said Campbell.
The event was organized by St. Giles but was held at St. Paul's because the United Church's auditorium has more space. Campbell noted the crowd was the largest they have ever had for a blanket exercise.
Woods said she was pleased to see all of the elders who were present. She warned the crowd the blanket exercise would be an emotional journey.
"I am so grateful that I see people of all ages here. For generations past and generations to come, this is hugely important," said Woods.
Several elders from Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan were also on hand to lead the exercise. Iris Acoose guided the participants through the process and the other elders also spoke.
While the event was organized by a church, it was open to people regardless of their faith.
The afternoon began with a showing of the documentary Doctrine of Discovery, which looked the history of relationships between Indigenous people and settlers, and how the actions of white people continue to have an impact on Indigenous communities.
After a break to place all of the chairs in a circle and lay the blankets within the circle, the blanket exercise began. The blanketed area was the northern part of Turtle Island, which was Canada's name at one time. Each of the participants stood on part of a blanket. They were portraying the Indigenous people, while the elders were the settlers and Canadian officials.
The exercise began on an upbeat note, with the participants talking, laughing, and trading items they had acquired. They were told Indigenous people fished, hunted and had their own communities, with unique governments, cultures and traditions. Children were an important part of communities.
But through treaties, the blankets were reduced in size, creating less space to stand.
Then the number of participants reduced. Many of them contracted disease through blankets brought by settlers and "died", so they had to sit down. Others died during the construction of the railroad, while others were victims of the residential school system. Some who were holding dolls symbolizing babies had the dolls taken away.
At the end, blankets were draped around the shoulders of the few still standing in the circle. And it was noted that progress has occurred, but much work remains.
Numerous scrolls were read during the exercise that documented the history of Indigenous people in Canada. It was pointed out the Indigenous people went from strong and independent to relying on the government, and lost rights and freedoms many Canadians take for granted.
The elders also pointed out that blankets play an important role in Indigenous cultures.
Once the exercise was finished, each person in attendance shared their thoughts on what they experienced. Some cried as they talked about seeing the shrinking land and the number of Indigenous people who died.
Supper was served to participants after the blanket exercise.
