Empty promises, cultural assimilation, and historical tragedies took the eleventh grade students of St. Augustine by storm as they were recreated in, perhaps, the most unusual manner. One by one, students found themselves isolated, tricked, and astonished as they brought to life the struggles of Indigenous people…through the use of blankets.

This month, on May 10th, all of the students participating in the Contemporary First Nations English course (NBE3U) were invited to immersed themselves in a world of sorrows, struggles, and strengths as they engaged in the notorious “blanket exercises.” Meant to symbolize the destructive fragmentation of Indigenous communities within Canada, this activity was a simple, yet painfully accurate depiction of the bitter truth. Represented by a series of blankets, participants were taken on a journey through the “traditional territories” of Canada’s First Nations people, and left to watch as the blankets became smaller and smaller overtime. Led by Oneida Artist and Knowledge keeper, Todd Jamieson, the activity was accompanied by moments of deep discussion along with purifying and smudging ceremonies.

For several of the lucky participants, the activity truly put into perspective the various obstacles that served to divide and cloak a united population into fragments of lost individuals. Removed from their “blankets” within the blink of an eye, they recalled the plethora of emotions that swept them away from the comfort of the familiar and into the realm of anxiety and fear. Yet, the process had only just begun. Forced to look on helplessly as the harmonious scene was pulled apart by the dissonance of words, the students were left speechless as the blankets became divided further and further. As the beautiful promises of sharing and solidarity became distorted to their ears, only feelings of confusion, hope, and later, frustration emerged. No longer were they able to picture the pristine rows of blankets that once lay before them. Instead, having encountered the deadly “gifts” of colonialism, governmental policies, and societal neglect, the students found themselves standing among a wasteland of scattered blankets and hidden shards of pain.

By: Zinnia C.
5/17/2018