The Witness Blanket at Queen’s University

Queen's University Library is honoured to be hosting The Witness Blanket, a large-scale art installation created by master carver Carey Newman whose traditional name is Hayalthkin'geme. The piece is on loan from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.   

The Witness Blanket — a symbol of resilience and Reconciliation — is inspired by woven blankets and made up of hundreds of items reclaimed from Residential Schools, churches, government buildings, and traditional and cultural structures from across Canada. 

The Witness Blanket will be housed in the Fireplace Reading Room on the second floor of Stauffer Library. The exhibit will be made available to anyone during library hours until 8pm in the evenings (or until the library closes if earlier), beginning at noon on Thursday April 11. The Witness Blanket will be on display until the first week of June. Please confirm library hours before attending.  

Classes are encouraged to confirm their planned visit via this form in an effort to help ensure there is enough space for students to engage meaningfully with the Witness Blanket.  

To learn more about The Witness Blanket, visit witnessblanket.ca.