For any curious folks, The Blanket Exercise is explained in greater detail at this website: https://www.kairosblanketexercise.org/about/.

But a quick description is that Blanket Exercise participants take on the roles of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Standing on blankets that represent the land, they walk through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. They are directed by facilitators representing a narrator (or narrators) and the European colonizers. Participants are drawn into the experience by reading scrolls and carrying cards, which ultimately determine their outcomes. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy. Ideally, the exercise is followed by a debriefing session in which participants have the opportunity to discuss the experience as a group. This often takes the form of a talking circle.
 
This will be a way for us to learn about Canadian history from an Indigenous perspective and to begin reconciliation work in our community. We are very lucky to have the expertise of Devin Pielle, a facilitator from Tla'amin who will be leading this exercise along with Brenda Hanson, Duane Hanson, Drew Blaney, and CIMAS Director, Rose Hanson in the morning on Saturday. 

In the afternoon, we will be doing our We Come From Song activity, allowing all those gathered to work together creatively, reflecting on our identities, history, and hopes for the future. Registration for this Klahoose First Nation/CIMAS/ Canada 150 project is open to everyone in the community by phoning the Museum at 250 935 6340, or by emailing: cimas@twincomm.ca.