The Horror:
In the late 1883, Sir John A. MacDonald, Canada’s first prime minister, backed a system of residential schools that were “government-funded, often church-run boarding schools set up … with the primary aim of assimilating Indigenous children.” His argument was that if the children lived with their parents, they would learn their own cultures and not be “assimilated” into the Canadian society and culture.
It was, in short, akin to “cultural genocide.” The last of these schools closed in the 1990’s During their reign, over 150,000 children were forcibly taken from their parents and extended families, forbidden to speak their native languages, and in many cases died and were buried in unmarked graves. These graves started to be uncovered early this year, and as of October, 7,310 bodies had been found.
Children died of diseases, including tuberculosis, which spread rapidly in the unsanitary buildings and among malnourished students. Others died in accidents, in fires or by suicide. Some disappeared while running away. Families were not notified; their children simply disappeared.
Beginning to Heal:
This post is not a quilt shop. It is a dream that became a reality that took off with far more energy than Vanessa Genier ever expected. She read the news stores about the graves – graves of indigenous children who had been taken to Residential Schools by the government, and had died and been buried. They are finally coming home to the tribes of their birth. But what of the children who survived, and their children who were also sent to Residential Schools, sometimes three or four generations of pain?
Miss Vanessa is a member of the Missianabie First Nation in Ontario, and in the indigenous culture giving a blanket is a symbol of love and respect. As the website puts it, “a quilt is love sewn together to bring people together.” She started a group on Facebook, asking people to make and send to her 16 1/2″ quilt blocks, to be made into quilts to be presented to survivors of Residential Schools. She was hoping to get enough to make 18 quilts, with 12 blocks in each.
The project grew. Quilters responded, not just on Canada, but in the United States and around the world. What started in Miss Vanessa’s home quickly became too big to fit in her house with her family. Packages were opened live on Facebook, and the word continued to spread. Quilts for Survivors is now a registered non-profit, with a studio donated by a landlord in Timmins. So far, over 700 quilts have been presented to or shipped to survivors. If you consider that over 150,000 children were taken, we still have a lot of work to do! I got involved in this early on, and sent blocks and some other supplies, but shipping to Canada is expensive. Fortunately, there are survivors in the United States as well, so…
I have learned how to properly smudge a completed quilt. Smudging is an ancient purification ritual originally practiced by indigineous peoples. It involves igniting a bundle or braid of dried herbs and waving the smoke to purify people or spaces. Smudging metaphorically renews and cleanses the body, the mind and the spirit – actually not altogether that different from cleansing with incense. During the process prayers are offered for the recipient of the quilt. Amazon sells a kit with what you need to do this properly, and Miss Vanessa sent me a quick tutorial.
And then, of course, there are the quilts. I have been digging in my stash and picking up fabrics on sale. In my mind, anyone who claims Christianity needs to work to mend this breach, if only to aplologize on behalf of the Lord we love for what was done to these people in His name. My goal is to complete 10 quilts by the end of the year – the first four are ready to go as soon as I get addresses.
Quilt 1 – Elk, Bear, Wolf panels 
Bear & Eagle Star 
Bear and Eagle Log Cabin 
Jelly Roll Race
What has this to do with Thanksgiving? To a person, the recipients of the quilts have been humbly grateful. For those of us who did not have to go throught this horrific experiance, we should be grateful that we did not. For all of us, to have the expample presented by Miss Vanessa, to be focused on healing rather than retributions; to look forward rather than back – all of those are things to be thankful for as we move forward, no matter what pain is in our pasts. Consider adding your time, blocks, or quilts to the project. May each of you have a truly blessed Thanksgiving.
| Quilts for Survivors | Studio Hours: Please check the website |
| Donations: 130 Tamarack St, Timmins ON P4N 6P8, Canada | Phone: 1-705-262-1853 |
| Studio: 340 Spruce St S, Timmins, ON P4N 2M9, Canada | vanessa@quiltsforsurvivors.ca |
| www.quiltsforsurvivors.ca https://www.facebook.com/groups/1163361047509182 |
Stop back on Monday and see where the North American Shop Hop is visiting next! The logo and meme are both used with permission. Quilts are my own designs and creations.
What a great summary of this group/movement! I’m in Michigan and was able to send a quilt to California. Performing the smudge after learning how, added even more meaning to my contribution.
I was horrified and ashamed of my ignorance of Residential School when the first unmarked graves were found in Kamloops in June. As an avid quilter I have donated quilts to various organizations. @Quilts for Survivors sparked my interest as I was browsing through Facebook. I have sent one quilt to a survivor and quilt top to Timmons. I am currently working on a second quilt top to send. It gives me pleasure to read the work of Quilts of Survivors website and watch the quilts and supplies being donated. Quilters are generous and this attribute has been revealed in spades with each new donation of supplies, fabrics, notions and quilts. It is an honour for me to help this organization get quilts around the shoulders of survivors.
Please note that all donations are to be sent to :
130 Tamarack St, Timmins ON P4N 6P8 and not to the above mentioned address.
Thank you. The post has been updated accordingly.