Our Lady of Assumption Parish Council (Lethbridge, AB) was honored to present The Blanket Exercise with Facilitators Shelley Kirkvold, Co-Ordinator of First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education with Holy Spirit School Division and Emily Fox, First Nations, Metis and Inuit Niitsitapi Facilitator at Catholic Central High School and sharing by Elder Dorothy Day Chief.
It is designed to educate participants about the historical and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. The Blanket Exercise is focused on raising awareness, building empathy and encouraging action.
Elder Dorothy Day Chief shared a story of her experience at a residential school and the lasting impacts that she works to resolve through reflection and forgiveness. Facilitator Emily Fox, whose parents are both residential school survivors, spoke of the generational trauma she has experienced and the importance of the truth being told and heard by all citizens to facilitate healing.
This was a very meaningful exercise, and all participants were enriched in knowledge and understanding by their participation. They highly recommend The Blanket Exercise for other Parish Council Groups.
Submitted by Nadine Chandler
