Canadian Museum for Human Rights celebrates 10 years

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights here in Winnipeg is marking its 10th anniversary, and the museum is marking this milestone with the return of the Witness Blanket installation.

On September 20, 2014, this museum opened its doors as the first national museum to be built outside of Ottawa. Since its opening, over 2.25 million visitors, including hundreds of thousands of children,  have walked through.

“Museums are interesting beasts, are they not? I think in 10 years, for this museum, which makes me smile, 10 years of so many wonderful things, so much growth and so much learning,” said Isha Khan, the President and CEO of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

“I am so comforted, and I feel so much hope where we will be 10 years from now,” said Khan.

The Witness Blanket, created by Carey Newman, is a large-scale work of art that carries the stories of Indian residential schools Survivors through hundreds of reclaimed items and it’s just the latest installation at the museum.

“I think that as long we are willing to do that, then we won’t get stuck, and it opens up space for the work to do what it’s meant to do and for the blanket to be what it’s meant to be,” said Carey Newman, artist and creator of Witness Blanket.

In 2019, an agreement defined the Witness Blanket as a living entity and names the museum and Newman as joint stewards of the work and the stories it carries.

“As much as it’s showing the history and horrors of Canada and our people, I feel like it’s also showing the healing journey we are all doing collectively and that we’re bringing love and making space for one another,” said Low Flying Eagle Girl, a witness.

Michael Redhead Champagne, Indigenous Advocate in Winnipeg saying, “We are willing and ready to listen and witness the children come home. We are ready to see the end of MMIWG and today we saw the medicine that we need to make that happen.”