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Amanda R. Dumoulin

Contributor’s Biography:

Amanda R. Dumoulin is a 3rd year student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University studying Education.

 

Resource Overview

Weblink PDF:

KAIROS. (2012). The blanket exercise. https://teacherlauragroome.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/kairos_blanketexercise_afn_version-revised_aug2012_lowresolution.pdf

Grade Level: Grades 4-12

Description:  

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is an interactive guided workshop that examines the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples in Canada, from history to present times. The Blanket Exercise provides two different formats. One format is shorter, uses more straightforward language, and aims to educate children in grades four to eight. The other format is more descriptive and complex, geared towards participants in grades nine to twelve, also applicable for adults. To implement this resource, the facilitator briefly discusses Canada’s history and the subjugation of Indigenous Peoples in North America. The KAIROS Blanket Exercise ranges from 1-3 hours. It incorporates an interactive demonstration which takes approximately one hour, while the discussion and reflection component takes the final 1-2 hours. The activity portion is a role-playing exercise. The facilitator separates participants into two roles: Indigenous Peoples and European settlers. A participant narrates the activity and a script is provided to help participants empathize with Indigenous Peoples by portraying the realities of colonization. The activity is supported by giving participants tangible objects, the blankets, representing the effects of colonization from an Indigenous perspective.

Significant Indigenous Knowledge:

The Blanket Exercise by KAIROS educates students on Indigenous history and discusses the colonization of North America, also referred to as Turtle Island. It effectively describes Indigenous historical circumstances by raising awareness of the “[…] nation-to-nation relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada” (KAIROS, 2012, p. 3 ). It offers both an Indigenous and settler perspective and teaches students the often-overlooked history of Canada.

Necessary Prior Knowledge:

Before using this resource, it is recommended that the educator becomes familiar with Indigenous histories regarding topics of First contact and settler colonialism. In short, prior to the arrival of Europeans on Turtle Island, Indigenous Peoples inhabited the land as thriving populations. At First contact, European and Indigenous populations had more equitable relationships with each other (Wilson, 2018). Indigenous Peoples taught Europeans the ways of the land and key survival skills whilst Europeans traded new goods. Relationships became strained as Canada forcibly removed Indigenous Peoples from their homes, offering Indigenous lands and resources to settlers. In the eyes of the settlers, “the land was theirs to colonize. As time went on, more and more settlers took over the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples” (Wilson, 2018). Europeans believed themselves to be superior and sought to assimilate Indigenous Peoples. A land where Indigenous Law reigned supreme was supplanted with European laws and customs.

Suggested Learning Activities

A possible activity is the enactment of the KAIROS Blanket Exercise. The facilitator will provide many of the tools necessary for the activity: 10 or more blankets, scrolls, index cards, three maps “Turtle Island,” “Treaties,” and “Aboriginal Lands Today,” which are all provided in the resource link (KAIROS, 2012). Participants are assigned roles: a narrator, Europeans, and Indigenous Peoples of North America. Blankets, which represent Turtle Island, are laid out on the floor. Participants portraying Indigenous Peoples are then instructed to stand on the blankets, that represent their land. Throughout the activity, the narrator reads through a script, calling on participants to read from scrolls and perform actions. The re-enactment demonstrates the historical interactions between Europeans and Indigenous Peoples. It provides a timeline that shows the systematic and oppressive treatment of Indigenous Peoples. Participants are offered a new perspective on why it is vital to understand Indigenous histories and the effects of colonization as they have a physical representation of Indigenous land theft.

After the hour-long re-enactment, another possible activity includes a debrief through an independent reflection, as well as a group discussion. A project may be assigned to demonstrate the knowledge acquired through the KAIROS Blanket Exercise and encourage further research on Indigenous voices. The assigned task will be a flexible format to attune to the participant’s strengths and interests. For example, the participant could write an essay, create a presentation, or lead an informal group discussion on content provided in the activity. The group discussion can discuss and unpack the themes and issues represented within the KAIROS Blanket Exercise.

The participants will sit in a circle, providing the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences and share their thoughts and feelings with the group. KAIROS encourages using a feather or stone to indicate the speaker and ensure that one participant speaks at a time. Some potential questions may include “What have you learned today? What was the most emotional moment for you? Was there something you didn’t understand?” (KAIROS, 2012, p. 14).

 

book on blanket
Knowing home: Braiding Indigenous science with Western science
Image description: book on quilted blanket
Image by: Rachel Chong BY-NC-ND (Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives)

 

References

 

KAIROS. (2012). The blanket exercise. https://teacherlauragroome.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/kairos_blanketexercise_afn_version-revised_aug2012_lowresolution.pdf

 

KAIROS blanket exercise community. (2020). Home. https://www.kairosblanketexercise.org/

 

Wilson, K. (2018). Pulling Together: Foundations guide. BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/indigenizationfoundations/chapter/43/

 

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

Indigenous Teaching Resources: Students Collection Copyright © 2022 by Katelyn Bouvier; Michelle Souliere; Lilach Marom; and Rachel Chong is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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