A cultural artifact created by several women from James Smith Cree Nation has found a new home.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic has been tasked with keeping the Talking Quilt, a quilt that shares the stories of several women’s hardships over the course of their lives.
The Talking Quilt was originally started by Ruby Head and each square of the quilt highlights a unique matriarchal journey, many of which detail residential school experiences and abuses.
Lindsey Boechler, Research Manager with the Centre for Health Research, Innovation, and Scholarship at Sask. Polytechnic, says the post-secondary institution was brought in after the last keeper of the quilt passed away.
“The group of women (who created the quilt) decided that Sask. Polytechnic would be a good spot to keep the quilt and preserve the stories,” said Boechler in a conversation with MBC News.
Boechler says she is honoured to have the quilt at Sask. Polytechnic.
“I’m really grateful that we could have such trust and really strong relationships with these community members and to be able to work alongside them to arrange for this to happen,” said Boechler. “A lot of these stories are at risk of being lost, and I think that this is a really important part of Canada’s history, of their community’s history, and a really important part of healing.”
The quilt was transferred to Saskatchewan Polytechnic in a ceremony of February 6.
The Talking Quilt will be displayed at the post-secondary institution’s Saskatoon campus for public viewing.
An interview with Lindsey Boechler on the transfer of the quilt is available here.
(TOP PHOTO – The Talking Quilt. Photo courtesy of Sask. Polytechnic)