The Blanket Exercise: Walking Through Over 500 Years of Broken Treaties and Settler/Indigenous Relations

Audience

Overview

The Blanket Exercise, originally created by KAIROS in collaboration with Indigenous communities in Canada, is an interactive learning experience that raises awareness of the nation-to-nation relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the United States. Based on real-life experiences, the Blanket Exercise is designed to increase knowledge about the laws, policies, and programs used during nation building by having participants literally walk through U.S. history. Narration is provided while role assignments are designated for each participant. Blankets on the floor represent land taken, reassigned, or designated for Indigenous Peoples and settlers. Participants are provided with the opportunity to form a common historical memory and begin a conversation about how we can build intercultural bridges together. Accommodation for all participants’ abilities will be provided. The session concludes with a time for debriefing and discussion.  

Speakers: Rev. Amy Odgren, Deacon Colleen Bernu, and Rev. Dr. Matthew Cobb