Quilts for Survivors started in June 2021 after Kamloops announced the 215 unmarked graves at its former residential school.
Despite living in Ontario, the discovery was a personal one for Vanessa Genier of the Missanabie First Nation, for her great-grandparents had attended residential school. Her grandfather and his siblings were hidden in bushes so they wouldn’t have to attend.
“This affected me personally. I just felt like, in my spirit, it hurts. It was this ache,” said Genier.
She was standing in her living room when she heard the Creator say, “You quilt, do that.” A quilter for over 30 years, she got to work.
She reached out on social media to different quilting groups, asking for help making 215 blocks (plus one additional block) to complete 18 quilts with 12 blocks each. Within two weeks, the quilts were made and shipped off to survivors.
“It was unbelievable.”
Even more unbelievable were the requests that kept coming from survivors and family or friends of survivors wanting quilts, causing Genier to start a non-profit.
“It quickly became apparent that this was bigger than just a couple of quilts.”
To date, Quilts for Survivors has made over 3,800 quilts, which have been sent out to survivors.
The quilts contain patterns and colours from the makers, sometimes using their own Nation or territory as inspiration for the designs. Quilts for Survivors recommends intertwining orange into the design — signifying that every child matters — but other than that, there are few requirements as to what the quilt blocks should look like.
However, travel, school or religious-related fabric is not allowed — this is from survivor feedback, some of whom now have negative memories of travel, school and religion.
The rest is open to interpretation.
“It’s really at the discretion of the creator. Some quilters have explained why they made a block or why they made a top a certain way.”
Genier was surprised to open her email one September day and learn she had won the 2023 Special Recognition award from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
“I was very confused because I never applied for any award. No one told me that they had nominated me for this award. I was just shocked.”
As it turned out, CEO Keitha Robson of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce volunteered at the Timmins Quilts for Survivors studio and wrote about her experience making blocks, which led to the nomination.
A staff of only two, Quilts for Survivors didn’t have the funds to send Genier to the awards in Calgary in October, but funding quickly came in from Fountain Tire and the Canadian Chamber.
Genier said she hopes the volunteers for Quilts for Survivors know that the award is a joint effort of their hard work, whether a donated spool of thread, a few blocks made or entire quilts.
This includes the local 100 Mile House group run by Lisa De Paoli and Faith Andre.
For the survivors, Genier said the reactions have been mixed, a small amount expressing anger as they don’t want to identify as a survivor, but the majority feeling touched.
“One lady said that to be honoured by complete strangers, it was very overwhelming for her.”
Many share videos of their loved ones receiving the blankets, sharing them with Genier later. The healing effects of the quilts wrap around survivors.
“I’m really grateful to our board. We have a wonderful board of Indigenous women, one of them being a survivor … And then, of course, very grateful to all of our wonderful volunteers, to our sponsors and anyone who’s given a donation.”
You can learn more about Quilts for Survivors at quiltsforsurvivors.ca.
