KAIROS Blanket Exercise Initiative: Enhancing Relations between Municipal Governments and Indigenous Communities
You are invited to participate in the KAIROS Blanket Exercise taking place in Coalhurst, on September 10th, at the Community Center (527 50th Avenue). The Exercise begins at 6:30pm and will run for approximately two and a half hours. There is NO registration cost to attend; However, an RSVP is required to confirm your participation. Refreshments and a light snack will be provided.
What is a KAIROS Blanket Exercise?
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is an interactive session where participants step onto blankets representing the land, and into the role of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. The facilitators read a script and assume the role of European settlers, and later as representatives of the Crown. The Exercise builds awareness and understanding of our shared history as Indigenous and Non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by having participants literally walk through situations that include pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. Participants are drawn into the Exercise by reading scrolls and carrying cards, which ultimately determine each participants outcome. Following the Blanket Exercise, participants will engage in a group session, where they will have the opportunity to reflect on what they learned and ask questions.
What should participants bring?
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise requires participants to remove their shoes before stepping onto the blankets. As such, participants that may be uncomfortable in bare feet should consider wearing socks or other foot covering.
If you wish to attend the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, to be held on September 10, 2019 at 6:30pm, in the Coalhurst Community Center (527 50th avenue), please RSVP by September 9th, to Deb Florence, Recreation Coordinator for the Town of Coalhurst, by emailing [email protected] or calling 403-394-5150.
See the video below for an overview of the exercise.