Learn about the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada by participating in a blanket exercise

Photo by Shelley Saje Ricci

In support of the City’s Truth and Reconciliation efforts, we are hosting a blanket exercise for Port Moody residents on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Recreation Complex from 3pm to 6pm. Space is limited to 60 participants, aged 16 or older; advance registration is required.

A blanket exercise is an interactive educational program that teaches the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and provides an opportunity for experiential, emotional, and thoughtful learning. It tells the story of first contact between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Blankets are used to represent land and the historic process of colonization and its effects on modern day relationships between Indigenous and non-indigenous people.

The exercise will be facilitated by Shelley Saje Ricci (also known as Shelley Bear), through the Kairos Blanket Exercise program of Kairos Canada. Ricci is a mixed heritage woman of European and Indigenous ancestry. She is Cree, Mohawk, and Métis with paternal ties to the Michel Band located in the Treaty 6 Territory near Amiskwaciwâskahikan, now known as Edmonton. Ricci works as an Indigenous youth care worker and cultural advocate at Surrey schools and is a strong union activist/educator on topics such as Reconciliation and anti-Indigenous racism as well as Indigenous, women’s, and human rights.

Port Moody Blanket Exercise
Date: Saturday, June 25, 2022
Time: 3 pm to 6 pm (please arrive at 2:45 pm)
Location: Wellness Room, Port Moody Recreation Complex, 300 Ioco Road
How to register: please go to portmoody.ca/signmeup to register – you’ll find the blanket exercise listed under “Special Events – Adult” or you can type “blanket exercise” into the keyword search bar (you will need to create a PerfectMind account to register if you do not already have one with City of Port Moody Recreation)

Please register only if you can commit to participating for the duration of the three-hour exercise. Registrants are encouraged to bring water; no other food or drink will be permitted. If you have questions, please email Devin Jain, manager of cultural services, at djain@portmoody.ca.