The smell of burning sweetgrass filled the air at Saskatchewan Polytechnic yesterday as the women of James Smith Cree Nation presented the school with a cherished cultural artifact, the Talking Quilt.

The quilt was stitched by JSCN women with lived residential school experience. Images of broken hearts, crosses, churches, and most prominently, the word ‘abuse’ are depicted across the cloth.

Elder Sandra Head says it was made in Melfort in 2000 but was put away for 20 years when the quilt’s original owners passed away. The group of women have now decided to keep it at Saskatchewan Polytechnic as a symbol of resilience and strength.

“The Talking Quilt was and is a vessel of healing,” she explains. ‘We came together, shared our stories to be heard. For some of us, this was the first time talking about our hurts and pains.”

JSCN Chief Kirby Constant says those women are the backbone of their community.

“Every stitch represents the strength of a woman that refused to be broken, who fought for her family, for her community, and for a future where her children could stand in their identity.”

The quilt will be safety stored on display at Sask. Polytech and used for educational purposes.