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COMMUNITY QUILT PROJECTS
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Her interest in social justice and healing in cultural work has led Alice to initiate many community quilt projects. She co-created Healthy Land, Healthy People in November of 2005 for the Assembly of First Nations and gathering of the First Ministers Meeting at Kelowna, B.C. She has worked with community quilters to assemble the Where Are the Children? Healing from the Legacy of Residential Schools quilt made in Red Lake, Ontario, the Sisters in Spirit quilt for the Native Women's Association of Canada, and has recently completed a project with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, coordinating the construction of quilted wall-hangings to acknowledge and recognize the pain and suffering inflicted on Indigenous peoples by the Indian Residential School system.
'HEALTHY LAND HEALTHY PEOPLE"
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Healthy Land Healthy People
14'x5.66', quilt by Alice Olsen Williams, 2005 Expert quilter Alice Williams of Curve Lake First Nation coordinated the creation of a 5x14' quilt that served as a backdrop for the 2006 First Ministers Meeting in Kelowna, B.C. “The theme for the First Ministers’ Meeting had to do with health issues, and our interpretation of the theme is that our health is intimately tied to the Land, for we are a People of the Land. If what they call the 'ecology' or the 'environment' is good, then our health is good.” Women from across Canada contributed squares to the quilt based on their interpretation of the connection between the Land and the People of this great and sacred Turtle Island. |
"Healthy Land Healthy People" (detail)
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"Healthy Land Healthy People" Canadian Woman Studies cover
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Where Are the Children? Healing from the Legacy of Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Community Quilt by Red Lake First Nation. Community members created the blocks which were sewn together by Alice Olsen Williams. |
TRC Quilt Red Lake
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Sisters in Spirit Traveling Quilt for the Native Women's Association of Canada The goal of "Sisters in Spirit" is to conduct research and raise awareness about the alarmingly high rates of violence against First Nation women and girls in Canada. You can read about the Sisters in Spirit initiative here: www.nwac.ca/sisters-spirit |
"Sisters in Spirit " traveling quilt
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"Sisters in Spirit" traveling quilt (detail)
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Quilt Series for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
Schools of Shame Crimes Against Humanity Child Prisoners More Horrors
Schools of Shame Crimes Against Humanity Child Prisoners More Horrors
"Schools of Shame"
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"Crimes Against Humanity"
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"Child Prisoners"
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"More Horrors" 2012
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Keewaytinook-Okimakanak ~ Quilt for the Northern Chiefs Alice Olsen Williams created a quilt for the Northern Chiefs council, with a block representing each Chief. Northern Chiefs is a non-political Oji-Cree Chiefs Council serving Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, McDowell Lake, North Spirit Lake and Poplar Hill First Nations. The Council provides health, education, economic development, employment assistance, legal, public works, finance, research, clean water, cellular, administration and computer communication services. www.knet.ca/ |
"QUILT FOR THE NORTHERN CHIEFS"
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Chief, North Spirit Lake
Chief, Keewaywin
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Kawartha Truth & Reconciliation Support Group Quilt
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> Slideshow of KTRSG Quilt Blocks <
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