Quilt project will weave together stories of newcomers, Indigenous Canadians

WATERLOO REGION — A community quilting project aims to build understanding between newcomers to Waterloo Region and Indigenous Canadians.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre is organizing the project called Neighbours, and workshops are being held next week around the community to help people create quilt blocks to tell their story.

“It’s a very Waterloo Region kind of thing to do, but sewing is so important in many cultures,” said Lucia Harrison of the multicultural centre.

That makes it a great way to bring together newcomers and Indigenous people to encourage conversation.

Many newcomers to this country don’t know a lot about Indigenous culture and history, Harrison said. But there is also shared experience, including forced displacement.

“There’s similarities that I think would be good to share,” Harrison said.

Sharing stories is a component of the quilt making. People will be at the workshops to gather people’s stories about what their quilt blocks mean, whether that’s written or recorded.

Once all the blocks are sewn together, the quilt will be unveiled at a public event. The hope is to turn those stories into a play, using the quilt as the backdrop.

People don’t need sewing or quilting experience to participate. They’ll get hands-on guidance at the workshop and can use a variety of materials and techniques to illustrate their story.

“It can be done in any possible way,” Harrison said. “However they want to express their little story, they can do it.”

Harrison sees this as just one response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations by raising awareness in the community.

“It’s our little piece of trying to take action,” she said.

It’s also an opportunity for newcomers to share their rich histories and culture to create a snapshot of the community we all live in today.

Newcomers and Indigenous Canadians who are interested in joining the workshops can register by calling the multicultural centre at 519-745-2531 and ask for Michele.