A year after learning about a project that aimed to provide survivors of residential schools with handmade quilts, Loretta Wiley was gifted one herself. Reflecting on the emotional moment, Wiley expressed her joy and gratitude at receiving the beautiful quilt at her home in Alberta.
Soon after receiving the quilt, Wiley felt compelled to bring it to Tulita, N.W.T., her hometown. She fondly recounted the decision to share the quilt with her family members, emphasizing the importance of honoring her parents.
Wiley’s connection to the project, Quilts for Survivors, began when she impulsively applied after discovering the organization’s impactful stories on social media. Traveling from Grimshaw, Alta., to Norman Wells, N.W.T., Wiley and her husband made a stop in Tulita to surprise her father and stepmother with the quilt.
In a heartwarming moment, Wiley presented the quilt to her family, with her stepmother expressing gratitude for having a tangible memory of survivors, including Wiley’s grandmother, Rosie. The quilt held sentimental value and served as a tribute to Wiley’s heritage.
During her visit to Tulita, Wiley also revisited Rosie’s Cabin, where she cherished memories of her childhood with her grandmother, who had shared her experiences from the residential school in Fort Providence. Reflecting on her grandmother’s resilience and love, Wiley expressed gratitude for her upbringing and the lessons learned.
The founder of Quilts for Survivors, Vanessa Genier, initiated the project in 2021 following reports of unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. As an intergenerational survivor, Genier felt compelled to use her quilting skills to support survivors, leading to the establishment of the non-profit based in Timmins, Ont.
With over 8,400 quilts gifted to survivors across North America, Quilts for Survivors has made a significant impact. For Wiley, the butterfly motif on her quilt held special significance, symbolizing her grandmother and adding a profound layer of meaning to the gift.
Reflecting on the experience, Wiley felt a deep sense of fulfillment in bringing the quilt to her family, particularly in honoring her grandmother’s memory. The completion she felt in fulfilling this goal underscored the profound healing power of the quilt in her journey of remembrance and healing.