Camosun Innovates, in partnership with Indigenous artist Carey Newman and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), is launching an innovative applied research project to expand access to the acclaimed Virtual Reality Witness Blanket (VRWB) and create new opportunities for immersive Indigenous storytelling and learning.
The project will develop a multi-user virtual reality environment that enables groups of participants to experience the VRWB together, fostering dialogue, shared reflection and collaborative learning. The initiative will also establish new technological foundations to support future Indigenous virtual reality experiences planned by the CMHR.
"This VR builds on the original Witness Blanket, offering users the opportunity to interact with the objects discover sounds of culture and language that have been collected from Indigenous community members before being integrated into the virtual experience." says Carey Newman (Nulis), Kwakwaka'wakw and Coast Salish artist, and University of Victoria professor. "It's exciting to work with this new technology to engage audiences with the history and legacy of residential schools in a new way, while supporting meaningful dialogue and continuing education."
Building on the success of the existing platform, the project will introduce two major enhancements: an integrated multi-user interface and narrative designer functionality.
The multi-user component will allow multiple participants to interact within the virtual environment simultaneously. While individual engagement with the Witness Blanket has proven meaningful both in-person and in virtual settings, the new platform will support collaborative experiences that encourage conversation, comparison and collective reflection. These interactions can occur organically or be guided by facilitators, educators and community organizers participating within or alongside the virtual experience.
"This project will break new ground in the world of Virtual/Extended Reality technologies while expanding the impact of this Indigenous artwork on communities and individuals around the world," says Richard Gale, Director of Camosun Innovates. "It takes our previous work with Carey Newman and the CMHR to a new level, once again supporting and enhancing what has become a long-term collaboration in support of reconciliation and the Residential Schools era in our history."
The project will introduce a new narrative designer tool that empowers curators, educators, Elders, residential school survivors and community witnesses to create customized journeys through the Witness Blanket. Users will be able to select artifacts, develop guided pathways, record personal audio narratives and build thematic experiences that deepen understanding of residential school history while supporting ongoing reconciliation and truth-telling.
The enhanced platform will expand access to the Virtual Reality Witness Blanket, enabling the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to share the experience with remote and Indigenous communities, educational institutions, partner organizations and invited curators across Canada and around the world. By providing accessible tools for immersive storytelling, the initiative will amplify survivor voices, enrich educational experiences and foster meaningful engagement with the history and legacy of residential schools for future generations. Through innovation, collaboration and Indigenous-led storytelling, the project advances new opportunities for dialogue, education and reconciliation.
Camosun Innovates connects applied learning and applied research, design thinking and interdisciplinary inquiry, productivity improvement and tech-savvy intention. Recent projects include design and manufacturing of competitive equipment for Olympic para-athletes, and advanced manufacturing processes informed by real-time digital feedback.
