The Blanket Exercise is an interactive learning activity that guides participants through 500 years of Indigenous stories, experiences, and history, as it pertains to experiences with and the effects of explorers, colonial settlers, and the U.S. federal and state governments on Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations. The Blanket Exercise was developed by KAIROS, an ecumenical organization in Canada, during the Decade of Truth and Reconciliation, to teach Canadians about the stories and histories of the Indigenous people of their lands. KAIROS has shared the gift of The Blanket Exercise with some of its ecumenical partners in the United States and the exercise has been edited to inform and educate participants about the Indigenous experience here. The Blanket Exercise is indeed interactive and participants are expected to stand for some time during the first hour of the experience. However, ability and accessibility of each participant are always considered. The narration of the Exercise is filled with truths that can affect emotions and it is encouraged that a parent or guardian be present and participate with youth participants. In a very short span of time, The Blanket Exercise allows for deep learning and some have said that it was transformative to their work for justice. We look forward to having you join us for this important experience and for the journey toward truth and healing that follows.

Vance Blackfox, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, serves the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as the Desk Director for American Indian Alaska Native Tribal Nations. An alumnus of Texas Lutheran University (TLU) and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), Vance has previously served the ELCA in multiple capacities, from taking a post as National President of the Lutheran Youth Organization during his TLU days, to later working as a diversity and cultural education professional for the Women of the ELCA, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, California Lutheran University, ELCA Youth Gathering, and LSTC’s Youth in Mission. In addition to serving numerous ELCA and ecumenical teams and committees throughout the years, he is at present the Indigenous Theologian and Coordinating Team Member for the ELCA’s Theological Round Table, as well as creator and producer of the Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium hosted at LSTC.

Vance is also the founder and director of Other+Wise, a multi-site cultural education and cultural immersion program for youth and student groups from across the country. He has also previously served as the Director of Communications at the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, as the Director of Communications for Native Americans in Philanthropy, and has held executive director positions at the Haskell Foundation, which supports Haskell Indian Nations University, and the Oaks Indian Mission. Vance served as the Guest Curator of the Indian Museum at the University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures, and presently serves as the Indigenous Theologian for the Faith-Based Initiative for the City of San Antonio, where he currently resides.

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