National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Type | Academic, Indigenous, community |
| Location | Chancellor’s Hall, 177 Dysart Road, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $2.8 million |
| Director | Stephanie Scott |
| Staff | 22 |
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) is a special place. It keeps all the important information gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Its main job is to collect the full story and lasting effects of Canada's residential schools.
Contents
About the NCTR
The NCTR acts like a giant library and archive. It holds records about the residential school system. This helps Canadians learn about this important part of history.
A Look at NCTR's History
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation was created because of a special agreement in 2007. This agreement, called the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, said that a permanent archive was needed. This archive would hold all the records from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The Centre keeps all the stories from residential school survivors. It also has many old documents and other materials. The TRC collected these from 2009 to 2015. The NCTR now has millions of church and government records. It also has hundreds of photos from residential schools. Plus, there are over 7,000 statements from survivors.
The NCTR opened in the fall of 2015. It is located in Winnipeg, at the University of Manitoba. A part of the NCTR that you can access online opened on November 3, 2015. In December 2016, the Government of Canada gave $10 million to help the NCTR keep running. In September 2019, the NCTR was added to a special list. This list is the UNESCO Canada Memory of the World Register.
How the NCTR is Organized
The NCTR is set up to be a central place for the full history of the residential school system. Its main goal is to teach all Canadians about this history.
Who Guides the NCTR?
The NCTR is guided by an agreement between the TRC and the University of Manitoba. A group of seven people oversees the Centre. This group includes three survivors of residential schools. It also has two people from the University of Manitoba. The last two members are from partner organizations.
There is also a special group called the Survivor Circle. This group includes First Nations, Métis, and Inuit survivors. They come from all across Canada.
What Records Does NCTR Keep?
Under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, churches and government groups had to share their records. They were legally required to give all residential school documents to the TRC. These documents were then moved to the NCTR.
In 2018, it was found that the NCTR was still waiting for some records. Over 3,000 photos and many boxes of legal documents were still needed. These were from the Grey Nuns of Montreal.
NCTR's Programs and Activities
The NCTR offers many educational and research programs. These programs are about residential schools, healing, and reconciliation. Some of their ongoing programs include:
- "Imagine a Canada": This is a national art and essay program. It encourages young Canadians to think about what reconciliation means.
- "Lessons from the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement": This program asks survivors about their experiences with the settlement agreement. It helps people talk about what worked well and what did not.
On September 30, 2019, the NCTR shared a special memorial register. This day is also known as Orange Shirt Day. The register lists 4,037 students who died while attending residential schools in Canada. Creating this register was a key part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report. The report asked for a way to remember and honour those who died. The NCTR noted that the register is not yet complete. Many names of students who died are still unknown.
See also
