Commemoration

Commemoration is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) that will support regional and national activities that honour, educate, remember, memorialize and/or pay tribute to former Indian Residential School (IRS) students, their families and their communities.

Twenty million dollars has been identified for funding for Commemoration.

Commemoration Objectives

The main objectives of Commemoration are to:

• Assist in honoring and validating the healing and reconciliation of former students and their families through Commemoration initiatives that address their residential school experience;
• Provide support towards efforts to improve and enhance Aboriginal relationships and between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people;
• Provide an opportunity for former students and their families to support one another and to recognize/celebrate their strengths, courage, resiliency and achievements;
• Contribute to a sense of identity, unity and belonging;
• Promote Aboriginal languages, cultures, and traditional and spiritual values;
• Ensure that the legacy of residential schools and former students and their families' experiences and needs are affirmed; and,
• Memorialize in a tangible and permanent way the residential school experience

As outlined in the IRSSA, the Government of Canada will fund activities that recognize individual and family resiliency and achievements, as well as promote Aboriginal languages, cultures, traditional values and spiritual values. All former students, their families, communities and groups, are eligible to submit a proposal for a regional or national Commemoration project.

Commemoration activities will build upon an existing strong foundation of reconciliation efforts by the Government of Canada, such as the historic Apology by the Prime Minister in 2008; the permanent installation of stained glass artwork in Centre Block on Parliament Hill; and the gestures of reconciliation offered by Government of Canada at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) three national events.

For additional information on Commemoration,  please visit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission website or contact the TRC at 1-888-872-5554.

What Information is Available?

• List of Commemoration Partners – First Call
• Frequently Asked Questions