We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. This is to include the provision of appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children.
Why “In Progress?”
July 20, 2022: The Govt. of Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation announce the new National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Graves
On August 11, 2021, the federal government committed $321M in new funding for Indigenous communities and appointing a special interlocutor to propose law and policy changes to better responds to the findings of unmarked graves at former residential school sites:
- $83M added to the existing $27M program to fund searches of burial sites and commemorate the children who died at residential schools
- $107M for programs to support healing from intergenerational trauma
- $100M over two years to help Indigenous communities manage residential school buildings. To access this support, as well as support for the location, commemoration and memorialization of remains, communities can apply through the Residential Schools Missing Children – Community Support Funding Program.
- $9.6 million over three years in addition to the $13.4 million over five years already announced in Budget 2021 to ensure that the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools is never forgotten.
- The funds will support initiatives that commemorate the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, including events and activities marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which will be observed for the first time this year on September 30, 2021
Mar. 19, 2022: CBC – Raymond Frogner, head of archives for the NCTR, will be visiting the Rome archives of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to review and digitize residential school-related records. He said the NCTR is still negotiating with the Oblates to access the personnel files of priests and residential school staff. He said the Oblates are seeking restrictions around records from those members who are still alive. In a previous update on June 6, 2021 (Toronto Star), the Oblates who operated 48 schools in Canada said the work is not complete because of complications with provincial and national privacy laws.
The federal government released $27M in unused funding from a $33.8M budget allocations for Calls to Action # 72 and 73 in Budget 2019 to assist communities in the search for additional graves.
Current Status
July 20, 2022
In Progress
Previous Status
May 14, 2022
In Progress
Latest Updates
Site last updated on July 20, 2022
Fed Govt Nat. Advisory Committee & Interlocutor
Government of Canada and NCTR announce National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials
Ottawa, ON — Unceded Traditional Territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation – Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the National Centre for Truth and……
July 20, 2022
Fed Govt Nat. Advisory Committee & Interlocutor
Government of Canada and NCTR announce National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials
Ottawa, ON — Unceded Traditional Territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation – Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the National Centre for Truth and……
July 20, 2022
Commitments to Residential School cemeteries
Manitoba Government allocates $2.5 Million for the Identification, Commemoration and Protection of Burial Sites of Children Who Attended Residential Schools
NationTalk: The Manitoba government and the First Nations, Inuit and Red River Métis Council on Residential Schools is allocating $2.5 million to Indigenous governments and……
June 15, 2022
Fed Govt Nat. Advisory Committee & Interlocutor
Kimberly Murray appointed Special Interlocutor
CBC: Kimberly Murray, a Mohawk woman originally from Kanehsatake in Quebec, has been appointed special interlocutor to co-ordinate the government’s response to the unmarked graves that……
June 8, 2022
Disbursements of fed. funds to find unmarked graves
Sagkeeng First Nation update
CBC: Sagkeeng First Nation’s search of former residential school site uncovers 190 radar anomalies The search of a former Manitoba residential school site has unearthed……
June 6, 2022
Disbursements of fed. funds to find unmarked graves
Stólō Tribal Council
St. Mary’s Residential School, All Hallows and Coqualeetza: $1,077,520 2021-24 Chemainus Valley Courier: Interviews of survivors of St. Mary’s Residential School is being undertaken by……
May 18, 2022
Disbursements of fed. funds to find unmarked graves
Govt of Canada update on actions to help Indigenous communities to respond to and heal from impacts of residential schools
Crown and Indigenous Services Canada and Northern Affairs Canada : On May 16: the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; the Honourable Patty Hajdu,……
May 17, 2022
Disbursements of fed. funds to find unmarked graves
Sagkeeng First Nation
Fort Alexander IRS: $610,093 Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: Sagkeeng First Nation has undertaken work related to Fort Alexander (Pine Falls) Residential School and……
May 4, 2022
Disbursements of fed. funds to find unmarked graves
Wabasca (St. John’s) and Desmarais (Wabiscaw Lake, St. Martin’s, Wabiscaw) IRS
Bigstone Health Commission: $2,009,322 2021-2024 CIRNAC: Bigstone Health Commission is undertaking work related to research, knowledge gathering, commemoration, memorialization, and fieldwork investigation around two former……
May 3, 2022
Disbursements of fed. funds to find unmarked graves
Sipekne’katik First Nation
Shubenacadie Residential School: $326,700 CIRNAC:The funding supports the “Shubenacadie Residential School Support Project for Sipekne’katik.” This funding will assist with the research, knowledge gathering, commemoration,……
April 20, 2022