eral, and provincial governments, members of the media, and Commission staff. The participants discussed the benefits and drawbacks associated with approaches for the development of a centre that will both house and make accessible the permanent record of the residential school system in Canada.
In November 2011, the Commission issued a Call for Proposals from organizations and agencies interested in working with the Commission to establish the National Research Centre.
Commemoration: Creating a Lasting Legacy
Under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the federal government is committed to funding commemoration initiatives that address the residential school experience. Former students, their families, communities, and groups of former students are eligible to submit proposals for regional or national commemoration projects to the Commission.
The Commission's ten-member Indian Residential School Survivor Committee reviews the proposals and makes recommendations on funding. The Commission then forwards the recommended proposals to the federal government, which administers the $20-million commemoration fund.
The first of two calls for proposals was issued in 2011. It provided for the allocation of $10-million.
The first call for proposals set broad categories that would allow individuals and communities to explore a wide range of commemoration initiatives, each intended to honour, validate, heal, or memorialize the residential school experience.
A funding limit of $50,000 was established for individual community commemoration projects. If communities collaborate on a single project, the amount of funding can increase by $50,000 per community to a maximum of $500,000. The limit for any individual national commemoration project was set at $2-million.
Over 200 proposals were received in response to the first call for proposals. The recommendations have been reviewed by the Indian Residential School Survivor Committee and forwarded to the federal government.
The Commission believes there should be formal residential school commemorations in every province and territory in Canada. It encourages all governments, educational institutions, and churches to ask themselves what they will do to commemorate the residential schools system.
Recommendation
- The Commission recommends that governments, educational institutions, and churches consult, design, announce, and publicly unveil residential school commemorations before the completion of the Commission's mandate.
National Events
The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement requires the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to hold seven National Events within the first two years of the launch of the Commission, and a closing ceremony at the end of the Commission's mandate. However, the Commission, in consultation with the parties to the Settlement Agreement, has determined to hold the events over its full five-year mandate. The first National Event was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in June 2010; the second in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, in June and July 2011; the third in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in October 2011. Subsequent National Events are planned for Saskatchewan, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia, with the Commission's closing ceremony taking place in Ontario.
The National Events provide the Commission with its greatest opportunities to reach out and connect with Canadians of all cultures and backgrounds. Intended to focus national attention on the residential school issue, they stimulate public engagement and education. Former students, families, and communities have been able to share their experiences in a context that allows for serious examination of the issues associated with residential schools. Simultaneously, the events have been defined by public acknowledgements of the schools' legacy and history, and by celebrations and appreciation of Aboriginal culture.
The Winnipeg National Event, June 16–19, 2010
The Winnipeg National Event, whose theme was It's About Respect—A Journey of Survival, Strength and Resilience, commenced with a sunrise ceremony on June 16, 2010, at the Forks National Historic Site. Located where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet, the Forks has a long history as a gathering site. Much of the event was staged in tents during a very rainy week. Despite this, an average of more than 10,000 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people per day came together in the spirit of understanding and respect, to learn about residential schools and honour the experiences of survivors. For many, the event was their first exposure to the residential school story. For many survivors, it was their first opportunity to speak publicly about their experiences.
Many former students came to the Winnipeg event so they could provide a statement about their residential school experience. In the weeks leading up to the event, the Commission coordinated a significant volunteer effort that brought former students to Winnipeg and housed them at a variety
