NCTR at U of M to receive $10 million from federal government

Today, on the anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, the federal government took an important step forward with an announcement about the creation of a National Reconciliation Council and $10 million in financial support for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) at the University of Manitoba.

“The University of Manitoba is pleased to see continued support from the federal government for the crucial work of Reconciliation,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. David Barnard. “Today’s announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will further enhance the NCTR’s ability to preserve the stories of Canada’s Residential School system Survivors, and support understanding and healing for them and their families, Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.”

“We are thrilled with the Prime Minister’s announcement today. It is heartening that government not only recognizes the importance of the work the Centre is doing, but has also committed to answering the call to set up a Reconciliation council,” said Ry Moran, Director of the NCTR. “The council is a vital component of the reconciliation framework moving forward.”

The National Reconciliation Council that was announced today will be an independent, national oversight body that would report annually on the progress towards reconciliation. Organizing the council was the fifty-third Call to Action put forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

To mark the TRC’s anniversary, and as part of their role in preserving the memory of residential schools and addressing their legacy, the NCTR is launching a website that will help Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians keep track of the status of each and every Call to Action.

The NCTR encourages communities, organizations, and governments across the country to share information to give Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians a concrete idea of the state of reconciliation in this country. The Centre welcomes input from groups or individuals who know of projects that address one or more of the Calls to Action.