Announcing the director of the National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Ry Moran

Mr. Ry Moran has been announced as the Director of National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba, effective February 3, 2014.

The University is honoured to be chosen by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to host the National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation; it joined hands with communities across Canada when it signed the historic agreement on June 21, 2013 – National Aboriginal Day. The University is focused on fostering reconciliation, which is why it was the first university to offer an official apology to Canada’s First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, and it is proud to have Mr. Moran further its goal when the Centre formally opens in 2015.

The National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will be located on the U of M campus and will house thousands of video- and audio-recorded statements from Survivors and others affected by the schools and their legacy; millions of archival documents and photographs from the Government of Canada and Canadian church entities; works of art, artifacts and other expressions of reconciliation presented at Truth and Reconciliation Commission events; and research collected and prepared by the Commission.

The Centre will operate within the academic and administrative structure of the University.  Moran will report administratively to the Office of Vice-President (Research and International), and he will be responsible in managing the day-to-day operations of the Centre.

“The Indian Residential School system is one of the greatest tragedies in Canadian history,” says Digvir Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) at the U of M. “The University of Manitoba is committed to its responsibility to ensure that the oral and written history collected by the TRC is respectfully preserved, enabling the healing of our society. We are proud to have Mr. Ry Moran take on the role of Director of this Centre, ensuring it excels at its mandate and makes its contents accessible for use in teaching and research so that we never repeat the grave mistakes of our past.”

Moran will assume a lead role to liaise and coordinate with Aboriginal communities and Survivor organizations, governments, partners, external agencies and University departments to establish the Centre. He will also work closely with the Centre’s Governing and Survivor Circles that will be comprised of Survivors, partners and community members.

Since 2010, Moran has been the Director of Statement Gathering with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Prior to this, he owned YellowTilt Productions, delivering professional services in a variety of areas including Aboriginal language preservation. Moran, a bi-lingual member of the Metis Nation, is a Masters of Business Administration candidate, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria.