Indian Residential Schools National Monument (First Nations, Métis and Inuit)

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Call to Action #81 calls “upon the federal government, in collaboration with Survivors and their organizations, and other parties to the Settlement Agreement, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, Residential Schools National Monument in the City of Ottawa to honour Survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.”

On August 10, 2021, the Government of Canada announced $20 million had been set aside to build the national monument.

Establishing a Vision for the Monument

A National Survivor Consultation Workshop was held on October 22, 2019. The Survivor-led visioning process was organized and facilitated by former TRC Commissioner Dr. Marie Wilson, in collaboration with Canadian Heritage. The workshop brought together First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representatives, and included perspectives from every region of Canada. Participants included members of the TRC Survivors Advisory Committee, Intergenerational Survivors, TRC Honorary Witnesses and representation from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Survivor-led Steering Committee

At the end April 2022 a Survivor-led Steering Committee was established to oversee the monument project through to its completion. It will oversee the implementation of the guiding vision established by the 2019 Workshop, ensuring the project remains grounded in Indigenous values. The Committee will also provide advice and guidance on such matters as site selection, the design competition process, and the development of educational content and programming.

The Site

The site selected by the Steering Committee is on the ancestral lands of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation on the west side of Parliament Hill. The site is highly visible in the heart of downtown Ottawa.

Name of the Monument

The name Indian Residential Schools National Monument (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) reflects historical terminology used during the era of residential schools. This decision was taken in November 2024 by the Indian Residential Schools National Monument Steering Committee (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). It acknowledges the importance of preserving historical truth to ensure the Monument honours the lived experiences of Survivors. By retaining the term 'Indian,' as defined under the Indian Act, the name serves as a powerful reminder of the systemic injustices endured and the lasting impacts of residential schools. The Monument stands as a call to recognize these truths as a foundation for meaningful reconciliation.