Research Guides: Indigenous Peoples Research Guide: Residential Schools

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Reports

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
The NCTR was created to preserve the memory of Canada’s Residential School system and legacy.
National Student Memorial Register
Created to forever remember and honour the children who never returned home from residential schools. Search by student name, and residential school.
Memorial Map
Map represents the location of residential schools across Canada.
Residential School Timeline

Reports and Publications

Visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website to access additional reports under the following sections: TRC, modern, government, legislation, and Aboriginal Healing Foundation. Below is a selection of reports from this site.

Ryerson Report (PDF) (1847)
Report by Chief Superintendent of Education in Upper Canada, Egerton Ryerson, advocating the use of Industrial schools for educating Indigenous children.
Indian Act (PDF) (1876)
The Indian Act of 1876 consolidated a number of pieces of legislation, including the Gradual Civilization Act (1857) and Gradual Enfranchisement Act (1869).
The Story of A National Crime (PDF) (1922)
By Dr. Peter Bryce (Chief Medical Officer, Department of Indian Affairs) repeatedly reported that tuberculosis and poor conditions in residential schools were decimating Aboriginal populations.
White Paper (PDF) (1969)
Issued in 1969, this white paper advocated the assimilation of Indigenous people in Canada.
Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (Oct. 1996)
See Volume 1: Chapter 10 - Residential Schools. (1991).
A Healing Journey: Final Report and Summary Points (PDF) (2006)
The final report and summary of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
The Role of the RCMP During the Indian Residential School System (PDF) (2011)
Composed of internal RCMP research, this report documents some aspects of its involvement in the Indian Residential School system.
Indigenous Resilence, Connectedness and Reunification (PDF) (2016)
A Report on Indigenous Child Welfare in British Columbia.

Web Resources

Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (IRSHDC)
IRSHDC at UBC addresses the colonial legacy of residential schools and other policies imposed by the Canadian government on Indigenous Peoples, and ensures that this history is acknowledged, examined and understood.
Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)
IRSSS is an non-for-profit society that provides physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual growth, development, and healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles for Survivors, Families, and Communities.
Orange Shirt Day (Sept 30)
September 30th is a movement to recognize and remember Indigenous children who attended residential schools; survivors still with us and those children lost within these schools. The origin of Orange Shirt Day comes from residential school survivor Phyllis (Jack).
Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential School
Site acknowledges the experiences, impacts, and consequences of Canada’s Residential School System on Indigenous Peoples, Inuit and Métis.
Nindibaajimomin: Art & Reconciliation
an inter-generational digital storytelling project on the legacy of residential schools in Canada[1]. Taking place between 2010-2014 in Winnipeg it consisted of four digital storytelling projects with 32 residential school survivors and the children of residential school survivors.
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Organised by the Oral History Centre and the Department for Indigenous Studies at the University of Winnipeg.

Content Warning

Some links on this page may contain subject matter that may be disturbing to some visitors and survivors of the residential school system. You are welcome to make use of Health Canada's 24-Hour National Survivors Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 for support.

Norma Marion Alloway Library

Indigenous Peoples Research Guide

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Reports

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)

Reports and Publications

Web Resources

Content Warning