Group of Elders, Survivors, NCTR staff and UM staff outside in front of a teepee
Estimated Read Time:
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Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes

Manitoba invests $20 million in the future of truth and Reconciliation

Investment will support the construction of a new permanent home for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

At a moving event filled with prayer, song, and ceremony, the Government of Manitoba announced a historic $20-million investment in the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). The gift will help build a permanent home for the Centre on Treaty One Territory in Winnipeg, ensuring that the truths of Survivors are preserved and shared for generations to come.  

The NCTR is a place where we as Manitobans can gather to honour Survivors and keep moving forward on the path of Reconciliation. As Orange Shirt Day approaches, this new permanent home will be a lasting commitment so the true lesson that every child matters will be transmitted to the future.

Premier Wab Kinew

Premier Wab Kinew standing at a podium with Elders, Survivors and UM staff standing behind him

The announcement was held on the grounds where the new facility will be built. The new Centre will serve as a home for sacred artifacts and historical records including oral testimonies from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada that documented the history and ongoing impact of the residential school system on Indigenous children, their families and communities. Kinew noted that with the building of the new Centre, the stories of Survivors will always be respected and their truths will not be forgotten.

Stephanie Scott presents a gift to Premier Wab Kinew

“We are grateful to the Manitoba government for this extraordinary commitment to our new home,” said Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the NCTR. “With this support, we will be able to build a space that honours Survivors, protects their truths, and welcomes people from across Canada to learn and walk the path of Reconciliation. This is a gift that will strengthen both our community here in Manitoba and the national movement toward truth and justice.”

The vision for the new Centre is that it will be an international learning lodge open to the public. It will feature exhibits, indoor and outdoor ceremonial spaces and other functional spaces. It will offer a place to deliver educational programming, conduct ongoing research and share dialogue on the implementation of the Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. 

The new Centre will be a place where family members can visit for healing and to reconnect with lost histories and loved ones. It will be a place where children, families, and people from all walks of life can embark on their own journey of Reconciliation based on understanding and appreciating the true history of residential schools.  

“We're so thankful to have a partner like the NCTR guiding us forward, helping us to learn and understand our true history and continue forward in a path of Reconciliation,” said Michael Benarroch, UM president and vice-chancellor. “Our university is honoured to have the trust and responsibility to help build this home for the NCTR, to reflect the vision of Survivors and help it fulfill the mission and mandate.”

Elders and Survivors holding flags
Niigaan Sinclair at podium with Elders, Survivors, UM President Michael Benarroch and Stephanie Scott standing behind him
Elder Florence Paynter presenting a gift to Premier Wab Kinew
Bentwood Box and other sacred artifacts

Established in 2015, the NCTR has operated out of a temporary location at the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus. The premier noted this investment will help to bring the vision of a permanent home to life. The project has also received support through the Government of Canada, The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada Life and Power Corporation of Canada, and many others. The land for the future site was gifted by the University of Manitoba, which will continue to provide in-kind support. 

Get involved

You can be a part of the change that our country needs. Your gift will help create a place where the truths are not forgotten, where the courage of Residential Schools Survivors can guide us to a better future.

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By

UM Today Staff

What does a future fueled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.