Participating in Indigenous tourism initiatives, bringing your conference delegates to learn from local Indigenous Peoples and inviting First Nation speakers to your events are powerful ways to put reconciliation in action.
Winnipeg is the home of The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The Centre does everything from working on behalf of residential school Survivors to educating the public through exhibits and artifacts, to arranging speakers for your next meeting or convention.
We interviewed Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. She shared all the important work they are doing with us—how incredible her predominantly female staff is, and how your next meeting and convention can create a legacy impact as we all work toward Truth and Reconciliation.
Read the interview below.
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Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Treaty One Territory. My family is from the Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation and I’m of the Marten Clan.
I have the honour and privilege to serve as the Executive Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). Prior to joining the NCTR team, I worked with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as the Manager of Statement Gathering where I was responsible for the gathering and documenting of residential school Survivors’ audio and video recorded statements.
What is the new National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)?
he NCTR was born of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and was created to preserve the truths and lived experiences of residential school Survivors. We continue our crucial work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, researchers, communities, decision-makers and the general public to support the ongoing work of truth, reconciliation and healing across Canada and beyond.
Where is NCTR located?
The NCTR is hosted by the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Treaty One Territory.
When the NCTR was established, Survivors had a vision to create a place where the truths of their residential school experiences would be honoured and kept safe for future generations. Right now, our Centre operates out of a historic building on campus and as our work has grown substantially, we have outgrown this space. Employees are spread out across campus, and many of our artefacts and sacred items are in storage due to a lack of appropriate space.
In its new permanent home, the NCTR will be an international attraction for its cutting-edge work where history and Indigenous cultures come to life. It will be a safe space for Survivors to come together to share their knowledge and experiences, a place family members may visit for healing and to reconnect with lost histories and loved ones, a place where children, families, and people from all walks of life can embark on their own journey of reconciliation.
What has NCTR done differently?
The NCTR is Indigenous-led, and 70 per cent of our staff are Indigenous. We are not only an education and research centre, but we also hold more than four million records that serve as the historical documentation of the residential school experience. We have an online database of these records; tens of thousands can be searched and accessed by Survivors, their families and communities, researchers, and educators. We continue to work on agreements with government agencies and church entities on the release of records so they can be added to our archives and safeguarded by the NCTR.
What are the plans for the future of NCTR?
Our work continues to grow including the demand for educational resources, presentations and lectures. There is no timeline for reconciliation in Canada––we have decades worth of work ahead of us, just with our archives and collection of records alone.
We are also focused on the research to identify and commemorate the children who died or went missing from residential schools, and the burial locations of these children.
How is the NCTR educating people both in Winnipeg and outside of Winnipeg?
While the Centre is located in Winnipeg, our work spans from coast to coast to coast, and we work with many communities and Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners from all parts of Canada.
In addition to our ongoing education efforts through presentations and webinars, we are excited to be hosting Truth and Reconciliation Week this September.
This annual learning opportunity is a transformative five-day journey for students (grades 1-12), educators and the broader community to engage with the poignant history and enduring spirit of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
This year, we are hosting Mino-pimatisiwin – The Good Life, a youth empowerment gathering at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on September 18 where we will see more than 5,000 students come to learn of our nation’s history, hear from Survivors and take in cultural performances. While the gathering is closed to students, we will be livestreaming, so all can tune in.
How can meeting planners involve NCTR in meetings and conventions hosted in Winnipeg?
We welcome all meeting planners and organizations to reach out to learn more about the NCTR and our mandate and priorities; we have subject matter experts who can deliver presentations about our work and we have a gallery onsite that can host small meetings and get togethers.
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To learn more about the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation or to get in contact with Scott and her staff, visit the website. From September 23 – 27, NCTR programming can be viewed here. September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
