Ottawa, Ontario - Crown−Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Today, Stephanie Scott, Executive Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR); and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown−Indigenous Relations, announced the appointment of Chief Cadmus Delorme of Cowessess First Nation as the chairperson of the new Residential School Documents Advisory Committee.
On December 10, 2021, Minister Miller issued a directive to the department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) to establish a committee that would develop recommendations on the identification and sharing of documents of historical interest with the NCTR. The Residential School Documents Advisory Committee is the result of this direction.
The Residential School Documents Advisory Committee will be composed of Survivors, First Nations, Inuit and Métis community members, and federal and expert representatives. As the independent chairperson of the Residential School Documents Advisory Committee, Chief Delorme has a mandate to promote consensus-based decision-making and ensure Indigenous voices are reflected in all discussions and decisions regarding the identification, review and sharing of residential school-related documents.
CIRNAC is currently identifying the number and nature of any documents that may not have been shared previously. To date, Canada has provided more than 1.5 million additional documents and higher-quality images to the NCTR, 12 previously unshared or updated school narratives and the full document collection from the Sisters of St. Ann. This exercise expands on ongoing reviews by other government departments and is expected to conclude in spring 2023.
The results of this exercise will support the work of the committee as they develop and propose a consistent approach to the identification, review and sharing of documents related to residential schools listed under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) and not included in the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In developing this standard approach, the committee will provide recommendations to the Government of Canada on removing barriers to sharing documents, while respecting Survivors' wishes, legislation, court orders, settlement agreements and ongoing litigation processes.
This collaboration is an important step towards a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples, increased accountability and addressing the ongoing impacts of residential schools.
