The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s collection of historical documents, pivotal in Canada’s reckoning with its dark residential school legacy, faces a threat of destruction in 2027.
Tiana Vrbanik, in collaboration with the Anishinabek Mukwa Dodem, a key governing body of the Anishinabek Nation, submitted a petition in November urging the federal government to safeguard all residential school records.
Vrbanik emphasized the importance of understanding Canada’s complete history, asserting that every resident should familiarize themselves with their nation’s past.
The petition calls for immediate action to prevent the permanent loss of residential school records, ensure ongoing access for Indigenous communities, survivors, and the public, and allocate resources to support archival and community access projects.
Laura Arndt from the survivor’s secretariat highlighted the harrowing experiences recounted by survivors, including tales of abuse, violence, and dehumanization. She stressed the significance of preserving these records to uncover the truths behind the tragedies that occurred.
Thousands of survivors shared their childhood stories with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCRT) between 2009 and 2015. However, a legal ruling in 2014 mandated the destruction of these documents after 15 years, a decision reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2017.
The records hold survivors’ personal details and testimonies. To safeguard these records, survivors must reach out to the NCRT before September 19, 2027.
Vrbanik expressed her belief that survivors should not have to actively request their own records, likening it to accessing medical records, which individuals are typically entitled to without additional steps.
Arndt emphasized that the narratives shared by survivors guide the journey towards healing, impacting families, communities, and Canada’s national relationships.
The petition is available for signatures until March 5, 2026.
