Question Period Note: Indian Residential School Sites (Calls to Action 72-76) – Unmarked Burials

• Our thoughts are with Survivors, their families and communities as the truth about residential schools unmarked burials continues to be revealed.
• Funding is available to support communities, Survivors and their families on their healing journey through researching, locating, and memorializing those children who died while attending Indian residential schools.

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If pressed on the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation or the National Residential School Death or Memorial Registers

• Canada has partnered with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to continue the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work on the National Residential School Student Death and Memorial Registers.

• In 2019, the Centre launched a searchable online Memorial Register compiled from information collected while establishing the National Residential School Student Death Register.

• The Centre is developing an online registry of residential school cemeteries and unmarked burial sites.
• This work will provide important information for Survivors and families and contribute to inter-generational healing.

If pressed on Funding for Unmarked Burial Sites

• Building on previous budgets, Budget 2022 allocated an additional $135.6 million over three years, including $13.6 million over the next five years for the registers, bringing the Government of Canada's total investment to $252.4 million to date to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action 72 to 76 on residential schools missing children and burial information.

• These investments support community-led efforts to locate, document, commemorate, and memorialize burial sites associated with former residential schools and to honour families’ wishes for next steps.

• As of January 12, 2024, 146 funding agreements are in place that will provide more than $221 million to Indigenous communities and organizations to support their community-led and Survivor-centric efforts.

If pressed on the National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials

• Canada has established a National Advisory Committee on Residential Schools Missing Children and Unmarked Burials, and is co-administrating the Committee with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

• The Committee brings together a diverse range of expertise that contributes to a holistic understanding of the search process, including archival research, oral histories, archeology and ground search technology, forensics, criminal investigations and community health and well-being.

• The Committee will engage with communities to identify needs and provide independent, trusted information and resources.