UFCW Canada commends federal government for releasing residential school files

Ottawa – December 9, 2021 – UFCW Canada and Indigenous Sub-committee members are commending the announcement made this week that the federal government will be turning over thousands of residential school files to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) based in Winnipeg.

The decision comes after months of advocacy by UFCW Canada Indigenous Sub-committee members, labour organizations and community allies. With the announcement the federal government has committed to releasing the files to NCTR which could take between 30 to 45 days.

The NCTR holds the country’s largest collection of residential school materials and works to educate Canadians of the traumas endured by First Nation, Métis and Inuit survivors of the government-funded, church ran institutions.

Access to these long-held materials by the federal government are an important step on the road to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples for national truth-telling and restitution.

To find out more about our work in support of Indigenous justice, click here.