National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

We fact-checked residential school denialists and debunked their 'mass grave hoax' theory

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Recently a politician from a village in Prince Edward Island displayed an offensive sign on his property in which he proclaimed there is a “mass grave hoax” regarding the former Indian Residential Schools in Canada.

Key Points: 
  • Recently a politician from a village in Prince Edward Island displayed an offensive sign on his property in which he proclaimed there is a “mass grave hoax” regarding the former Indian Residential Schools in Canada.
  • Although many have called for him to resign, he is just one of many people who subscribe to this false theory.
  • A hoax is an act intended to trick people into believing something that isn’t true.

There is no media conspiracy

    • As two settler academic researchers, we decided to investigate the claims of a media conspiracy and fact-check them against evidence.
    • To find out, we analyzed 386 news articles across five Canadian media outlets (CBC, National Post, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and The Canadian Press) released between May 27 and Oct. 15, 2021.

‘Preliminary findings’ of ‘unmarked burials’

    • A National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Memorial Register has to date confirmed the deaths of more than 4,000 Indigenous children associated with residential schools.
    • But the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) noted its register of missing children was incomplete, partly due to a large volume of yet-to-be-examined and destroyed records.

Countering harmful misinformation

    • In the two years since, a number of commentators, priests and politicians, including the P.E.I councillor with his sign, have downplayed the harms of residential schooling — or questioned the validity, gravity and significance of the the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation’s announcement.
    • We hope that our research can contribute to this work and that our report helps to debunk the “mass grave hoax” narrative specifically.

Cherry-picked ‘evidence’

    • Myths, however, are not pure fiction; they often contain a kernel of truth that is exaggerated or misrepresented.
    • This selective representation of evidence is commonly referred to as cherry-picking, and it’s easy to see how those spreading the “mass grave hoax” narrative rely on cherry-picked evidence.
    • By September, denialists were misrepresenting the extent of media errors to push the conspiratorial “mass grave hoax” narrative online.
    • And we hope our report sparks a national conversation about how important language is when covering this issue.

Challenging Residential School denialism

    • According to Daniel Heath Justice and Sean Carleton (one of the authors of this story), residential school denialism is not the denial of the residential school system’s existence.
    • Read more:
      Truth before reconciliation: 8 ways to identify and confront Residential School denialism

      Residential school denialism, like climate change denialism or science denialism, cherry-picks evidence to fit a conspiratorial counter-narrative.

Truth before reconciliation

    • This is the strategy of disempowering and discrediting residential school denialism advocated by former TRC Chair Murray Sinclair.
    • We hope others will join us in this type of research to help Canadians learn how to identify and confront residential school denialism and support meaningful reconciliation.
    • As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said in its final report, without truth there can be no genuine reconciliation.

Residential school deaths are significantly higher than previously reported

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023

Over the past year I have worked at University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills (UnBQ) as the Indian Residential School Coordinator.

Key Points: 
  • Over the past year I have worked at University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills (UnBQ) as the Indian Residential School Coordinator.
  • There, I spent time speaking with survivors of Indian Residential Schools and I also helped conduct a search for grave sites of missing children.
  • Listening to the truths of residential school survivors was a stark reminder that we need to continue educating people about what happened at these schools, both for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks.
  • Despite the irrefutable evidence, there are still those who deny or refuse to acknowledge the abuse and deaths of Indigenous children in residential schools.

Survivor testimonies help lead the search

    • Our initial findings released publicly on April 19 identified 19 “reflections of interest” on 1.29 acres of land.
    • The term “reflections of interest” is used to describe traits that are similar in ground penetrating radar data (GPR).
    • This is only the start of the search process as UnBQ is located on 240 acres of land.

Addressing residential school denialism

    • In-depth measuring of the deaths of residential school students is critical to research and communities to help provide clearer understandings of the lives of these children across Canada.
    • Denialists may argue that uncovering a certain number of graves is not indicative of problematic conditions in the schools.
    • Indigenous scholars, leaders and survivors have long known that the number of deaths of children in residential schools was substantial.

Compassion as we mourn

    • I honour his wish by learning, unlearning and educating in systems that were not made for me.
    • Education is healing and it offers people an opportunity to understand, unlearn and relearn the truths of this country.
    • The intergenerational trauma of residential schools has interrupted and challenged our Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.
    • We need to be more compassionate with one another, as people, but also as practitioners working with Indigenous families.
    • Mental health support is available through the Hope for Wellness chatline at 1-855-242-3310 or using the chat box at hopeforwellness.ca.

Canada Post issues new stamps to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

The stamps – being released on September 28 in connection with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 – are the second issue in the annual series for the future of truth and reconciliation.

Key Points: 
  • The stamps – being released on September 28 in connection with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 – are the second issue in the annual series for the future of truth and reconciliation.
  • The stamp issue serves as a vehicle for truth about Canada's residential school system to help support the process of reconciliation and, ultimately, healing.
  • Canada Post worked closely with the Survivors Circle of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation this year on its annual Truth and Reconciliation stamp issue.
  • The Survivors Circle stressed the necessity to address the truth before Canadians can collectively work toward reconciliation.

CONTINUE TO HONOUR THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF RESIDENTIAL, DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOLS WITH THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT'S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION KEEPSAKE

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

All net proceeds from sales of the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake are being donated to the Na-mi-quai-ni-mak Community Support Fund, established by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Key Points: 
  • All net proceeds from sales of the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake are being donated to the Na-mi-quai-ni-mak Community Support Fund, established by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
  • Honouring the Survivors and the children who never returned home, the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake raises awareness about the intergenerational impacts of Residential, Day and Boarding schools.
  • "The Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake helps us acknowledge the truth of the Indigenous children who never returned from Residential, Day and Boarding schools," said Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO, Marie Lemay.
  • All net proceeds from the sale of the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake will support the work of Na-mi-quai-ni-mak Community Support Fund, established by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

TD Bank Group Releases 2023 Report - TD and Indigenous Communities in Canada

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 21, 2023

TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2023 /CNW/ - Today TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank") released its TD and Indigenous Communities in Canada – 2023 Report , outlining the Bank's commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and sharing its approach to supporting the social and economic inclusion and equity of Indigenous Peoples.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, Sept. 21, 2023 /CNW/ - Today TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank") released its TD and Indigenous Communities in Canada – 2023 Report , outlining the Bank's commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and sharing its approach to supporting the social and economic inclusion and equity of Indigenous Peoples.
  • "At TD, we know reconciliation is multifaceted and continuous, for each of us as individuals and collectively as a Bank," said Doris Bear, Vice President of Indigenous Banking at TD Bank Group.
  • The TD and Indigenous Communities in Canada – 2023 Report summarizes TD's collaborations with and support for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people and communities between 2020 and early 2023.
  • In 2023, the Bank announced the first cohort of 25 recipients of the TD Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples.

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT NAMED BY CORPORATE KNIGHTS ONE OF CANADA'S TOP 50 CORPORATE CITIZENS OF 2023

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 28, 2023

OTTAWA, ON, June 28, 2023 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mint has once again ranked among Corporate Knights' 2023 Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, ON, June 28, 2023 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mint has once again ranked among Corporate Knights' 2023 Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada.
  • "The Mint has come a long way in ensuring that it operates responsibly in all aspects of its business and we are committed to continually improving our environmental, social and governance performance," said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.
  • The Mint is also committed to giving back and helping to make a positive difference for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
  • The Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada ranking is based on 24 quantitative key performance indicators relating to resource management, employee management, financial management, clean revenue, clean investment and supplier performance.

Chief Cadmus Delorme appointed as chairperson of the new Residential School Documents Advisory Committee

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 21, 2023

The Residential School Documents Advisory Committee is the result of this direction.

Key Points: 
  • 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.
  • Chief Cadmus Delorme of Cowessess First Nation will be appointed as chairperson of the Residential School Documents Advisory Committee for a five-year term.

The Government of Canada and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation launch a new funding opportunity to support Reconciliation Network in Response to Call to Action 65

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 24, 2022

The investment will support a national research program with multiyear funding to advance the collective understanding of reconciliation.

Key Points: 
  • The investment will support a national research program with multiyear funding to advance the collective understanding of reconciliation.
  • The funded recipients will participate in activitiesmanaged by the NCTR, in its role as coordination hub for the Reconciliation Network.
  • "As the host for the National Centre on Truth and Reconciliation, the University of Manitoba has an important role to play in reconciliation in Canada.
  • This investment through the Reconciliation Network is an important milestone in implementing the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Canadian Federation of Library Associations Calls for the Release of all Outstanding Residential School Records

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 29, 2022

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2022) - The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) has sent an open letter to federal Cabinet Ministers calling on their support for the full public release of outstanding residential school records currently being withheld by the Catholic Church and other orders of government.

Key Points: 
  • Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 29, 2022) - The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) has sent an open letter to federal Cabinet Ministers calling on their support for the full public release of outstanding residential school records currently being withheld by the Catholic Church and other orders of government.
  • Following calls from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), the federal government has committed to turning over 12,000 residential school documents.
  • "The library community is united in the belief that truth must first come before reconciliation," said Lorisia MacLeod, Chair and Indigenous Ancestry Representative at CFLA-FCAB.
  • "For families, documents can represent important missing pieces of truth or can serve to clarify stories that have been passed down.

THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT SUPPORTS RECONCILIATION WITH KEEPSAKE HONOURING THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF RESIDENTIAL, DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOLS

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 22, 2022

Honouring the Survivors and children who never returned, the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake helps educate Canadians about the intergenerational impacts of Residential, Day and Boarding schools.

Key Points: 
  • Honouring the Survivors and children who never returned, the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake helps educate Canadians about the intergenerational impacts of Residential, Day and Boarding schools.
  • "People in Canada can now honour those children and Survivors with this keepsake, and support the healing journeys of our communities through the Na-mi-quai-ni-mak Community Support Fund."
  • "Mint employees are proud to have worked closely with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and its Survivors Circle to create the Truth and Reconciliation Keepsake," said Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO, Marie Lemay.
  • The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins.