The Manitoba government has provided $75,000 in funding to support Truth and Reconciliation Week 2021 events led by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Education Minister Cliff Cullen says “Educators across Manitoba have valuable teaching and learning resources for their classrooms made available through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). This will provide educational leaders an incredible opportunity not only for their students, but also for themselves to better understand, reflect and learn about Indigenous history.”
Truth and Reconciliation Week will run Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 and the NCTR will provide workshops and activities for students supported by artistic and cultural performances by First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. It will also offer video content that builds greater awareness among Canadian youth, demonstrating the interconnectedness of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and exemplifying how honouring Indigenous knowledge is essential in building an equitable and thriving nation.
“We are pleased to be able to work with the Province of Manitoba on this historic moment and for their partnership in making this week of educational programming possible,” said Stephanie Scott, executive director, NCTR. “Truth and Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for every person in Manitoba to listen and learn from the voices of survivors, elders and knowledge keepers as we walk the path of reconciliation together.”
Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere said “Our government is committed to advancing reconciliation by supporting programming offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation that will help Manitobans deepen their understanding of how we can collectively advance reconciliation. These events will focus on increasing awareness, knowledge and understanding among youth to encourage reflection and meaningful discussions about the impacts of residential schools. It will also give youth the opportunity to learn about the important contributions that Indigenous peoples have made and continue to make in our province and across Canada, and the importance of respecting the treaties and embracing cultural diversities.”
Activities will focus on school-aged children in grades 5 to 12 in all 10 provinces and three territories, and the programming will include land and treaties, language and culture, truth and reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day and elder-youth knowledge transfer.
In 2020, the NCTR event registered over 500,000 participants including students, teachers and general attendees. More than 3,000 schools and Indigenous communities participated and over 2,000 publications were downloaded. Manitoba and Ontario provided funding toward Truth and Reconciliation Week in 2020, being the only two jurisdictions to support the national event.
For more details and to sign up for the 2021 Truth and Reconciliation Week events, visit https://nctr.ca/education/trw/
