Ten Years Later: A Reflection from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

At the closing ceremony of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Commissioners Chief Wilton Littlechild, the late Honourable Murray Sinclair and Dr. Marie Wilson.

Ten years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released its Final Report and 94 Calls to Action, marking the beginning of our collective journey toward reconciliation. Since then, Indigenous Peoples in Canada and non-Indigenous Canadians have been engaged in a long-overdue national conversation about the true history of these lands and their First Peoples. For the past decade, Canadians have been grappling with painful truths, listening, learning—and unlearning—what they were taught in schools and through the media.

For generations, the true history of residential schools was deliberately concealed from most Canadians. Survivors were silenced while false narratives of this era denied and trivialized the violence inflicted on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, families, and communities and the intergenerational trauma it caused. This is why the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) exists: to preserve and promote a truthful record of Canada’s human rights abuses against Indigenous Peoples, while honouring Survivors, their families, and their communities every step of the way.

The NCTR is the permanent legacy of the TRC, serving as a repository for all documents and Survivor testimonies entrusted to our care. We are honoured to preserve these truths, ensuring they are never forgotten. We foster reconciliation by promoting public education and understanding of how residential schools are part of a larger history of violent assaults on the distinct cultures and identities of Indigenous Peoples.

Members of NCTR’s Survivors Circle gather in front of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Survivors are the heart and soul of the NCTR. Their strength, wisdom, and determination have shown us a compassionate way forward. To amplify and protect their voices, experiences, and histories, we remain committed to educating Canadians and championing these truths—a promise to ensure that Canada does not falter or turn its back on truth and reconciliation.

Though the work is difficult, it is essential. The road ahead is long and complex, yet with each passing day, we take a hopeful step toward a better future. As we look back on the last 10 years, it is with a sense of solemn purpose. This anniversary is not a time for celebration, but rather a crucial moment for reflection, to assess our progress, and to reaffirm our commitment to this vital work.

Progress on the 94 Calls to Action

Over 300,000 of these booklets have been distributed, proving to be an invaluable tool for understanding the 10 Principles of Reconciliation, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the 94 Calls to Action.

The TRC’s 94 Calls to Action were issued as a roadmap for truth and reconciliation, designed  to address the legacy of residential schools and promote healing for all Canadians. While some progress has been made, the pace of change has been slow and uneven, with many Calls still unanswered.

Notable achievements include the implementation of Call to Action #80, which led to the establishment of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, held annually on September 30. Additionally, we’ve seen the adoption of several important bills into Canadian law, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, new child welfare laws, and legislation supporting the revitalization, maintenance, and promotion of Indigenous languages. There has also been a shift in the education system, with many provinces and territories now including mandatory learning about residential schools and Indigenous history in their curriculum.

Progress in some areas, however, has been limited or non-existent. Inadequate and inconsistent government funding remains a major obstacle for implementation of the Calls to Action, creating a significant gap between commitments and tangible outcomes. Furthermore, a lack of clear accountability and a coordinated, long-term strategy across all levels of government continues to stall meaningful progress.

We also call on all Canadians to reflect on their own personal responsibility in advancing the Calls and to take concrete steps toward achieving true reconciliation. Reconciliation is a shared responsibility, a process of building respectful relationships and working toward a future where Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians can thrive together in this country, ensuring a better future for everyone.

“Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem. It is a Canadian one. It involves all of us. To come together, we must acknowledge the past and move forward with respect.”
– The late Honourable Murray Sinclair, former Chair of the TRCàse remains the same: to preserve the truths and memories of residential school Survivors and to promote truth and reconciliation through research and education.
Over the past decade, the NCTR has made significant strides in fulfilling its mandate. We have become a vital hub for preserving and sharing the truths about the residential school system, with our archives now caring for over four million records, including thousands of statements from Survivors. We have prioritized making these records accessible, providing over 218,000 pages to Survivors and their families and releasing more than 80,000 files for public use.