The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada (TRC) brought to the fore the legacy and continuing impacts of the residential school system that removed many Indigenous peoples from their communities, their languages, and knowledges. The Commission created a comprehensive report and calls to action for all Canadians. The resources on this page provide information to help us learn more and find ways for our own participation in this process.

Truth & Reconciliation Commission on Residential Schools

• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Education resources
  • Reports
  • Truth and Reconciliation week 2026 – daily Lunch & Learn webinars, free curriculum resources for Grades 1–12, and national events.
• Read the TRC Report. (2015). Truth & Reconciliation Commission reading project. Youtube. Videos of indigenous participants reading sections from the TRC report.

Mi’kmaq Focused Resources

• Government of Canada. (2015). Peace and Friendship Treaties. These Treaties were signed with the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy prior to 1779. The Canadian Constitution recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Aboriginal people of Canada, including the Peace and Friendship Treaties.
• IONS. (2022). Decolonization learning journey: A five-part learning journey with Mi’kmaw Elders and Knowledge Sharers. Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia.
• Mason, M., Ward-Jerrit, J., Rosenmeier, L. & Corning, S. (2007). The evolution of Mi’kmaw education: Charting the challenges, the failures and the successes. In Kekina’muek: Learning about the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia (p. 27-40). Eastern Woodland Publishing. (1.87 Mb pdf)
• Mikmaw History Month
• Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre
  • Survivors of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School share their life stories.
• Pictou, S., Conway, J., & Day, A. (2021). Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq grandmothers – land/water defenders sharing and learning circle: Generating knowledge for action. KAIROS Canada.
• Province of Nova Scotia. (2011). Aboriginal people in Nova Scotia.
• Treaty Education Nova Scotia creates opportunities for Nova Scotians to learn about the Mi’kmaq, their inherent Aboriginal and Treaty rights, and our shared history.

Residential Schools in Canada

• Catherine Donnelly Foundation. (2018). Cathy Gerrior (Inuit) a member of Apaji-wla’matulinej on finding your way back to your culture [Video]. Youtube. (11:49 min.)
• Residential schools: A chronology, from the Assembly of First Nations.

Angus L. Macdonald Library Resources

• Indigenous Studies and Resources Libguide, resources for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, focusing on Mi’kmaw communities.
• Truth and Reconciliation Libguide
• Virtual Curriculum Resource Centre

Cape Breton University Resources

• L’nu & Indigenous Studies – Other topical sites
• L’nu & Indigenous Studies: Reconciliation & Contemporary Topics
• Sister Dorothy Moore L’nu Resource Centre

Media

• CBC Gem: Indigenous
• CBC Listen: Music, radio and podcasts
• CBC News: Indigenous
• Unreserved, with Rosanna Deerchild. A weekly National CBC Radio highlighting Indigenous voices and stories across Turtle Island. Come for community, culture, and conversation about our shared story.

Truth and Reconciliation Resources

• 300 years: Peace and friendship treaties, June 4, 1726 – June 4, 2026. A L’nuey campaign.
• Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair, an NFB documentary film. As the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Senator Murray Sinclair raised global awareness of the atrocities of Canada’s residential school system. (29 min.)
• Indigenous Watchdog monitors and reports on how reconciliation is advancing on the critical issues that are impacting the Indigenous world – including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
• The National Council for Reconciliation (NCR) is an independent, non-political, permanent, and Indigenous-led organization whose purpose is to advance reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.
• Northern Lakes College. (2024). Learn about Truth and Reconciliation.
• Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Indigenous resources
• Orange Shirt Day
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa, archival source guide and final report available.
• University of Saskatchewan: ReconciliAction Resources: TRC Documents
• Yellowhead Institute’s The Treaty Map, covering every Canadian treaty from 1763 to the present, the Treaty Map challenges the commonly held view of treaties as land surrenders and offers an interactive learning and teaching tool, grounded in Indigenous perspectives of treaties.