Message from the President
Message from the President, University of Manitoba
Michael Benarroch
The University of Manitoba is honoured to host the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation on the Fort Garry campus, and to be a part of the NCTR’s crucial work in advancing reconciliation.
In October of 2011, UM became the first post-secondary institution in Canada to offer a formal Statement of Apology and Reconciliation to Residential School Survivors, acknowledging our failure to recognize or challenge the forced assimilation of Indigenous peoples that resulted in the loss of their languages, cultures and traditions. The University of Manitoba remains committed to honouring the words and intention of that historic apology, and working with our partners, to ensure we support the NCTR in achieving its mandate.
I hope this website inspires you to learn about the residential school system and its legacy. I encourage everyone to explore its contents, attend events, and continue learning. We all must recognize our part in reconciliation.
That is why our UM community is working to facilitate education, dialogue and action around the 94 Calls to Action. We acknowledge our responsibility in accomplishing this work through meaningful dialogue and action for a better future for all people, especially as the host of the NCTR.
We are honoured to continue to work with the NCTR to support our communities and the rest of Canada along the connected reconciliation path.
Michael Benarroch
University of Manitoba President
NCTR’s spirit name – bezhig miigwan, meaning “one feather”.
Bezhig miigwan calls upon us to see each Survivor coming to the NCTR as a single eagle feather and to show those Survivors the same respect and attention an eagle feather deserves. It also teaches we are all in this together — we are all one, connected, and it is vital to work together to achieve reconciliation.