FAQ

In September 2025, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), through our Missing Children and Unmarked Burials Initiative, has verified and added 1143 new names of children who died as a result of the residential school system to our National Student Memorial Register. Additionally, the names, dates of death, and school information for more than 1000 students have been updated through new research. We will continue to verify, add and update the names of children in the National Student Memorial Register as research remains ongoing. Together, we can remember and honour the lost children.

Please note that currently the National Student Memorial Register only lists the names of students who died as a result of their time at a residential school listed in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRRSA). It does not list the names of students who died while attending an Indian Day School or other non-IRSSA schools.

Creating a comprehensive list of children who died as a result of the residential school system is complex and requires years of research. Hundreds of people have contributed to this research. Much of the research was conducted using millions of church and government records collected through the TRC’s document collection process, including federal reports, death certificates, and admission and discharge records. In some cases, churches provided the TRC with lists of students that were known to have died at residential schools. The foundation of this research is the invaluable gift of statements and testimonies shared by Survivors, intergenerational Survivors and community members. This ongoing, community-led process is an essential opportunity to ensure that no child is forgotten. The NCTR worked very closely with the NCTR Survivors’ Circle in the development of the National Student Memorial Register.

We look forward to working with Survivors and communities to ensure the accuracy of the names of children listed in the National Student Memorial Register. If you see anything that needs to be changed, please email us at NCTRcommunityengagement@umanitoba.ca.

You are welcome to contact us for more information on the records we hold. The NCTR has dedicated staff ready to help Survivors, family members, communities, media, researchers and members of the public access records held by the NCTR. We work closely with Elders, our Governing Circle and our Survivors Circle to ensure the highest standards of ethics and cultural safety are upheld in fulfilling access requests. All access is governed by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Act. While we encourage requests, please note that we prioritize access by Survivors, intergenerational Survivors, family members and communities looking for information on their loved ones. Public records already released are available on nctr.ca.

If you have any information on a child that died or went missing as a result of their time at a residential school, we want to hear from you. Please contact us at 204-474-6069 (Toll-free 1-855-415-4534) or NCTR@umanitoba.ca.

In response to Calls to Action 72 and 73, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) provided the NCTR with funding contributions to develop and maintain the National Student Memorial Register and the National Student Burial Site Repository. To learn more about CIRNAC’s contribution, visit their Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund page.