Two former residential schools are becoming national historic sites. Portage La Prairie Residential School in Manitoba and the Shubenacadie Residential School in Nova Scotia were recognized on Tuesday as a matter of historic significance by the federal government.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), Parks Canada, and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada co-developed the new designation in response to a call to action from the commission that probed the legacy of the schools.
This designation recognizes the national historic significance of residential schools, and shows their legacy continues to have an impact today.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said in a statement that this recognition was “important to ensure that the misery First Nations people faced in residential schools are forever remembered and entrenched in Canada.”
This story was featured in the Globe and Mail.