Statements and Releases

February 22, 2023  The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at UBC (the Centre) shares in deep sadness with all impacted by the announcement from Tseshaht First Nation regarding the location of 17 potential unmarked graves at the site of the former Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS), and the research findings that identified at […]

January 17, 2023 It is with heavy hearts that the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre releases a second statement today, less than a week after the previous one, regarding the location of unmarked burials at a former Indian residential school. Today, we are deeply saddened by the announcement of the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, […]

January 13, 2023 The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre is deeply saddened by the announcement yesterday, by the Star Blanket Cree Nation, of the location of a child’s remains and 2,000 hits by ground penetrating radar at the former Lebret Industrial School in Saskatchewan. We send our sincere condolences and support to Chief […]

Following a year-long review process, a special sub-committee to the UBC Vancouver Senate Tributes Committee has recommended that the Senate rescind its approval of the Honorary Degree awarded to the late Bishop John Fergus O’Grady by the university in 1986. The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre fully supports the sub-committee’s decision, and stands […]

In acknowledgement and commemoration of the anniversary date of the discovery of unmarked burials at Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre extends its heartfelt condolences, thoughts and support to residential school Survivors and their families, the people of the Tk’emlúps Nation, and all Indigenous people across Canada. As ongoing investigations […]

The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre expresses its deepest sympathies and heartfelt sorrows for the victims, both direct and indirect, of the mass shooting that took place in a supermarket in Buffalo, NY, on May 14. “This was a senseless, hateful, racism-fuelled crime,” says the Centre’s Academic Director Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. “And sadly, […]

The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre is saddened by the findings of 169 potential unmarked burial sites at the former Grouard Mission / St. Bernard’s Indian Residential School site. We express our deep condolences and support to Chief Sydney Halcrow and members of the Kapawe’no First Nation, as well as the other First […]

The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre expresses its support and condolences to the Keeseekoose First Nation, and all Nations whose members attended the St. Philip’s and Fort Pelly residential schools, as the discovery of 54 unmarked burials are announced. The Keeseekoose First Nation is leading the search at the two former schools, both […]

The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at UBC has launched a new podcast series written, produced and hosted by Indigenous youth. Love, Land and Spirit is a six-episode series that explores topics of importance to youth, including LGBTQ2S+ and Indigiqueer identities, repatriation, the connections between art and ceremony, and the child welfare and […]

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond (Aki-Kwe) will be leaving the position of Academic Director, Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (IRSHDC), after the end of the 2021/22 Winter Session. During her time as Academic Director, the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre has made significant progress to advance its mandate and goals, including building core […]