We call upon all chief coroners and provincial vital statistics agencies that have not provided to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada their records on the deaths of Aboriginal children in the care of residential school authorities to make these documents available to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Why “Stalled”?
Jan. 23, 2023: Ontario is providing a streamlined process to reduce the burden for Indigenous communities, organizations, and family members trying to locate death records for children who attended Indian Residential Schools in Ontario.
Nov. 1. 2021: Globe and Mail – So far, only B.C. and Alberta have fully complied, according to Raymond Frogner, the NCTR’s head of archives. Other jurisdictions have produced some records, but Mr. Frogner said the responses remain incomplete. Additionally missing are records from provincial governments, most of whom have not yet produced vital statistics, including death certificates for children lost at schools or coroners’ reports. That so many records remain missing many years later “is an abject failure of those entities to fulfill their legal obligation,” said Donald Worme, former lead counsel for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a founding member of the Indigenous Bar Association.
As of 2014, as stated in “Honoring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, Summary of the Final report of the TRC” (July 23, 2015 p. 259) Chief Coroners in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Nova Scotia responded to the Commission’s request for records.
Also, as of 2014, in addition to the office in British Columbia, vital statistics offices in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and Nunavut had responded to the Commission’s request for records.
Current Status
Stalled
Call to Action
last updated
January 23, 2024
Latest Updates
Official Death Certificates of Indigenous children
Ontario Making it Easier and More Affordable for Indigenous Communities to Access Vital Government Services
Province permanently waiving fees for death records and applications to reclaim a traditional name NationTalk: TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing financial relief for……
January 23, 2024
Provincial Coroners & Vital Statistic Agencies
Discovery of 1,800 death registrations of school-aged indigenous children
Globe and Mail – Ontario says it has found about 1,800 death registrations of school-aged Indigenous children that it will release to the National Centre for……
November 1, 2021
Provincial Coroners & Vital Statistic Agencies
Commitment to National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Identify death records of “lost children” who attended residential schools and contribute to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation archives, locate burial sites and repatriate remains when requested……
May 30, 2016
Official Death Certificates of Indigenous children
Indian Residential School (IRS) deaths per province and territory, 1867-2000
Province/Territory# of IRSNamed RegisterNamed and UnnamedRegisters CombinedAlberta25557821British Columbia18352580Manitoba14164338Northwest Territories14190252Nova Scotia11515Nunavut141215Ontario17264426Québec121738Saskatchewan18375566Yukon62974Total1391,9753,125 NOTES: Total number of deaths in Residential Schools from 1867 – 2000: 3,201TRC chair Justice Murray Sinclair……
December 15, 2015