How to Access Records

Survivor Access

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) was created to preserve the memory and legacy of Canada’s Residential School system. The NCTR will ensure that Survivors and their families have access to their own history for generations.

For those with limited access to the internet or a computer, the NCTR can provide support.

To access your residential school records, or request a copy of your statement, please fill out the Survivor Inquiry Form (PDF) and send it to us by mail or email.

Intergenerational Survivor Access (Family of a Survivor)

To access your family member’s residential school records or request a copy of their statement, please fill out the Third Party Inquiry Form (PDF) and send it to us by mail or email.

If the Survivor is still living, we require their consent. Please also fill out the Third Party Consent Form (PDF) with them.

If the Survivor has passed and was born less than 100 years ago, we require proof of death. Proof of death documentation can include a photograph of a gravestone marker, a copy of an obituary, a death certificate, funeral program or other documentation that provides proof of death. If you require assistance, please let us know.

Proactive Disclosure

The NCTR, in collaboration with the University of Manitoba’s Access and Privacy Office, makes new records available to Survivors, their families and communities, and the public via the proactive disclosure of records process. Click here to view the new records released to the public.

The proactive disclosure of records means that records from the NCTR Archives are being authorized for release by the NCTR’s Executive Director and the University of Manitoba Access and Privacy Officer in accordance with Section 7 of The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Act.

Requests for records not publicly available will be reviewed and processed based on the purpose and scope of their request. Receiving these requests enables us to better understand the needs of communities, educators, and researchers. Please forward all comments or feedback regarding this process to NCTRrecords@umanitoba.ca or call the NCTR at 204-474-6069.

Community Researcher Access

The NCTR supports community-led research initiatives with access to records through a combination of proactive disclosure and remote access to a database created for community users. Please see the Memorandum of Agreement Template that is used to support remote access to records. If you are interested in speaking with someone from the Archives regarding your research needs, please contact us at NCTRrecords@umanitoba.ca.