IAP/ADR FAQs

In 2017 the Supreme Court of Canada said that because your IAP or ADR records are private and confidential, they will be automatically destroyed, unless you choose to preserve them for yourself or for history, research and public education at the NCTR. The NCTR welcomes you to add your IAP or ADR records to its collection. You have until September 19, 2027 to decide.

To save your records at the NCTR click here for the Consent Form (PDF).

If you get a copy of your records for yourself, or have them preserved at the NCTR, information that identifies other people will be blocked out. That way, you control what happens to your records and the privacy of others is respected.

Yes. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) was created by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to preserve the history and legacy of the Residential Schools. It has the responsibility to foster truth, reconciliation and healing. The NCTR is advised by a Survivors’ Circle and Governing Circle of Indigenous people. Hosted at the University of Manitoba, the NCTR is the permanent home for the records of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

The NCTR’s collection includes:

• statements provided by former students to the TRC
• historical documents from Residential Schools
• records from the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement

If you decide to preserve your records at the NCTR, you have a choice of two ways to do that: restricted access or open access. In either case the NCTR will use and share your records for public education and research to promote reconciliation. The NCTR is also committed to the respectful and dignified use of your records and of doing no harm.

• Restricted access means the NCTR may use and share your records with others for purposes such as public education, but only if the NCTR removes your personal information. Personal information means information that identifies you or could be used to identify you. Your personal information will be made available to the NCTR and researchers, but only under strict confidentiality conditions. Your personal information will not be available to the public and will not be published.
• Open access means the NCTR may use your records and personal information, including your name, in the way it thinks is appropriate including by sharing with others. However, the NCTR will not disclose certain personal information, such as your address, phone number, band or disc number.

For both restricted or open access, all information that identifies other people will be removed before your records are transferred to the NCTR, to protect their privacy.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) was created by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to preserve the history and legacy of the Residential Schools. It has the responsibility to foster truth, reconciliation and healing. The NCTR is advised by a Survivors’ Circle and Governing Circle of Indigenous people. The NCTR, hosted at the University of Manitoba is the permanent home for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) records.

The NCTR collection includes:

• statements from former students provided to the TRC
• historical documents from Residential Schools
• records from the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement

The NCTR welcomes anyone who made an IAP or ADR claim to add their records to this collection.

If you decide to preserve your records at the NCTR, you have the right to change your mind later. You may change the type of access or you may withdraw your consent altogether and have your records removed from the NCTR. It is important to understand that if you choose open access and want to change or withdraw your consent, your personal information may already have been made public.

If you change your mind, contact IAP Information toll-free at 1-877-635-2648 or the NCTR toll-free at 1-855-415-4534.

The benefit of preserving your records is that they will help future generations understand the history and impacts of the residential schools on First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples and communities.

For restricted access, your personal information will be kept confidential but there will always be the chance that you are identified by mistake. You will not control what researchers may be allowed to see your records. The NCTR will decide that.

For open access, you will not control who sees your records or how they are used. The NCTR will decide whether to make your records including your personal information available to the public. You will not be able control how people react to that information and what they do with it.

For both restricted and open access, the NCTR will keep your records in a highly secure database that is managed by carefully trained staff. However, there will always be a risk of unauthorized access to the database. 

Records archived at the NCTR are managed according to Manitoba laws, including The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Act. Your records will not be disclosed through access requests under The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Your records will ONLY be made available as permitted by this agreement. This agreement is made under section 6 of The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Act and confirmed by court order.

Resolution Health Support Workers (RHSWs) can answer questions and help with forms. To find an RHSW in your area, call the toll-free lines listed here, or ask your band office.

For emotional support and crisis referrals, the free, 24-hour Residential Schools Crisis Line is available until September 19, 2027.

Yes. You can order a copy of your IAP or ADR records from the IAP Secretariat. There is a separate order form for that (Request Form (PDF)). You have until September 19, 2027 to request a copy for your records for yourself to keep or share with others.

If you want a copy of your records, contact IAP Information toll-free at 1-877-635-2648.

• Do nothing:
• your records will remain confidential and will then be destroyed on September 19, 2027.
• Get a copy for yourself to keep or share with others (Request Form (PDF)).
• Preserve them for history, public education and research at the NCTR (Consent Form (PDF)).
• Get a copy for yourself and preserve them for history, public education and research at the NCTR.

• Your application form
• The printed record of your testimony (transcript)
• The voice recording of your testimony
• The decision on your claim.

Your records include your name and all of the information you provided for your IAP or ADR claim, everything you said at your hearing, what the adjudicator said about you in their decision, and the compensation you received. Your records describe the abuse you suffered and how it affected your life. They may include information about your health, employment and criminal history, and other sensitive information.

Your IAP or ADR records are being kept confidential by the IAP Secretariat. Other documents that were used in deciding your claim, such as medical and employment records were automatically destroyed after the end of your claim. The Government of Canada and any other party at your hearing (such as a Church) have been ordered by the Courts to destroy their copies.

If you want your records kept confidential by the IAP Secretariat,you don’t need to do anything. They will be destroyed on September 19, 2027.

If you want a copy of your records for yourself, there is a form you can use to order a copy (Request Form (PDF)).

If you want the IAP Secretariat to send your records to the NCTR to preserve them for history, you need to complete a Consent form (Consent Form (PDF)). Both forms are available at the IAP Secretariat. You have until September 19, 2027 to decide to preserve your records. You don’t need to wait until September 19, 2027, but after that it will be too late.