Addressing former residential school buildings and sites on reserves
Funding currently closed
In 2021, Canada announced $100.1 million to support community plans to remediate former residential school buildings and sites on reserves. Currently, all available funds have been committed.
Warning!
The website deals with topics that may cause trauma.
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former Residential School students. You can access emotional crisis referral services.
You can also get information on how to get other health supports from the Government of Canada.
Please call the Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 if you or someone you know is triggered while reading the content on this website.
We encourage all those who need some support at this time to reach out and know that support is always there for you through the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or the Hope for Wellness online chat, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
On this page:
About the funding
Residential school buildings hold painful memories.
In August 2021, the Government of Canada announced $100.1 million to help communities begin to address on-reserve school buildings and associated sites that were once used for residential schools. This funding is being delivered through Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
Who can access funding
First Nations or delegated authorities, including tribal councils.
How to access funding
ISC Regional Offices have been contacting all eligible First Nations who once had residential schools located on their reserve to initiate a dialogue on how this funding can support their community.
If you have not been contacted and would like more information, please contact your local regional office or email: IRS-ISC.PI-SAC@sac-isc.gc.ca.
Eligible activities
Funding is available to support activities related to residential schools that are:
- referenced in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
- located on reserve land
Activities eligible for funding include:
- Community engagement: engagement activities undertaken within your First Nation and with other affected First Nations to arrive at a decision regarding the future of existing residential school buildings and associated sites. For example, facilitating community discussions and developing plans and proposals for the future of any buildings and sites
- Site clean-up and remediation: clean-up, contaminated site assessment and remediation activities on the site of the former residential school
- Building demolition: demolition of the former residential school, associated buildings and supporting infrastructure, including proper waste disposal
- Building replacement or renovation: planning, feasibility studies, design and early construction work related to the construction of new community infrastructure to house community services currently being offered out of former residential school buildings. Activities may also include building renovations, should a community determine that they would prefer that the buildings remain, or a combination of activities if multiple buildings exist
This investment is the beginning of what will be a long and sensitive process to address former residential school infrastructure and related sites. The Government of Canada will continue to engage and work with Indigenous communities and partners to support the remediation of these sites across the country, including those not located on reserves.
Mental health supports
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all Indigenous peoples across Canada, by telephone and by online chat.
The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program provides mental health, emotional and cultural support services to eligible former Indian residential school students and their families.