Records and research Support
Staff from the Centre are available to support all those wishing to access records or information on the Indian Residential School System in Canada. If you are a Survivor or a family member of a Survivor looking for records, testimonies, or further information on residential schools, we are here to help you.
The Centre also has records and information on schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and/or other collections.
You do not need to make an appointment to browse the collections or to see the current exhibition. However, visiting the Centre may be an emotional or triggering experience, particularly for anyone searching for personal records.
Survivors and their family members are strongly encouraged to make an appointment for research or heath support during their visit by contacting irshdc.reference@ubc.ca.
Supports Available at the Centre
The spaces and services provided by the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre are designed to support Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors and their families.
The Elders Lounge is a safe space available for visitors who prefer to view records in private or spend time with family and friends while at the Centre. Cultural and health supports are also available.
Quiet spaces are located both indoors and outdoors and provide safe space for visitors to rest or take moments of peace for themselves. These spaces are connected to nature and to the territory and are designed to support the well-being and learning potential of all visitors.
Staff from the Centre can support with finding additional records that are not readily available to the public. This may include requesting personal documents from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, or facilitating access to materials at other institutions such as local community archives, museums and libraries.
We are here to support your engagement with the records and information held at the Centre. Please contact irshdc.reference@ubc.ca with questions or to make an appointment for research and health supports.
Indian Hospitals Settlement Agreement
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the federal government by former patients of Indian hospitals. Find information on the Statement of Claim and how to be included.
Day School Settlement Agreement and Claims
Find updated information on the Day School Settlement Agreement including Claims Forms, updated deadlines, and support for submitting a Claims Form.