National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Canadian Museum of History

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 

For immediate release 

Gatineau, Quebec, September 24, 2021 — On September 30, the Canadian Museum of History will mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

The Museum will be open with free admission, offering our visitors the opportunity to learn about the devastating effects of residential schools, as well as the diverse histories, vibrant cultures and ongoing experiences of Indigenous peoples. 

The ongoing confirmation of unmarked burial sites at former Indian Residential Schools is a moment for deep reflection. Mourning these children and others yet to be found, the Canadian Museum of History continues to work with survivors and Indigenous communities to better share their stories and experiences. 

We stand with Indigenous peoples and acknowledge the effects these tragic and horrific events continue to have on residential school survivors, their families, and their communities. 

The Museum acknowledges and will continue to confront its own colonial past and to prioritize efforts that move us forward in the spirit of reconciliation. As an institution dedicated to Canadian history, the Museum embraces the imperative of understanding the reality and legacy of the residential school system in Canada. 

Through its new offers, the Museum invites visitors to learn more about the resilience and diversity of Indigenous cultures and histories across Canada. Rekindled – Tradition, Modernity and Transformation in Indigenous Cultures is a new display created by the interns in the 2019 Indigenous Internship Program. It presents their own perspectives about Indigenous peoples’ relationships with modernity and tradition. The display will be presented in the Four Seasons Salon until August 2022.  

The CINÉ+ will offer a special screening of Innu Nikamu: Resist and Sing at 10:15 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Directed by Kevin Bacon Hervieux, this documentary tells the story of the Innu Nikamu Indigenous Music Festival through the eyes of its founders and musicians. It is a story of healing; a duty of remembrance. 

Visitors are also invited to learn more through the histories, voices and artworks presented in the Grand Hall, the First Peoples Hall and the Canadian History Hall. 

Admission is free, but don’t forget to book your timed ticket online before you visit on September 30. Tickets will be available as of September 24. 

More information is available at historymuseum.ca or by calling 819-776-7000 or 1-800-555-5621. 

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