As part of the May 2024 Annual General Meeting event in Winnipeg, members visited the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation office in Chancellor Hall at the University of Manitoba.  The Senior Director of Research and Head Archivist Raymond Frogner shared with us a presentation on the 4 periods of juridical history regarding Indigenous peoples in Canada.

This same presentation would later be shared in Copenhagen, Denmark to the Danish Institute for International Studies.  The first 15 pages are his report which he agreed to share confidentially with our members.  The subsequent slides are a primer on accessing indigenous archives at the NCTR. Some additional notes on this seminar are:

• NCTR has 30-thousand historical photos but mostly digital copies of originals. The website offers only 5% off holdings. 

• Public Domain is not absolute for all images. Rights holders do need to be contacted.

• The NCTR’s mandate is to try and be an official repository for Residential Schools archive materials.  One research tip – once you know the school – look at the Narrative Record for that school which gives a good overview of the holdings.

• In the past few years, NCTV staff has grown from 15 to 70 people. 

• NCTR recommends that documentary productions include Sensitive Nature Disclaimer somewhere in the credits, in the foreward or on the website. NCTR is happy to help work out phrasing.