The United Church of Canada (UCC) has shared a response June 4th to the Kamloops residential school burials.
The UCC response addresses that the UCC has provided copies of all known records in our holdings related to the residential schools administered by the UCC. These materials were turned over to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and have since been transferred to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The UCC Archives has also contributed records to the BC IRS History and Dialogue Centre.
We are currently undertaking a similar discovery process regarding records on Day Schools, and have committed to turn over relevant material to the NCTR if and as it emerges.
Access to Residential School Records in General Council and Ontario Regional Council Archives
We continue to provide access to residential school records in our archives. Please see our COVID-closure page for information on what services are impacted due to any public health closures.
There are several ways for researchers to navigate these records:
- The Reference Guide to Records Relating to Residential Schools
- Search the archives catalogue
- The Children Remembered is a website that was originally created in 2010, in preparation for TRC events to make
- photographs and the research conducted on the school histories available.
- Email archives@united-church.ca to detail your research so we may assist you.
Fees
The Archives does not charge fees to survivors, families of survivors or authorized representatives collecting information on behalf of Indigenous communities. Researcher, journalist or media fees for any reproductions will support the preservation and distribution of copies to survivors and Indigenous communities. Requests for permission to publish any reproductions will be reviewed in consultation with the Indigenous Ministries & Justice Unit to ensure usage is in accordance with the Church’s apologies and commitment to UNDRIP.
Missing Children or Burial Information
The UCC archives provided details for the TRC’s Missing Children and Unmarked Burials report with all references found related to children’s deaths and burials at the 15 schools run by the UCC and 4 institutions operated by other denominations. This research has been contributed to the NCTR’s National Student Memorial Register.
If you have any questions about how the church is responding to the Calls to Action (71-76) on Missing Children and Burial Information, please contact Indigenous Ministries and Justice.
Were records hidden or destroyed?
Records created about schools have been lost or destroyed over the years, prior to arriving at the archives. Records that have been received at the UCC archives are not hidden from researchers or destroyed and it is our mandate to preserve and make them accessible.
If you have any further questions or concerns about accessing our records on residential schools or other church history, please contact us at archives@united-church.ca or through the General Council Office.