Transforming the Rufus Prince Building from a place of hurting to a place of healing.
Guided by Survivors.
Built for Future Generations.
For generations, Indigenous children were taken from their families and brought to institutions like the former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School. Their stories, experiences, and resilience have shaped the history of this country.
Today, the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada stands as a place of truth, remembrance, and healing. It preserves the voices of Survivors, honours those who never returned home, and helps Canadians understand the lasting impacts of the Residential School system.
The vision for the Museum’s future has been guided by Residential School Survivors, their families, and communities. Their hope is that this site will continue to serve as a place where truth is protected, stories are preserved, and future generations can learn from the experiences of those who lived through one of Canada’s most harmful policies.
As Survivors continue to share their stories and Indigenous communities advance efforts to reclaim and repatriate cultural belongings, the need for expanded space has never been greater.
The expansion will create new opportunities to preserve oral histories, safeguard cultural belongings and archival collections, support repatriation efforts, expand exhibits, and provide gathering spaces where communities can come together to learn, reflect, and heal.
This campaign is about more than buildings. It is about protecting truth, honouring generations before us, and creating a place where future generations can learn, gather, and carry these stories forward.
Together, we can ensure that these voices are never forgotten.