50 years after it closed, the Government of Canada and Long Plain First Nation honour the national historic significance of the Former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, MB, Aug. 14, 2025 /CNW/ - The Former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School was part of a system of residential schools for Indigenous children officially established by the federal government in the 19 th and 20 th centuries. Born of colonial policies in Canadian history, this system removed Indigenous children from their families and communities, not only denying them their traditions, language and culture, but also exposing children to grievous harm and even death. The residential school system is a tragedy that has adversely affected generations of Indigenous people and the Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation and renewed relationships with Indigenous peoples, based on a recognition of rights, respect, collaboration, and partnership.
Today, Ginette Lavack, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for St. Boniface—St. Vital, Manitoba, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and Minister responsible for Official Languages, and Long Plain First Nation commemorated the national historic significance of the Former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School with a special ceremony to unveil three plaques at the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada.
Built in 1914-1915, the Former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School is located on Keeshkeemaquah Reserve, part of the reserve lands of Long Plain First Nation. This building was nominated for designation by Long Plain First Nation who worked collaboratively with Parks Canada to identify the historic values of this Former residential school.
This large, three-storey brick building is a rare surviving example of residential schools that were established across Canada. The school closed in 1975, and six years later, the building and its surrounding lands were transferred to Long Plain First Nation to fulfill part of their treaty land entitlement. Since that time, the building has been given new meaning by the community as a site of commemoration and resilience that keeps the legacy of the residential school era alive and educates the public.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians and youth connect with their past. The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,270 designations have been made nationwide.
Quotes
"Fifty years ago, the Portage la Prairie Residential School closed its doors, ending a painful chapter in our shared history. Yet, the harm caused by the residential school system is still felt today by families in Portage la Prairie and in communities across Canada. As we mark this anniversary, we honour the strength and resilience of Survivors, mourn those who never came home, and recommit ourselves to continuing the journey toward Truth and Reconciliation together."
The Honourable Rebecca Alty,
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
"Today, we take time to acknowledge the painful legacy of the Former Portage La Prairie Residential School and the harmful and lasting impact that this institution, and many others like it under the residential school system, had on generations of First Nations, Inuit and Métis families and communities. We hope this commemoration allows Canadians to reflect on this tragic history, acknowledge the past, honour missing children and recognize the extraordinary strength and resilience of the survivors and all Indigenous peoples. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that the voices of Indigenous peoples are heard, and that this history is never forgotten."
Ginette Lavack,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for St. Boniface—St. Vital, Manitoba
"Today, we pay tribute to Indigenous residential school survivors of the Former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School that operated from 1915 - 1975. The plaques are symbols of resilience, strength and a place where stories are embedded in truth and the spirits honored. These memorials acknowledge their legacy of pain and injustices endured with courage and dignity. Their lives matter. Their voices matter. Their healing matters. We are still here."
Lorraine Daniels,
Second generation survivor
Executive Director
National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada Inc.
Quick Facts
Children who were sent to the Former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School came from many First Nations and other Indigenous communities within Manitoba and elsewhere. There, they faced severe discipline and abuse, harsh labour, emotional neglect, the attempted suppression of their language and cultures, and isolation from their families and communities.
The Former Portage La Prairie Residential School now houses the National Indigenous Residential School Museum which was created as "a place where people can learn, share, heal and move forward with a greater understanding of the forces that shaped and forever changed multiple generations of First Nations people."
Parks Canada and Long Plain First Nation worked collaboratively to identify the historic values of this former residential school, and the report on the building prepared for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board was co-authored by members of the First Nation and Parks Canada.
The plaques are written in Anishinaabemowin, Anishinaabemowin syllabics, Cree, Cree syllabics, Dakota, English and French.
Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister responsible for Parks Canada regarding the national historic significance of persons, places, and events that have marked history in Canada. Together with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that subjects of national historic significance are recognised, and these important stories are shared with Canadians.
The vast majority of nominations brought forward for the consideration of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada originate from members of the public. To nominate a person, place or historical event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/ncp-pcn/application
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada
Parks Canada
Long Plain First Nation
National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada
Framework for History and Commemoration
SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
15 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. legislator shocked by American senator's 'nonsense' pitch to join U.S.
A B.C. legislator said he went from disappointed to enraged after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, said his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the 'nonsense' letter from Maine Senator Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. Martin's three-page pitch said if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States after referendum votes, it would have to be as full American states. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'This would not be annexation. It would be adoption — welcoming home kindred spirits, who were born under a different flag but who desire to live under our Constitution and accept our responsibilities, customs, and traditions,' he wrote in the letter, which Day made public. Martin said in the letter that his appeal is not a 'fantasy of empire' but a 'vision deeply rooted in American tradition' that would give the four provinces a chance to 'leave behind failing ideologies.' 'For too long, Canadian citizens have been subjected to an illusion of freedom administered through bureaucratic means,' he wrote, adding that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 'while lofty in rhetoric, provides no absolute protection.' He said this was in contrast to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Martin said 'millions of people currently frustrated by central authority, moral decay, and bureaucratic suffocation' would be rewarded by 'liberty' if the four provinces were to join the United States. 'The welcome mat is out,' he concluded. Day, the MLA for Courtenay–Comox, said the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, parliamentary government, the monarchy, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as 'political baggage.' Day said Martin needed to look at 'how heavy his luggage' is. He said Martin's party was 'hauling around wheeled trunks' of baggage in the United States where the Constitution was 'being torn up by Republicans.' Day said it was not clear why Martin wrote to him, but suspected it might be due to 'rhetoric' coming out of Alberta that led Martin to believe British Columbians would be interested. Martin did not respond to a request for comment left by voicemail and text. Day said he had written a response to Martin, in which he acknowledged that Canada has problems. 'But we don't fix them by surrendering our identity, as you suggest,' Day said in his response. 'We fix them by doing what Canadians have always done — rolling up our sleeves, listening to each other, and finding common ground.' Day said the 'overwhelming majority of Canadians' like themselves just as they are. 'We have got a lot of work to do in improving our services, and making sure that we are spending our money wisely, and getting good value for it,' Day said. 'But I don't think anybody here looks south and goes, 'we want more of that.''
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Feasibility without First Nations isn't feasible
Opinion Earlier this month, the governments of Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan signed an agreement to explore the 'feasibility of a new west-east pipeline to bring western oil and gas to southern Ontario refineries and ports.' In a news release, Alberta premier Danielle Smith said: 'By advancing a Canadian energy corridor from Alberta to Ontario, we are securing long-term energy access for families and businesses, creating thousands of jobs, and opening new doors for trade and investment, while strengthening our position as a global energy leader.' There's only one problem, and it's a big one: Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew didn't sign it. So much for feasibility. Since the federal government's passing of the One Canadian Economy Act (Bill C-5), which promises to expedite approvals for projects deemed 'in the national interest,' provinces have been rushing to position themselves with Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet in the hopes their regional initiatives and economic dreams will come true. Ontario has even passed its own version of the federal bill, in what is surely a move to speed up approval for the Ring of Fire critical mineral project despite Indigenous opposition. The challenge for all of this — if you can call it a challenge — has been Canada's legal requirement under Section 35 of the Constitution to attain 'free, prior, and informed consent' when it comes to including and respecting Indigenous and treaty rights. Simply put, few provinces have partnership agreements with First Nations to build economic projects and, for those that do, these were made after lengthy and costly court battles, negotiations, and conflict. The federal bill, Ontario's bill and the 'feasibility' agreement between Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario has no First Nations, Métis or Inuit approval. In other words, they are not worth much and are simply a cause for conflict. To be honest, development occurred much quicker when Canada was genocidal. Until the past five decades, Canada never had a legal duty to consult Indigenous peoples on the land, water, the economy, or frankly anything really — so, it didn't. Since the country's founding in 1867 (and arguably before that), Canadian legislators took Indigenous and treaty land, moved people whenever and wherever, and made unilateral decisions on Indigenous lives and families all the time. When law got in the way, other laws were passed under the justification that Canada's national interests were paramount. This meant that swaths of Indian reserve lands were taken whenever a company, corporation, or the military wanted. Or, that masses of Indigenous leaders were imprisoned, Indigenous women were stripped of rights, and children were taken. All this happened blatantly. A few kilometres from where Winnipeggers sit was the St. Peter's Indian Band, whose lands in and around Selkirk were taken illegally in 1907 while the community was removed to what is now Peguis Indian Reserve. The tide started to change in the 1970s, when Canada's Supreme Court recognized that Indigenous title (and therefore law, government, and rights) existed and Canada had to start to act justly, humanely, and with consideration of their humanity. Things were supposed to be different — but old Canadian habits die hard. From the One Canadian Economy Act to the actions of provincial premiers, Canadian leaders continue to act as if Indigenous peoples are an afterthought, using age-old arguments that Canada's 'national interests' are paramount. That is, until Kinew — who has not shied away from interest in lucrative land and resource projects — refused to join his provincial counterparts. 'In other parts of the country with other levels of government, there's the commitment to maybe push things through with legislation first,' Kinew told media, explaining his decision. 'That puts other partners on the back foot.' Don't be confused. When Kinew says 'other partners,' he means First Nations, Inuit, and Métis rights holders. What the premier is doing isn't because he's First Nations, it's because he's trying to follow Canadian law. History has proven it's a tremendous waste of time, money, and energy to exclude Indigenous rights holders from conversations surrounding land, resources, and, frankly, the country. The first and most important 'project in the national interest' is to include Indigenous governments at the outset of every single decision this country makes. Anything else is illegal. An unprecedented step however requires an unprecedented idea. For Kinew, it's a Crown corporation (on par with entities such Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Public Insurance) that can assemble Indigenous leadership to review and give approval of economic land and resource projects alongside provincial regulators. This 'Crown Indigenous corporation' would require buy-in and unity from Indigenous leadership — and seems to have almost immediately gained it. This week, the Southern Chiefs' Organization and the Manitoba Métis Federation came to an agreement to collectively 'advance economic reconciliation, protect Indigenous rights, and collaborate on major infrastructure and development projects across Manitoba.' That's no coincidence. That's First Nations and Métis holders on the front foot and reserving their spot at the table. Niigaan SinclairColumnist Niigaan Sinclair is Anishinaabe and is a columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. legislator shocked by American senator's ‘nonsense' pitch to join U.S.
VICTORIA – A British Columbia legislator says he went from 'disappointed' to 'enraged' after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, says his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the 'nonsense' letter from Maine Sen. Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. He says the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, federalism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as 'political baggage.' Day says Martin needs to look at 'how heavy his luggage' is, and his party is 'hauling around wheeled trunks' of baggage in the United States where the Constitution is 'being torn up by Republicans.' Day says it's not clear why Martin wrote him, but suspects it might be 'some of the rhetoric' coming out of Alberta that led him to believe British Columbians would also be interested. Martin's pitch says if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States, it must be as full American states. He says entry would not be in the form of annexation, but adoption, and the welcoming home of 'kindred spirits who were born under a different flag.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
