June 2024 | Ottawa, ON
Dates and venue will be announced this fall.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres (FNCCEC) are hosting the Indigenous History and Heritage Gathering (IHHG). This gathering, presented through the gracious support of Know History, is one of the many important events held during Indigenous History Month. It brings together diverse groups who are working to amplify the distinct stories of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island.
Thank You!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the 2023 Indigenous History and Heritage Gathering a remarkable success!
For those who joined us, your presence enriched our inaugural event. To those who couldn’t attend, we invite you to share your email to stay informed of future updates.
Who Should Attend
Community members developing history and heritage projects including commemorative histories, renaming projects, historical claims, and the search for missing children and unmarked burials associated with residential schools.
Professionals working with Indigenous communities including museum staff, historians, language experts, legal teams, scholars with a residential school focus, and government agencies.
Space is limited, please register in advance.
2023 Indigenous History & Heritage Gathering
Hosts
Claudette Commanda
CEO, FNCCEC
Professor Claudette Commanda is an Algonquin Anishinabe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation located in the province of Quebec. An alumni of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law and Faculty of Arts, Claudette has dedicated the last 35 years promoting First Nations people, history, culture and rights in various capacities as a University of Ottawa student, professor, member and chair of the Aboriginal education council; and via public speaking events.
Stephanie Scott
Executive Director, NCTR
Stephanie Scott is the Executive Director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB and her mother is from Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation, Treaty 1 territory, she is also an intergenerational and sixties scoop survivor. Before accepting the role of Executive Director, she had spent 5 years with the NCTR as Director of Operations.
2023 Keynote Speakers
Check back with us regularly for a list of our 2024 keynote speakers.
Tanya Talaga
Author, Journalist, President of Makwa Creative
Tanya Talaga is an Anishinaabe journalist and speaker. Talaga’s mother’s family is from Fort William First Nation and Treaty #9 territory. Her father was Polish-Canadian.
For more than 20 years, she was a journalist at the Toronto Star and was part of teams that won two National Newspaper Awards for Project of the Year. She is now a columnist at The Globe and Mail.
Kimberly Murray
BA, LL.B, LL.M, IPC
Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools
Kimberly Murray is a member of the Kahnesatake Mohawk Nation. On June 8, 2022, Ms. Murray was appointed as Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools.
2023 Speakers
Check back with us regularly for a list of our 2024 speakers.
Dr. Lauren Beck
Professor, Hispanic Studies, Visual & Material Culture, Mount Allison University
Dr. Keith Carlson
Research Chair in Indigenous and Community-Engaged History, University of Saskatchewan
Caroline Dromaguet
President and CEO, Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum
Dr. Crystal Fraser
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts and Native Studies, University of Alberta
Brenda Gunn
Academic and Research Director, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
Kristin Kozar
Interim Executive Director and Oral Testimony Program Co-Lead at the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, University of British Columbia
Sébastien Desnoyers-Picard
Vice-President, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)
The Honourable Leonard S. Tony Mandamin
Retired Judge of the Federal Court, Trial Division
David McAtackney
Research Manager and Oral Testimony Program Co-Lead at the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, University of British Columbia
Dr Naxaxalhts’i, Albert (Sonny) McHalsie
Cultural Advisor/Historian and Honorary Doctorate of Law, University of Victoria
Jean-Pierre Morin
Departmental Historian, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Johanna Smith
Director General of the Outreach and Engagement Branch, Library and Archives Canada
We are honoured by the participation of these confirmed speakers. Please check back with us regularly as more are being added.
Caroline Dromaguet is President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum. With a focus on fostering collaboration and innovative thinking, Caroline has over 20 years of experience in numerous aspects of museum work. Building on the Museum’s long history of engagement with and repatriation to Indigenous communities across the country, under Caroline’s leadership, the Museum has strengthened its commitment to advancing reconciliation and to recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Caroline is committed to creating a healthy, respectful and diverse organization, and recently implemented a new Vision and Values for the Museums, which underpin the Museum’s work to reflect the rich and diverse histories and stories that continue to shape our country.