Project of Heart- Commemorating the Children for Future Generations was selected as a National Commemoration Project by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada in 2012-13. During this period of time over 600 schools, along with numerous church groups, community organizations, corrections agencies and government departments participated in POH, contributing tiles for inclusion in the regional commemoration exhibits. This process resulted in over 3800 teachers, 55,000 students and an estimated 185,000 Canadian learners participating in POH and the National Commemoration Project. The tiles from each of these groups were collected and curated in to memorial and commemoration exhibits honoring former students of Indian Residential Schools in every province and territory in Canada.
In each region, First Nation, Métis and Inuit artists were commissioned to develop and create exhibits that reflected the IRS experiences, as well as the cultures, of the former students taken by the IRS system in their respective provinces and territories. The purpose of the exhibits is to honor former students and to educate and bring awareness about the history and legacy of the IRS system to all Canadians.
Project of Heart- Commemorating the Children for Future Generations proved to be a wonderful opportunity for intergenerational and intercultural engagement that took a geographically and culturally unique direction in each of the 10 province and 3 territories across Canada. This ‘virtual tour’ is intended to bring all 25 of the officially recognized exhibits within this national commemoration initiative to all Canadians without having to leave home.
Join us in our virtual journey throughout Canada to share in the beauty and reverence of these inspiring commemoration exhibits. Click on the markers in each province and territory to view pictures and read the messages from each host organization for the Project of Heart National Commemoration.