Memorial Cloth

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Information for Volunteers

We invite you and thank you for supporting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) with the honourable presentation of the Memorial Cloth on Parliament Hill September 30 for the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation and APTN live broadcast.

What is the Sacred Memorial Cloth?

In 2019, the NCTR created a National Student Memorial Cloth to honour the children who died in residential schools. The cloth was directed through spiritual ceremony because Survivors, Elders and Knowledge Keepers recognized that honouring these children is a sacred responsibility.

The National Student Memorial Cloth contains a registry to forever remember and honour the children who never returned home from residential schools. The memorial remembers, honours and acknowledges those children who died while attending a residential school in Canada. This registry represents the first time the names of children that never returned from the schools are commemorated and made available on a national basis in Canada. In recognizing these children, we recognize the pain inflicted on families and communities.

Logistics for Presentation of the Memorial Cloth:

There is a new Memorial Cloth presently being created to honour the more than one thousand additional names of those children who did not return.
The length of the new Memorial Cloth is unknown but is expected to be another 4-8metres. The present Memorial Cloth is approximately 51 metres in length; 1.5m high and is a sacred commemoration of the young lives that were taken.
The Memorial Cloth is not permitted to touch the ground.
Please arrive on Parliament Hill September 30 at 8:30am.
Check in at the Volunteer tent to register where you will receive a t-shirt and further instructions.
We will be using the space behind the front of house tents to line up.
You’ll receive a briefing and line up for rehearsal and do a run through of the Memorial Cloth procession in the morning. Times tbc
There may be an additional run through around noon; therefore, individuals and groups are asked to return to the area around that time.
Return to the meeting area behind the Front of House by 11:30am to prepare and line up with the Memorial Cloth for the procession.
The Memorial Cloth procession will move through the crowd to the stage area
Following this presentation, please return to your assigned volunteer role (if applicable),enjoy the remainder of the show or you may leave.

Please note, the time for the presentation of the Memorial Cloth depends on the timings of the show. We will endeavour to have it set up ready to hold as close to the time of its presentation as possible to minimize the amount of time holding it. The cloth can become heavy after holding it for a prolonged period; therefore, it is important to ensure that able bodied individuals are placed strategically for additional support for Survivors, Elders & youth.

September 30 Timings

8:30am – Check in & register at Volunteer Registration for Memorial Cloth Rehearsal; receive further instructions

9:00am – Practice run – time tba (possibly two practices)

10:00am – Potential second practice run

11:30am – Return for Memorial Cloth procession for the APTN Live broadcast.

12:30pm – Line up behind the Front-of-house for the Memorial Cloth

12:30pm – Estimated time of the Memorial Cloth Procession

*Please remember that this is a LIVE BROADCAST and flexibility is key!
**Times are approximate and subject to change.**

Should you have any questions, or require any additional information, please contact Ann Drummie, ann.drummie@gmail.com SUBJECT: Sep 30 Memorial Cloth.

Thank you for being part of this sacred presentation of the Memorial Cloth on this National Day for Truth & Reconciliation.