The Former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School has been officially recognized as a site of national historic significance, decades after it closed in 1975.
On Thursday, the Government of Canada and Long Plain First Nation unveiled three commemorative plaques at the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada, located on the Keeshkeemaquah Reserve.
The ceremony drew survivors, community leaders, and government officials to honour the experiences of children who attended the school and to mark the ongoing importance of education and remembrance.
A painful history remembered
The large, three-storey brick building was built in 1914–1915, replacing an earlier school from 1891.
Managed first by the Presbyterian Church and later by the United Church, it was part of Canada’s residential school system. Indigenous children endured harsh discipline, abuse, forced labour, and punishment for speaking their languages. Many were separated from their families and communities, and some ran away or engaged in acts of resistance to preserve their culture.
“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,” says Lorraine Daniels, second-generation survivor and executive director of the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada.
In 1981, the building and surrounding lands were returned to Long Plain First Nation as part of a treaty land entitlement settlement.
Since then, the community has adapted the site for public education and commemoration. The museum now serves as a space for survivors and visitors to learn about residential schools and their generational impacts.
Community leaders reflect
Chief David Meeches of Long Plain First Nation remarks that the museum and plaques are not just symbols of past pain, but also of resilience and cultural survival.
“Although many view this as a place of hurt, a place of harm, I view it a little differently because I didn’t go to school here. I’m affected by a generation. I see it as a place of defiance that we never gave up. Our songs are still being sung. They’re still dancing. In the end, at the end of the day, doing this visually, as opposed to memory alone, is more important for healing purposes,” he says.
Meeches also highlights the significance of the school’s entrance. Historically, students were not allowed to enter through the front door. Now, a “welcome” sign allows visitors and survivors to symbolically reclaim that space.
“When we keep the stories alive, when we keep this building alive, I hope young people who see it will remember what happened here and why this history matters,” he adds.
MLA attends and shares reflections
Portage MLA Jeff Bereza attended the unveiling and described the event as “extremely moving.”
He notes that the recognition offers an opportunity for public education and reflection.
“What I’m hoping for is this: we’ll see more activity around the place, more opportunity for more people to see the site and to learn about what happened in that Indian residential school and to make sure that this never happens again in Canada,” he says.
Bereza continues, sharing how personal experiences shaped his reaction to the event.
“It was moving to hear Senator McCallum speak about her experiences here. Lorraine Daniels has done an amazing job, and it was a great honour to see childhood friends like Chief Dennis Meeches and all the work he did to bring awareness to the residential school here in Portage la Prairie,” he says.
Historic site and plaques
The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, in collaboration with Parks Canada and Long Plain First Nation, approved the designation.
The commemorative plaques include text in English, French, Cree, Cree syllabics, Anishinaabemowin, Anishinaabemowin syllabics, and Dakota. They describe the school’s history, the experiences of children who attended, and the resilience of Indigenous communities.
Children from many First Nations and other Indigenous communities within Manitoba and beyond attended the school.
Its imposing size, institutional design, and isolated location often created fear and dislocation for students accustomed to open, familiar environments.
Looking forward
Chief Meeches mentions that maintaining the site requires ongoing investment.
“It needs significant investment to bring it up to a certain standard so that it can stand for another 100 years. I call on all levels of government to do this because it’s for the people that attended here, for the people that were affected generationally,” he says.
The designation and museum aim to educate visitors, honour survivors, and ensure that the experiences of residential school students are not forgotten. By preserving the site and sharing its stories, the community and partners hope to foster understanding and support reconciliation.
The Government of Canada has also established a National Residential School Crisis Line, recognizing that the topic may trigger trauma for some. Survivors and others seeking support can call 1-866-925-4419, available 24/7, or access information online about emotional and crisis services.
A place for reflection and learning
Through education, memorialization, and public engagement, the Former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School National Historic Site stands as a testament to the endurance of Indigenous communities and the importance of remembering Canada’s residential school history.
Survivors, families, and community members hope the museum and plaques will continue to educate future generations, keeping the legacy of those who endured the system alive.
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