Woodland Cultural Centre Hosts Successful National Gathering Advancing UNESCO World Heritage Nomination Initiative
Brantford, ON – The Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) is pleased to announce the successful completion of a historic national gathering held May 28 and 29, 2026, bringing together Survivors, site stewards, researchers, and community leaders from former residential school sites across Canada to advance discussions toward a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination.
The two-day gathering welcomed representatives from Kamloops, St. Mary’s (Mission), Muscowequan, Portage la Prairie, Shingwauk, Pointe Bleue, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, and other former residential school sites. Participants engaged in collaborative dialogue focused on shared priorities, relationship-building, and the development of a coordinated approach to the UNESCO nomination process.
The gathering marked an important early milestone in the effort to include former residential school sites on Canada’s World Heritage Tentative List, a required first step in the UNESCO nomination process. With Canada expected to consider additions to its Tentative List in 2027, the discussions held at WCC contribute directly to shaping a unified and Indigenous-led submission strategy.
WCC acknowledges the support of National Bank, whose funding helped enable travel and participation for representatives from across the country.
“At National Bank, we seek to support projects that will build relationships and have significant impact across Canada. We know this project will ensure that the stories of residential school Survivors are honoured and remembered. Personally, as a father, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have my child taken from me at such a young age,” said Sean St. John, Executive Vice-President, Managing Director and Head of Fixed Income and Co-Head of Risk Management Solutions at National Bank.
“As a Board Member of the Woodland Cultural Centre, I want to express my gratitude to National Bank for their support of this important gathering and the ongoing discussions surrounding a potential UNESCO World Heritage nomination. Their investment reflects a meaningful commitment to reconciliation through action and a respect for Indigenous-led initiatives. By supporting this gathering, National Bank helped create the space for Survivors, site stewards, and community representatives from across the country to come together in a good mind and explore what a collective path forward could look like. Together, we are taking an important step toward ensuring these histories are honoured, remembered, and known by future generations,” said Carley Gallant, Board Member, Woodland Cultural Centre.
WCC also gratefully acknowledges the support of Sobeys, Boralex, and Aecon in helping make this gathering possible.
“We are very grateful to National Bank, Sobeys, Boralex, and Aecon for their support in making this gathering possible. It was meaningful to see this important work take place here at WCC,” said Heather George, Executive Director of the Woodland Cultural Centre.
Project Lead Dr. Cody Groat reflected on the significance of the gathering and the momentum generated through the discussions.
“It was an honour to witness the passion and excitement that Survivors, site stewards, and other representatives who attended the gathering showed towards this project. While this is just the first step in a much longer journey, I am confident that we have built a strong foundation from which this joint nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site can move forward,” said Dr. Cody Groat.
The Woodland Cultural Centre emphasizes that this work is grounded in Survivor voices, Indigenous leadership, and a shared commitment to truth-telling, remembrance, and cultural preservation. The gathering represents a meaningful step forward in advancing Indigenous-led heritage recognition on an international stage.
About the Woodland Cultural Centre:
The Woodland Cultural Centre is a First Nations educational and cultural centre that serves to preserve and promote Indigenous languages, cultures, art, and history. Located on the site of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, the WCC strives to be a leading destination for cultural learning and understanding.
