Woodland Cultural Centre to Host UNESCO Residential Schools Gathering

Brantford, ON – Six Nations Elected Council has expressed its support for a historic gathering at the Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) in May 2026 to discuss a joint nomination of former residential school properties from across Canada as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

WCC will host site stewards from former residential schools including Kamloops, St. Mary’s (Mission), Muscowequan, Portage la Prairie, Shingwauk, Pointe Bleue, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, and others. This exploratory gathering represents a crucial step towards recognizing the cultural and historical significance of these sites at an international level.

The first step in a UNESCO World Heritage nomination is inclusion on Canada’s World Heritage Tentative List. With Canada potentially adding new sites to this list in 2027, this gathering will allow Survivors, site stewards, researchers, and community leaders to collaborate on a coordinated nomination strategy.

WCC gratefully acknowledges National Bank as the primary funder for the UNESCO World Heritage nomination and this gathering, supporting travel and participation for representatives coming from across the country, including northern Quebec and the Northwest Territories. WCC continues to seek additional financial support to cover increasing travel costs for attendees.

This gathering reflects WCC’s commitment to preserving and sharing Indigenous history, fostering dialogue, and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives in cultural heritage preservation.

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.