What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada

Home
Canada
Portage La Prairie, MB
National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada

From a place of hurting to a place of healing.

A place where people can learn, share, heal and move forward with a greater understanding of the forces that shaped and forever changed multiple generations of First Nations people.

05/26/2026

This week, representatives from residential school sites across Canada are gathering to discuss important conversations around UNESCO World Heritage designation, stewardship of former residential school sites, preservation efforts, commemoration, and how we move forward thoughtfully with education and tourism.

The first leg of our journey has brought us to Thunder Bay landmarks and the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School, now part of Algoma University. Walking the grounds at Shingwauk earlier today was a powerful reminder that these places hold difficult truths, deep histories, and responsibilities that continue today.

We are especially honoured that Lorraine Daniels, Executive Director, and Elder in Residence David Daniels are part of this journey. It is important that Survivors continue to guide how these stories are shared, how these sites are cared for, and how future generations learn from them.

As we continue these discussions with partners from across the country, we carry with us the importance of truth, remembrance, stewardship, and Indigenous leadership in shaping the future of these spaces.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey 🧡

05/21/2026

SAVE THE DATE 🌿

Mashkikiin Medicine Gathering
August 31 – September 2, 2026

We are honoured to work alongside Mashkikiin Wellness as we begin inviting community members, healers, knowledge keepers, educators, land-based practitioners, and those walking a healing journey to gather with us this coming summer.

The Mashkikiin Medicine Gathering is being created as a space for:
🌱 Indigenous plant medicine teachings
🌱 Land-based learning
🌱 Cultural reconnection
🌱 Wellness and healing
🌱 Intergenerational knowledge sharing
🌱 Community and relationship building

Elders, healers, and knowledge holders from multiple Nations are currently being invited, with more announcements to come in the coming weeks.

As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation season, this gathering offers an opportunity to move beyond awareness and into relationship, learning, and collective care.

Please save the date and follow along as we continue to share updates, teachings, partnerships, and ways to support community access to the gathering.

More details coming soon. 🍃

05/18/2026

The Museum will be closed on Victoria Day, Monday, May 18.

We look forward to welcoming visitors back when we reopen on Tuesday, May 19!

05/14/2026

Today on May 14th NIRSM's Board and Staff recognize Moose Hide Campaign Day — a national, Indigenous-led movement committed to ending gender-based violence and advancing reconciliation.

The Moose Hide Campaign began along the Highway of Tears in British Columbia and calls on all Canadians to stand up for the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of women, children, and all people affected by violence.

At NIRSM, we acknowledge the importance of this day and the ongoing work of building communities rooted in respect, accountability, and care. We honour the voices, strength, and leadership of Indigenous women, families, survivors, and communities across the country.

We invite our visitors and community members to learn more about the campaign and reflect on how each of us can contribute to safer, more compassionate communities.

05/13/2026

Looking to offer your guests a deeper connection to the land, history, and culture of this region?

We are proud to now offer Indigenous-led land-based teachings and cultural experiences that can be added to Group Bookings. Guests can explore traditional plant medicines, the Seven Grandfather Teachings, clan and kinship systems, treaty relationships, and Indigenous perspectives on history, resilience, and restoration.

These experiences are welcoming, educational, and grounded in living Indigenous knowledge passed through generations. By request, we can also arrange presentations with Residential School Survivors and Indigenous Knowledge Holders.

Perfect for tour groups, schools, and organizations seeking meaningful cultural experiences.

Tour rates and booking information available by emailing [email protected] or calling (204) 239-6464 — message us to learn more or customize an experience for your group.

05/12/2026

Road trip season will soon be here! ☀️🚗

As you travel along Highway 1 by Portage la Prairie this summer, we invite you to make a meaningful stop at the National Indigenous Residential School Museum.

Our new highway sign is now up, making it easier to find us — and many visitors are surprised to learn that a national museum of this nature is located just minutes from the highway and easy to access.

Whether you are passing through, exploring the Prairies, or planning a day trip, we welcome visitors Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Drop-ins are always welcome for self-guided or guided tours. If you would like a guided tour, we recommend calling ahead to ensure one of our tour guides is available: (204) 239-6464.

Take time this summer to learn, reflect, and connect through an important part of Canada’s history.

📍 Conveniently located just off Highway 1
5000 Crescent Road W, Keeshkeemaquah Reserve (beside Portage la Prairie, MB)
🕣 Open Monday–Friday | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

We look forward to welcoming you. 🧡

05/03/2026

What is Red Dress Day?

Reminder that Tuesday, May 5th is Red Dress Day which honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people. Each empty dress represents a life that should still be here—a presence that is deeply missed.

This day brings awareness to a crisis that continues to affect families and communities across generations. It is also a call to remember, to listen, and to learn.

The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people did not happen in isolation.

It is connected to a long history of policies and systems that disrupted Indigenous families, cultures, and ways of life. Residential schools, forced displacement from land, and ongoing inequities have all contributed to increased vulnerability.

When connections to community, language, and identity are disrupted, the impacts are felt across generations.

Understanding this history helps us move beyond asking “why” and toward recognizing the deeper roots of what communities continue to face today.

05/02/2026

Today, we had the honour of welcoming staff from Westpark School in Portage la Prairie for a morning of learning and reflection at the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada.

Together, we spent time engaging with the history and ongoing impacts of the residential school system—holding space for difficult truths, meaningful questions, and shared understanding. We are grateful for educators who are committed to deepening their knowledge and carrying that learning forward into their classrooms and communities.

Reconciliation is not a single moment, but an ongoing journey—one that grows through listening, learning, and relationship.

If your school, workplace, or organization is looking for opportunities to engage in meaningful learning experiences, we welcome you to connect with us.

05/01/2026

May is Museum Month!

At the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada, Museum Month is a time to reflect on the responsibility of sharing truth, preserving memory, and supporting ongoing learning.

NIRSM exists as a space for education, dialogue, and remembrance—where the history and legacy of residential schools are acknowledged with care, and where visitors are invited to deepen their understanding of both past and present realities.

Through exhibits, community engagement, and land-based learning, the museum works to ensure these stories are not forgotten, and that the voices of Survivors and their families remain at the centre.

Museums hold an important role in shaping how we understand history. At NIRSM, this work is rooted in truth-telling, relationship, and a commitment to reconciliation.

We invite you to visit, to learn, and to reflect with us this month.

Contact us at [email protected] or call (204) 239-6464 for more information.

04/28/2026

Planning a school trip this spring? 🚌

We’re proud to partner with Fort la Reine Museum Fort la Reine Museum to offer schools 10% off when classes book tours with both venues.

Give students the opportunity to experience the history of this region through different perspectives—from Indigenous experiences and the legacy of residential schools to early settlement life and community development.

Two meaningful learning experiences. One community story.

To book, contact each venue directly and mention the dual booking partnership.

04/24/2026

We were honoured to welcome the International Women’s Forum to the museum on April 23 for a meaningful afternoon of learning, reflection, and dialogue.

Guests were welcomed by Executive Director, Lorraine Daniels, who shared both the history of the museum and her lived experience as a Survivor of residential school. Following her presentation, members toured the museum and gathered for a thoughtful Q&A.

This time to connect was especially meaningful for our all-women team. To witness women leaders come with humility, listen deeply, and engage with truth-telling reflects the kind of leadership that helps create lasting change. Spaces where women support women, honour lived experience, and champion education are powerful and necessary.

For our staff, this was more than a visit—it was a reminder that when women in leadership choose to listen, learn, and stand alongside communities, healing and progress become possible.

We thank the International Women’s Forum for taking the time to visit, to ask important questions, and to carry these stories forward in their own circles of influence.

Address

212/5000 Crescent Road West
Portage La Prairie, MB
R1N4B1

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12042396464

Website

https://nirsmuseum.ca/

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