Reconciliation is central to INRS's mission

September 30, 2021, marks the very first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

On this day, INRS pays tribute to the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities to advance reconciliation efforts. The tragedies experienced over the years reveal a dark yet important chapter in Canada’s history that must never be forgotten.

“It is our responsibility to hear Indigenous voices, to acknowledge their relevance and to understand their impact. As part of its mission, INRS is committed to recognizing the contribution of Indigenous communities to the development of Québec, to listening to their concerns and to highlighting their contribution to academic research, science and the advancement of knowledge.”
Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Chief Executive Officer of INRS.

INRS reiterates its conviction that research and educational activities, carried out by its community members in different places and conditions, should be carried out with respect to the principles of reconciliation, reconstruction, and decolonization.

It is through principles such as respect, openness, and inclusion that INRS awarded an honorary doctorate to Edith Cloutier, Director of the Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre (CAAVD).

Watch her speech (in french).