Residents of Peguis First Nation, Manitoba, are being invited to share ideas for new memorials planned for the Manitoba Legislature grounds in Winnipeg. The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) has launched a consultation survey inviting residential school survivors and their families to help shape what those commemorations should look like.
The survey is open until March 1, 2026, and is part of a provincial effort to replace statues that were toppled by protesters in 2021 (including statues of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II) with symbols that reflect Indigenous history and resilience. Premier Wab Kinew has proposed a “mother and child bison” monument to represent families who were separated by the residential school system.
For Peguis, Manitoba’s largest First Nation, the provincial process raises hopes for a fresh start — but also recalls recent local controversies. Peguis First Nation filed a lawsuit alleging that a $30,000 grant intended for a local residential-school survivor monument was diverted; those allegations are made in court documents and have not been proven. That history has left some community members insisting on transparency and survivor-led decision-making for any new memorial.
It is not yet clear whether the Peguis Band Council will formally provide supports for members who want to participate (examples discussed include counselling, travel assistance and information sessions).
The project is part of broader efforts to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #82, which calls for a publicly accessible residential schools monument in each provincial and territorial capital. The CBC Beyond 94 tracker monitors progress on that commitment.
SCO has said it wants the final designs to be survivor-led. Survivors can complete the SCO survey online or contact SCO’s local offices for more information; the response deadline is March 1, 2026.
