The Government of Manitoba has earmarked $2.5 million to help with the identification, investigation, protection and commemoration of Indian Residential School burial sites across the province.

Agassiz MLA and Indigenous and Northern Relations Minister Eileen Clarke made the announcement yesterday coincide with National Indegenous Peoples Day. Clarke says the province will meet with Chiefs, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders to find the way to best move forwards. She says Long Plain First Nation will be included in this.

"We had a lengthy discussion with the Chief as well as members of the community. There was no discussion at that time about the gravesites, and I haven't contacted anyone at Long Plain in the past few weeks since the Kamloops news became public."

She adds, there's also going to be contact made with Sandy Bay First Nation to aid them as well.

The process of truth-telling and healing will help the province move towards reconciling the historic wrong-doings of previous governments. Across Canada, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were removed from their families and sent to Indian Residential Schools between 1831 and 1996.

Clarke says this year's National Indigenous Peoples Day is especially important.

"I think 2021 has even more meaning because it's still very emotional... the discussion of residential schools has come to the forefront," says Clarke, "I think Indigenous Peoples Day this year holds a lot of emotional sentiment. Even for non-Indigenous people."

There are 17 former Indian Residential Schools located across Manitoba. 14 of which are officially recognized by the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. There were also 114-day schools in operation across the province.