Indian Hospitals Foundation Engagement
What’s New
Press ReleaseApril 30, 2026Launch of Federal Indian Hospitals Foundation Cross-Country Engagement Process
Background
The Federal Indian Hospitals Settlement Agreement was reached on February 28, 2025. The Agreement was approved by the Federal Court on June 24, 2025, and includes compensation for claims of abuse experienced by people who were admitted to one of 33 “Indian Hospitals,” as they were known at the time.
As part of the Agreement, Indigenous Services Canada has received $150 million to expand existing mental health and wellness services for Survivors of Federal Indian Hospitals and their families throughout the implementation of the Settlement Agreement. These supports are trauma-informed and culturally appropriate (Federal Indian Hospitals Settlement Agreement Support Services).
Non-Profit Foundation
Also as part of the Agreement, a non-profit Foundation will be created to support Survivors, their families and communities. Its focus will be on healing, wellness, reconciliation, culture, protection of Indigenous languages, commemoration, research, and education related to the Federal Indian Hospitals. Funding for the Foundation will be provided by the federal government through two separate funds:
The Federal Indian Hospitals Settlement Agreement was reached on February 28, 2025. The Agreement was approved by the Federal Court on June 24, 2025, and includes compensation for claims of abuse experienced by people who were admitted to one of 33 “Indian Hospitals,” as they were known at the time.
As part of the Agreement, Indigenous Services Canada has received $150 million to expand existing mental health and wellness services for Survivors of Federal Indian Hospitals and their families throughout the implementation of the Settlement Agreement. These supports are trauma-informed and culturally appropriate (Federal Indian Hospitals Settlement Agreement Support Services).
Non-Profit Foundation
Also as part of the Agreement, a non-profit Foundation will be created to support Survivors, their families and communities. Its focus will be on healing, wellness, reconciliation, culture, protection of Indigenous languages, commemoration, research, and education related to the Federal Indian Hospitals. Funding for the Foundation will be provided by the federal government through two separate funds:
- The Healing Fund: $150 million to support healing, wellness, reconciliation, protection of languages, culture, education, and commemoration.
- The Research and Commemoration Fund: $235.5 million to support research, education, preserving the history of the Federal Indian Hospitals, and locating burial sites associated with the Hospitals.
In order to inform the development of the future Foundation, a comprehensive cross-country engagement process will gather ideas and recommendations from Survivors, their families, and communities about many aspects of the future Foundation, including its leadership, design, and the activities it will undertake.
Launch
A small ceremony was held on April 20, 2026, in Smoky Lake, Alberta, at the Métis Crossing Cultural Gathering Centre, with Survivors of Federal Indian Hospitals and their families to launch the engagement process. In the coming months, in-person engagement sessions will be held in locations across the country where there were once Federal Indian
Hospitals, and where many Survivors and their families reside today. A website was also recently launched (www.ihfes.ca) which includes the registration portal where Survivors and their families can register to attend an in-person session. Engagement locations will be released a few at a time via the website. Those who do not see their community listed
should check back, since new locations will be released each month. Any questions regarding current or future engagement sessions may be directed to the engagement team: info@ihfes.ca. Survivors and their families who can’t or don’t wish to attend an in-person engagement session may provide their input and recommendations via: online submission,
e-mail, regular mail, or by telephone. The input and recommendations gathered during the engagement process will help shape the future Foundation—how it will be led and set up and what work it will do.
A unique logo for the process, designed by Inuk artist, Kayla Williams, in collaboration with Survivors and their families, called “Healing Hands”, was also unveiled. The story of its creation and meaning can be read on the website.
Engagement Process
The engagement process is being led by Dr. Mike DeGagné and is supported by the federal government. Dr. DeGagné is the former President and CEO of Indspire, a national Indigenous charity which supports and invests in education for Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people. He was the first Indigenous President of a Canadian university when he was appointed President and Vice Chancellor of Nipissing University in 2013. He was the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national organization dedicated to addressing the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Dr. DeGagné is currently Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, Scarborough.
The engagement sessions are designed to be safe and supportive spaces to facilitate meaningful participation. Indigenous facilitators will support Dr. DeGagné at some of the larger engagement sessions; Elders will be present, and Indigenous health support workers will be in attendance to support participants as required. Any information that is shared during the process will be safeguarded and rooted in Indigenous Data and Digital Sovereignty Principles.
The engagement process is paid for by the federal government and the cost of the engagement will not be deducted from the Healing Fund or the Research and Commemoration Fund.
All information gathered during the engagement process will inform the Foundation Plan which Dr. DeGagné will author and submit to the Federal Court to support the creation of the Foundation. Once the Foundation Plan is approved by the Court, the non-profit Foundation and Board of Directors will be established.
CONTACT:
Indian Hospitals Foundation Engagement Team
info@ihfes.ca
1-833-977-5668
Launch
A small ceremony was held on April 20, 2026, in Smoky Lake, Alberta, at the Métis Crossing Cultural Gathering Centre, with Survivors of Federal Indian Hospitals and their families to launch the engagement process. In the coming months, in-person engagement sessions will be held in locations across the country where there were once Federal Indian
Hospitals, and where many Survivors and their families reside today. A website was also recently launched (www.ihfes.ca) which includes the registration portal where Survivors and their families can register to attend an in-person session. Engagement locations will be released a few at a time via the website. Those who do not see their community listed
should check back, since new locations will be released each month. Any questions regarding current or future engagement sessions may be directed to the engagement team: info@ihfes.ca. Survivors and their families who can’t or don’t wish to attend an in-person engagement session may provide their input and recommendations via: online submission,
e-mail, regular mail, or by telephone. The input and recommendations gathered during the engagement process will help shape the future Foundation—how it will be led and set up and what work it will do.
A unique logo for the process, designed by Inuk artist, Kayla Williams, in collaboration with Survivors and their families, called “Healing Hands”, was also unveiled. The story of its creation and meaning can be read on the website.
Engagement Process
The engagement process is being led by Dr. Mike DeGagné and is supported by the federal government. Dr. DeGagné is the former President and CEO of Indspire, a national Indigenous charity which supports and invests in education for Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people. He was the first Indigenous President of a Canadian university when he was appointed President and Vice Chancellor of Nipissing University in 2013. He was the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national organization dedicated to addressing the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Dr. DeGagné is currently Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, Scarborough.
The engagement sessions are designed to be safe and supportive spaces to facilitate meaningful participation. Indigenous facilitators will support Dr. DeGagné at some of the larger engagement sessions; Elders will be present, and Indigenous health support workers will be in attendance to support participants as required. Any information that is shared during the process will be safeguarded and rooted in Indigenous Data and Digital Sovereignty Principles.
The engagement process is paid for by the federal government and the cost of the engagement will not be deducted from the Healing Fund or the Research and Commemoration Fund.
All information gathered during the engagement process will inform the Foundation Plan which Dr. DeGagné will author and submit to the Federal Court to support the creation of the Foundation. Once the Foundation Plan is approved by the Court, the non-profit Foundation and Board of Directors will be established.
CONTACT:
Indian Hospitals Foundation Engagement Team
info@ihfes.ca
1-833-977-5668