The project's goals are to document Métis experiences of Residential Schools and other institutions of assimilation. This information may support future research and create educational tools, programs, and support.

Participants will choose how their interview will be used. This might include supporting future research, or being featured in the project’s final report, public-facing materials, and other projects.

People who are Residential Schools Survivors; are intergenerational Residential Schools Survivors; and/or who have knowledge of Métis experiences of Residential, industrial, or day schools.

Please see the Project Schedule.

Interviews will be held in person, in a central location for participants. Where possible, team members will do their best to accommodate participants who wish to conduct interviews in their homes.

As a participant in this project, you have the right to:

• Give your interview in your preferred language

• Access mobility supports

• Access health and cultural support during and after your interview

• Set restrictions on how your interview will be used

• Choose to receive a copy of the consent form and interview questions ahead of the interview

• Refuse or skip questions

• Stop or pause the interview at any time

• Withdraw from the project at any time and request that recordings of your interview and all associated material be destroyed

• Request portions of your interview be removed or updated

• Choose if you want to be audio- or video-recorded or to not be recorded.

You will own your interview and the knowledge you shared.

We understand that participants may need support and accommodation during interviews, such as translation and mobility assistance (e.g., arranging transportation). We will work with each individual to provide accommodation.

Interviewees will receive an honorarium for taking part in an interview.

Know History will store the interview recordings and transcripts in a secure, password-protected Dropbox (privacy policy) folder. The project team may need external storage (such as hard drives) when files cannot be uploaded to Dropbox (such as when conducting interviews and travelling). Two copies of files will be maintained on two separate drives to mitigate data loss or corruption. A logbook will also accompany the hard drives to record who has accessed the files and for what purpose. Interviewee information, such as their name, date of birth, address, interview date, and contact information, will also be stored in a password-protected Airtable, USA (privacy policy) base. With your permission, after the project is complete, interview recordings and transcripts will be transferred to the MNO for long-term storage.

Know History will also collect and process your personal information when you:

• Subscribe on the project website to stay up to date about the project

• Contact the project team by phone or email. 

What do we track?

• When you register to stay up to date, we will track your name and email address. We use Campaign Monitor (privacy policy) to create and distribute updates. 

• When you contact the project team, we will track your name, email, phone number, and communication details (such as your questions and when you called). We use Vonage (privacy policy) to make phone calls and Microsoft, Canada (privacy policy) for email correspondence.

• When you have a pre-interview and interview, we will track your interview details, such as the accommodation and support you may need. This information is stored in Airtable.

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is the government of Métis people and communities in Ontario, and people throughout the Métis Homeland. For more information on the MNO, please visit: https://www.metisnation.org/

Know History is a private historical services firm specializing in Indigenous and Residential Schools research and interviews, and has been hired to support this work.

The Weaving Wellness Centre is a private clinical and consulting practice dedicated to supporting Indigenous individuals, families, and communities in their healing journeys. Their Métis-led team has extensive experience working alongside diverse Métis communities and Indian Residential School Survivors across the Homeland.

As part of this project, they are honoured to provide mental wellness support for Survivors, including virtual one-to-one counselling for those seeking additional care.

This is not a crisis service. Please see Health and Wellness for immediate support