The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will issue its final report Tuesday in Ottawa - a much-anticipated report on the impacts of residential schools and ways to move forward.
Hundreds of Manitobans went to residential schools and some are in Ottawa to hear details of the release firsthand, including Theodore Fontaine from the Sagkeeng First Nation, Man.
"My incarceration lasted about 12 years," said Fontaine in describing his time at an Indian Residential School.
Hundreds were built across this country - run by churches, funded by governments.
In 2008, the TRC started gathering stories of abuse and loneliness suffered by former students.
And has at least 40,000 of them documented, which will form part of the final report.
Fontaine said he wanted to be in Ottawa to hear for himself what the report will say and hopes the world will understand one main thing.
"We are real. When I was a kid, they tried to knock off the Indian-ness within us. We were not valid," said Fontaine.
Many of the stories include accounts of abuse suffered at the hands of people who run schools.
The report is also expected to include a list of recommendations laid out by the TRC commissioners.
Many, including the Assembly of First Nations, hope the report will lead to positive changes for Canada's first people.
"When people get the impact, that we suffered through the residential schools, the Indian Act and the cultural genocide, they'll be more open and in tune to bring about real reconciliation," said AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde.
Fontaine also hopes the report will also remind all First Nations that they are valued and an equal part of this country.
Events marking the end of TRC work will also be held in Winnipeg.
