People line up to take a self-guided tour following the Official Unveiling of former Mohawk Institute Residential School as an Interpreted Historic Site at Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ont. CANADIAN PRESS/Peter PowerAs Indigenous Peoples marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this week, they also had to confront a persistent problem: public figures claiming the history of residential schools has been exaggerated or falsified. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, mandated out of a legal settlement between the federal government and survivors of residential schools, concluded the goal of the schools was to erase Indigenous cultures. The weeks leading up to Sept. 30 this year saw some prominent individuals and political figures issue online posts and statements downplaying or denying the history of residential schools. Marc Miller, former minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, said 2021 was the moment when many Canadians were first made aware of the history of residential schools.