Money not being the only problem, limited time and a shortage of hotel beds all collectively indicate that some of the residential school survivors won't really be able to make it to the first national truth and reconciliation event in Winnipeg, next week.

To honor the residential school survivors and to highlight the aboriginal culture, around 5,000 people, together with 500 survivors will assemble at The Forks to kick off a four-day celebration, on Wednesday.

This event is one of the seven national events considered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the next five years, and is also the first mass statement undertaken by the TRC.

23 private rooms have been booked at the Inn at The Forks, where these survivors can stay and inform researchers about the incident, share documents and photos and be assisted by hundreds of mental-health professionals.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has been trying hard to help in organizing and subsidizing travel for many survivors, who live in remote reserves in Manitoba or northwestern Ontario.

About $25,000 has been collected by donations from churches by the AMC, this amount is expected to help pay for travel and accommodations, of about 300 people.

Money, not being the only consideration, the fact is that most of Winnipeg's hotel rooms are booked, so the TRC and the AMC have turned to local universities for help. The University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg and the Canadian Mennonite University have all come forward to help and thereby, the TRC is co-coordinating private billets for the survivors.