1. The Evolution to the: Formal Apology and Compensation
Residential School
The Evolution to the:
Formal Apology and Compensation

2. 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal People
-huge report that looked at the history of Aboriginal people and their relationship with the government
 Made over 400 recommendations to improve the relationship

3. 1998 “Statement of Reconciliation”
-gov’t acknowledges historical wrongdoings
-gov’t apologies for residential schools
Admission of wrongdoing = GUILT = LAWSUITS
-leads to the creation of the:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission

4. What is the TRC? Federally funded program that is designed to:
Confirm and acknowledge residential school experiences, impacts and consequences
Educate Canadians
Provide healing and support with the hopes of forgiveness

5. 2001-03: Gov’t + Church Accept Responsibility
-both agree to share responsibility
-both agree to share costs of compensation
-Fed Govt cover 70%
-Presbyterian + Anglican Church cover 30%
-Roman Catholic Church refused to compensate
(yet they ran 70% of the schools)

6. 2006: Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
-largest lawsuit in Canadian History
-Set out Criteria for receiving financial compensation:
1. Common Experience Payment
2. Independent Assessment Process

7. Common Experience Payment
-Financial compensation based on:
number of years in residential schools
-$10,000 for first year
-$3,000 for each subsequent year
 average payment is $25,000
-estimated that 80,000 former students will / have received this compensation

8. Independent Assessment Process
-Financial compensation for based on: physical or sexual abuse suffered at residential schools
-$5,000 - $250,000 depending upon severity
-based on a point system:
*Acts Proven: points given based on type of abuse [physical abuse  sexual abuse]
*Consequential Harm: points given based on the impact the abuse had on survivor [depression, suicidal, addiction etc]
*Aggravating factors: extra points given if the abuse was considered to be worse [age, humiliation, violence, threats]
*Consequential loss of opporunity: points given if the survivor had an inability to work or retain employment
 All done with a lawyer, in court, in front of a panel.

9. Claims – DATE SENSITIVE
-lawsuits and claims must be submitted by September 19th, all claims submitted thereafter are not accepted -Gov’t deliberately created a small window of opportunity: