Brigette Honaker  |  August 23, 2019

Category: Canada Settlements

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canada federal indian day school

As part of an ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic, Gowling WLG is canceling all Community Assistance Sessions until further notice to prevent the spread of the virus. Community Assistance Sessions will now be delivered by video conference. According to the Indian Day School class action settlement website, these sessions will provide Claimants with information about the Claims Process and how to complete the Claim Form. All participants should register here for the session tailored to their region. Claimants can also arrange virtual legal support by calling 1-844-539-3815 or by emailing dayschools@gowlingwlg.com.

A $1.27 billion settlement has been reached to resolve claims that Canadian Federal Indian Day Schools caused physical and/or sexual harm to Inuit, Métis or First Nations attendees.

While the website is live, it is not accepting claims yet. Top Class Actions will provide claim filing instructions as soon as they become available.

Meanwhile, viewers will receive an email notice when this article is updated with more information by using a free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

According to the pending settlement website, individuals who attended any of the 700+ Canadian Indian Federal Day Schools and experienced abuse can file a claim for up to $200,000 in the next four months.

Only individuals who attended federally run schools are eligible. A full list of schools is available here.

Family members are eligible to receive compensation on behalf of deceased Class Members who died on or after July 31, 2007.

Plaintiff Garry McLean filed his class action lawsuit in 2009, seeking compensation for victims of physical and sexual abuse at federally funded and operated Indian Day Schools in Canada.

McLean, who passed away shortly before the settlement was reached, allegedly experienced emotional, mental, physical and sexual abuse while he was legally required to attend a Federal Day School.

Indigenous people were reportedly forced to attend federally funded day schools in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. At these schools, children were allegedly subjected to all sorts of abuse, resulting in long-term trauma and harm.

A settlement was reached between the plaintiffs and Canada in March 2019. The federal settlement allows Class Members to recover compensation, even if they were not included in a $1.9 billion residential school settlement agreement from 2007.

Under the settlement, Class Members can submit a claim and receive at least $10,000 in compensation. For Class Members who experienced repeated sexual or physical abuse that lead to long-term injury, increased payments between $50,000 and $200,000 are available.

The settlement also includes a $200 million Legacy Fund that will help support commemoration projects, health and wellness programs, and Indigenous language and culture initiatives.

Claims will start to be processed on Dec. 17, 2019. Class Members will have two and a half years following this date, until June 17, 2022, to submit a Claim Form. The deadline for opting out of the settlement is Nov. 29, 2019. The settlement was granted final approval on Aug. 19, 2019.

For more information about joining the class action, Class Members can submit a registration form. You can also email DaySchools@GowlingWLG.com or call 1 -844-539-3815.

The Class is represented by Robert Winogron, Mary M. Thomson and Jeremy Bouchard of Gowling WLG LLP.

The Canada Indian Day School Class Action Settlement is McLean, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada, Case No. CI 09-01-62181, in the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench.

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5 thoughts onCanada Inuit, Métis, First Nations Day Schools Abuse Settlement Website Active

  1. Terry Graham says:

    Add me

  2. Robert J Goudin says:

    add me

  3. John E Crawford says:

    Please add me to lawsuit.

  4. Vanessa Padgette says:

    Add me please

  5. Robert says:

    add me

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.