Christina Spicer  |  June 10, 2021

Category: Civil rights

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(Photo Credit:  meandering images/Shutterstock)

Canada may pay Class Members $10,000 each in a proposed settlement that would end class action lawsuit filed by residential school day scholars.

If approved, the proposed settlement that would end a 2012 class action lawsuit filed by Tk’emlups te’ Secwepemc and shíshálh Nation in BC. The federal government’s settlement proposal comes in the wake of the discovery of a mass grave containing children’s remains at a former residential school located in Kamloops. 

The class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of day scholars, or those who attended one of Canada’s residential schools during the day, but returned home at night. Day scholars say that they were left out of previous class action lawsuits that claimed the government of Canada perpetuated a violent and abusive school system in an attempt to assimilate Indigenous people into mainstream Canadian culture.  

Indeed, between 1831 and extending into the 1990s, Canada’s residential school system split indigenous children from their families and communities, sending them to residential schools across the nation where they were physically and sexually abused, malnourished, and prevented from speaking their language or practicing their religion. Operation of the residential schools was delegated to the Catholic Church and other Christian churches.  

Tens of thousands who attended residential schools as day scholars may be awarded approximately $10,000 each under the class action settlement, reports Reuters. In addition, Canada has pledged $50 million to create an indigenous-led nonprofit that will support Class Member wellness and culture.  

The government of Canada still denies any liability in perpetuating the residential school system, however. In a news conference held after the settlement proposal was announced, Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett reportedly acknowledged that the plaintiffs had wanted an official apology from the government and stated “while this is not part of a settlement agreement, we will be listening to their concerns, as we work together on this request.” 

Canada has continually denied any wrongdoing on its part in the running of the residential schools.  

“While the federal government may have contributed to those losses in various ways, such losses were not as a result of any unlawful acts or omissions of Canada or its employees or agents with respect to the operation of residential schools,” Canada said in a 2019 statement of defence to the class action lawsuit, according to APTN National News 

The proposed settlement will need to be approved by the Federal Court.  

Are you a day scholar who may take part in this class action settlement? What do you think of the proposal? Tell us in the comment section below.  


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2 thoughts onCanada Proposes Settlement in Day Scholar Residential School Class Action Lawsuit

  1. Elwood Richard McNab says:

    My family members were in dayschool.

    1. Bella Lafleur says:

      Mother.. Aunts and Uncles attended school Nipissing Reserve (Garden Village) On

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