The Claims Process for the Indian Day Schools Class Action Settlement began on January 13, 2020. Eligible community members will have two-and-a-half years to submit claims for compensation until the end date of July 13, 2022. Further, Estates of Day School survivors who passed away on or after July 31st, 2007 will also be eligible to apply.
The Indian Day School Class Action Suit was initiated in 2009 by several Indigenous people who suffered severe abuses by attending Indian Day Schools in their respective communities. The Law Firm that represented this Class Action Suit is Gowling WLG. In May 2019, Gowling WLG was present in Federal Court in Winnipeg to represent the Class Action Suit and litigated for this case to be approved by the Federal Judge.
On August 19, 2019, the Federal Court announced that it officially approved the Indian Day School Settlement. The settlement applies to all individuals who attended a Federally operated Indian Day School. Compensation ranges from $10,000-$200,00, depending on the type of harms experienced while attending the school(s). Application forms for compensation have not yet been released. Information will be forthcoming once application forms for compensation are available.
MCK and KSCS are currently collaborating on planning how to best provide assistance to our community members who are affected by this settlement.
For More Information:
Please contact the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke Indian Day School Settlement Project Coordinator Louise Mayo (louise.mayo@mck.ca) at 514-793-0662 or email idsclaims@mck.ca.
