Indian Day School Class Action lawsuit update

04/16/2019

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to provide updated information on the matter of a lawsuit that will have impacts on the community.

On May 13 to 15, 2019 the Federal Court in Winnipeg will be asked to approve the proposed settlement for a nation-wide class action lawsuit against Canada to compensate survivors for harms/abuses they suffered while attending federally-operated Indian Day Schools. The proposed settlement includes everyone who attended one of these institutions.

Indian Day Schools were established, funded, and operated by the federal Department of Indian Affairs. After 1920, Indigenous students across Canada were forced to attend these schools by law, under the Indian Act. Between 1868 and 1988 there were a total of eleven (11) Indian Day Schools in Kahnawà:ke.

If approved, survivors will be eligible to claim compensation. Compensation amounts vary from $10,000 to upward of $200,000. These amounts are dependent on the severity of physical, psychological and sexual abuses an individual suffered while attending an Indian Day School.

Compensation claim forms will be made available following the court approval. Individuals will have one year to submit a claim for compensation.

Gowling WLG is the law firm representing the Indian Day School Class Action Settlement. They have agreed to make a community presentation in Kahnawà:ke following the court decision. The date for this presentation is yet to be determined.

For further information, please contact Dennis Diabo or Katsistohkwí:io Jacco at the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke by telephone (450-632-7500) or email (dennis.diabo@mck.ca, katsistohkwiio.jacco@mck.ca).