Important update and clarification on Indian Day School lawsuit

05/02/2019

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to provide updated information on the matter of the proposed settlement of the Indian Day Schools class-action lawsuit.

Please note that this Friday, May 3, 2019, is the date for those people who wish to express their support or to object to the proposed settlement only. This is not mandatory; it is completely optional and will not affect applying for compensation in the future whatsoever. This is not a deadline to apply for compensation. 

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

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. Between 1868 and 1988 there were a total of eleven (11) Indian Day Schools in Kahnawà:ke.

“We have had a substantial number of community members come forth in the past few days worried that this Friday was the deadline to apply for compensation, which is definitely not the case,” said Ratsénhaienhs Mike Delisle, Jr. “Gowling WLG, the law firm representing the Indian Day School Class Action Settlement, has agreed to meet with the community after the court decision, at which time the next steps and processes will be made much clearer.

In the meantime, 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) for more information.