(Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Dylana Milobar

FIRST NATIONS RECONCILIATION

Not included in Federal Indian Day Schools settlement, Day Scholars still seeking compensation

Aug 21, 2019 | 3:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Monday (Aug. 19) , Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett announced the Federal Court of Canada approved the Federal Indian Day Schools (McLean) settlement agreement.

Following the decision, survivors can apply for individual compensation for damage done, including physical and sexual abuse associated with attending a Federal Indian Day School.

The settlement applies to Day School survivors, however it does not include Day Scholars, and their similar class action lawsuit has yet to be resolved.

Day Scholars differ from Day School survivors — in that Day Scholars attended federally owned and operated Indian Residential Schools alongside full-time attendees, but went home at night. Whereas Federal Indian Day schools, which were separate institutions from Residential Schools, had all children attending in the day time.

Two and Out

PETERS: Eby could learn something from Horgan, who bridged the ideological divide between urban and rural B.C.

Nov 22, 2024

B100's Basics for Babies

B-100's Basics for Babies 2024

Nov 22, 2024

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Royal Inland Hospital's emergency room uses antimicrobial copper to fight infection

Nov 22, 2024

“We’re happy for them (Day School survivors), in that they are taking those steps towards reconciliation,” says Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Chief, Rosanne Casimir. “But the Day Scholars initiative has not been fully acknowledged, and discussions still need to take place. We’re the only group that has not been compensated for the harms that were suffered as well.”

(Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

The Day Scholars are seeking compensation based on the same formula used with other Residential School survivors. Given that the resolution system is already in place for one group, Casimir says T’kemlu’ps wonders why it has taken so long to have action taken.

“We first filed back in 2010,” Casimir explains. “We had former councillor Evelyn Camille take the lead on this, and had a lot of the discussions with Sechelt (Shíshálh). And basically, they wanted to join forces because they too shared the same concerns.”

After the decision was announced, Casimir says the T’kemlu’ps / Sechelt team has not had any federal representatives reach out to assure them their claim is being worked on.

“We have reached out so many times. When (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau was here, I met with him and I expressed the concerns,” she explains. “For us, it’s always about settlement over going to the courts. Because it’s about fair and just treatment.”

Casimir says she has also been working on getting in contact with Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett.

“It was kind of hit and miss constantly with setting up times. But I did manage to send her some correspondence in relation to our case, and all the main facts,” she says. “And to this day, she hasn’t gotten back to us either. So we keep reaching out to every level of government, but they’re failing to get back to us.”

Moving forward, Casimir says Day Scholars hope a reconciliation decision will be reached for survivors.

“We just want resolve. We want to truly work towards that reconciliation. It’s just about being fair and just, and we’re not asking for anything more than what the other class actions have received.”