Residential Schools Class Action lawsuit against Canada

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BANDS ANNOUNCE DAY SCHOOL CLASS ACTION AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Vancouver I Kamloops I Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada, August 15, 2012 - Today, Chief Shane Gottfriedson, leader of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Indian Band, and Chief Garry Feschuk, leader of the Sechelt Indian Band, together announced the filing of a class action lawsuit against the Federal Government in the Federal Court of Canada for damages arising from the forced attendance of their Band members as day scholars at Indian Residential Schools on their reserves.

The claim alleges that the Federal Government's residential schools policy sought to destroy the cultural and linguistic heritage of Aboriginal people and, when it was implemented, breached the Aboriginal rights of Aboriginal children who were forced to attend the schools. The claim states "Canada's Residential Schools Policy was designed to eradicate Aboriginal culture and identity and assimilate the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada into Euro-Canadian society. Through this policy, Canada ripped away the foundations of identity for generations of Aboriginal People and caused incalculable harm to both individuals and communities."

From 1890 until the 1970s, residential schools were located in the heart of the TK'emlups and Sechelt Band communities. Aboriginal children from host communities were compelled to attend residential schools during the day, where they were forced to learn English, and taught that their cultural heritage was that of "savages" or "heathens." The government's program was one of forced assimilation, and applied equally to students who lived at the schools and those who attended on a day basis. While the government of Canada has provided compensation for Aboriginal children who were living at residential schools, the day students have been excluded.

Chief Gottfriedson says, "This class action is about achieving fairness for those individuals who have suffered the effects of the residential schools, but who have been ignored by the government on compensation."

As Chief Feschuk explains, "The government has acknowledged what it set out to do remove the culture of our people, and the harm it caused by forcing our people to turn away from their traditions. The residential schools were an attempt to destroy our traditions and cultures for day students as well as residential students. As our people and our communities work to rebuild from the effects of the residential schools, the government must step forward and take responsibility, not just for those who lived at the schools, but also for those who attended as day students."

The Band leaders describe this class action as a necessary step to compel the government to accept its responsibility for what it has done to their people and communities, and to set the stage for all members of these communities to begin healing.

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Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Indian Band: Chief Shane Gottfriedson- 250-318-8527
Sechelt Indian Band - Contact Person: Chief Garry Feschuk- 604-230-3415

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUST 16, 2012

OTTAWA – As Aboriginal groups from across Canada file a class action lawsuit on behalf of day school survivors, the New Democrat Aboriginal Affairs critic is calling on the government to use this as an opportunity to move towards reconciliation and healing.

“The survivors of day schools suffered some of the same abuse and indignities that residential school survivors did,” said Jean Crowder, MP for Nanaimo-Cowichan. “Why drag out a court case to decide compensation when the government can move now to settle with survivors on an agreement that provides compensation, but more importantly, healing?”

Day schools were also operated on behalf of the Canadian government by church entities, usually on or near reserves. Although they were able to go home most nights, children were still forbidden from speaking their indigenous language, forced to abandon cultural practices and some were subject to harsh punishments from the school authorities.

“First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples all had children who attended these day schools,” said Crowder. “By closing the gap that exists because day school survivors were not covered by the Indian Residential School Settlement, we will be taking one small step towards reconciliation.”

For more information, please contact:

Robin Steudel, Regional Media Officer – robin.steudel@parl.gc.ca or 613.222.2863