Federal government signs 28 billion deal with residential home survivors

Federal government signs $2.8 billion deal with residential home survivors Indian Boarding Schools

The federal government announced Saturday in Vancouver that it has reached a settlement in the Gottfriedson Band’s class action lawsuit in British Columbia. Canada will contribute $2.8 billion, which will be invested in a non-profit, non-governmental trust for 20 years.

The class action lawsuit seeks redress for the language and culture loss inflicted on former day school students through dormitories.

The settlement has yet to be approved by federal court before compensation can be paid to the beneficiaries who filed this class action lawsuit in 2012 as part of a larger class action lawsuit known as the Gottfriedson case.

“The parties are scheduled to appear in federal court on February 27 to seek approval of the terms of the settlement,” the statement said. The court will determine whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and in the best interests of the group members.

Federal government signs 28 billion deal with residential home survivors

Ottawa and 325 Nations reached a $2,800,000,000 agreement to compensate boarding school survivors and descendants. A settlement emerging from a class action lawsuit initiated by a First Nation in British Columbia more than 10 years ago. The deal, which must be approved by federal court, offers communities new hope for healing. Kim Vermette’s report.

The fund’s organization will be overseen by a board of nine indigenous trustees, and Canada will select one from among them, the settlement agreement said.

In exchange for this agreement, the 325 plaintiffs have agreed to fully, permanently and forever indemnify the Crown from any claims that may arise from the collective harms dormitory inflicts on First Nations.

With information from Brett Forester