Day School Survivors Taking Ottawa To Court

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 15:04

A class-action lawsuit is being launched against the federal government on behalf of Aboriginal day school survivors.

While the papers have yet to be filed, an official with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says the lawsuit is intended to bring day-schoolers the same level of compensation being offered to residential school survivors.

Jennifer Wood says many First Nations people suffered abuses while attending day schools — but the government has bypassed them and others through its residential schools compensation agreement.

Wood says many families have been hurt by the oversight.

She explains some people are getting compensation, while others aren’t — which is creating divisions.

Manitoba lawyer Joan Jack is the attorney launching the lawsuit.