The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Anishinabek Nation are jointly calling for an extension to the federal Day School Class action Settlement.
Day schools were residential schools where Indigenous students attended the school during the day, but were able to return to their families and communities.
The settlement on these schools is set to close in July and the two organizations say many survivors and their families were excluded from the process.
“Canada’s approach to the implementation of the claim regime should be grounded in the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Today, we ask Canada to consider Call #29, to work
collaboratively with Day School Survivors and their families who were not included in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe in the statement.
The two organizations point to issues created by the Covid-19 pandemic and a process they feel hindered survivors ability to properly participate in the settlement as reasons to delay.
“Day School Survivors and their families have endured enough trauma already. They do not need to face these barriers while on their difficult and emotional healing journey,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron
Both the FSIN and Anishinabek Nation admit it is not typical to amend a class-action lawsuit this late in the process, but both organizations believe it is important for survivors and their families.
They are asking the Government of Canada to intervene and bring an extension to the lawsuit.
It is estimated that close to 200,000 Indigenous children attended the nearly 700 federally operated Indian day schools in Canada.
(PHOTO: FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. File Photo)