Canada has agreed to a $1.9 billion settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit regarding the Indian Boarding Homes Program. This program, which spanned from the 1950s to the early 1990s, is accused of causing significant harm to Indigenous children placed in non-Indigenous homes for educational purposes.
Background of the Indian Boarding Homes Program
The Indian Boarding Homes Program was created in the 1950s to place First Nations and Inuit children in private, non-Indigenous homes while they attended school. However, plaintiffs claim the program caused lasting damage, including the loss of language, culture, and identity. Some children were also allegedly subjected to abuse while placed in these homes.
Eligibility for Compensation
The settlement applies to individuals who were alive as of July 24, 2016, and were placed in the program between September 1, 1951, and June 1992, or were placed after June 30, 1992, if Canada was responsible for their placement.
Payments to Class Members
Under the terms of the settlement:
- Category 1: All eligible individuals will receive a $10,000 payment.
- Category 2: Survivors who experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse are entitled to additional payments ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, depending on the severity of the harm.
Lawyers assisting claimants will receive 5% of the compensation awarded, but this amount will not be deducted from the survivors’ payments.
Old Navy & Gap Face New Class-Action Lawsuit 2024 Over “False Discounts”
WestJet Baggage Fee Settlement Lawsuit 2024: How to Claim Your Share of the $12.5 Million
$20.3M Yahoo Data Breach Class Action Settlement Reached
Canada’s Unemployment Rate Reaches Highest Point in 8 Years
In addition to financial compensation, Canada has allocated $50 million to create a foundation dedicated to acknowledging the harm caused by the Indian Boarding Homes Program. This initiative will focus on healing, transparency, and preserving Indigenous languages and cultures.
This settlement marks a significant step in addressing the historical injustices faced by Indigenous children under the Indian Boarding Homes Program, although Canada has not admitted any wrongdoing.
Leave a Reply