Indigenous people who as children suffered abuse while housed under the former Indian Boarding Homes Program can apply for up to $200,000 in compensation as part of a class-action settlement.
The Indian Homes Program class action lawsuit was approved in December by Canada's federal court, which deemed "it fair, reasonable and in the best interests of class members."
Compensation claims can start being submitted at the end of August.
Beginning in the 1950s, Indigenous children under the Homes Program were placed in households that were usually non-Indigenous so they could attend school. The program operated until the early 1990s.
Anishinabek Nation highlighted the class action settlement last week in a Facebook post.
Under the settlement, applicants who are deemed to be Category 1 class members are to receive $10,000, according to an online backgrounder about the settlement on the class action's website.
"This is a single payment to anyone who was placed by Canada in the Indian Boarding Homes Program," the backgrounder says.
Those deemed to be Category 2 class members could receive between $10,000-$200,000, depending "on the specific harms suffered, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse," the backgrounder says.
"There is no limit for the amount of applicants," a claims administrator said on Thursday in an email.
In addition to compensation paid to class members, the federal government is to provide $50 million for a foundation "that promotes healing and transparency, by formally recognizing the harm caused by the Indian Boarding Homes Program," the backgrounder said.
Applications for compensation can begin to be submitted on Aug. 21.
Those who wish to opt out of the class action and start an independent legal proceeding against the federal government must indicate their intention by July 22.
More information, including how to submit a claim, is available on the class action's website at boardinghomesclassaction.com. The claims administrator can be reached at 1-888-499-1144.
The Chronicle-Journal/Local Journalism Initiative
