The Issues: Another questionable Trudeau - era "reconciliation" gesture using Canadians tax dollars has been announced by a group of, what some might term, "ambulance chasing" lawyers. It is called the "Indian Day School Settlement" and was announced 19 August 2019, according to an article entitled, "Crowd packs first Indian Day School session at Six Nations" in Turtle Island News (18 September 2019, p.2).
It appears that the flood gates will be opened and virtually anyone who attended a Day School on a Reserve can apply for "compensation", "to assist people who suffered at federally run day schools". To make this all the more poignant, those who "suffered" will be called "survivors" (a term once reserved for those who suffered in Nazi Concentration Camps).
Let us pause a minute before getting into the details of the settlement. There has already been a huge "settlement" for those who attended an Indian Residential School. On Six Nations this means the now "Woodland Cultural Center" (Mohawk Institute, "Mushole"), which the Chiefs and Clan Mothers begged the Church of England to open in 1837, and which the Chiefs begged the Canadian Government not to close in 1970. In previous postings the author has noted that this school was actually on the Reserve (not 1,000 miles away), and that many students have very pleasant memories of their days at school here (and most of the Reserve teachers attended here). So this was hugely questionable in the case of Six Nations. More generally the matter of Day Schools is simply wrong - not questionable. Granted this is an opinion, but the reality must be looked at in toto.
Were Indian Day Schools different in any marked way from the Day Schools attended by most other Canadians (Public or Catholic or other) ? It is general knowledge that in all schools until very recently, many to most boys got the "biffs" (strap) from the school principal, were slammed by a pointer or ruler by a teacher, were badgered by teachers, and may have been roughly handled at some point. Ask any child, especially boys, who "survived" the Catholic school system their impressions or recollections of the treatment meted out by the Nuns. There is a reason for all the nun jokes I heard from my Catholic friends (especially in French Canada). So what was different in Indian Day Schools that warrants huge monetary compensation not available to others who attended Day School? The sound of crickets prevails ............
The Application for Compensation: So what is the application process, and how much cash will I receive if I attended Indian Day School? The details were provided by a member of the lawyers who initiated the settlement proceedings back in 2016, during a meeting at the Six Nations Community Hall on 11 September 2019. The monies will be available to those who suffered physical, emotional, or sexual abuse while attending Indian Day School after 1920. Other eligibility time line details are provided, but the bottom line is that just about any attendee will be eligible to apply (it also includes those who have passed away after 31 July 2007). When the claim forms become available (there is an appeal pending), applicants will have 2.5 years to complete the forms from the comfort of their own home. Although a list of "proofs" such as report cards is given, those who do not have these will simply have to take their claim form to a notary or professional to have the signature witnessed - they are trusting that honesty will prevail !! Specifically, "what is on the claims form will be assumed to be true unless there is egregious evidence to suggest that the applicant is lying". No penalty for lying of course.
The Monetary Compensation: How much compensation will travel from the pockets of Canadian taxpayers to "survivors"? There is a scale of 5 levels based on severity. So the occasional biffing or having a teacher who used harsh words will result in a taxpayer gift of $10,000, up to the maximum payout of $200,000 for more serious experiences.
At this point I am speechless ...........
Do facts matter?
DY.
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