The federal government has reached a $2.8 billion settlement in a class action lawsuit brought by two BC First Nations whose members attended federal residential schools.
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller announced on Saturday that the government has signed an agreement with the plaintiffs, 325 members of the Gottfriedson Band.
The initial lawsuit originally involved three categories of plaintiffs, but in 2021 all parties agreed to focus their efforts to first reach an agreement with survivors and their descendants, to ensure that they can receive compensation during their lifetime.
Former shíshálh chief Garry Feschuk and former Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc chief Shane Gottfriedson began the process more than a decade ago to seek justice for day students who were abused in residential schools, but who were not not eligible for the 2006 regulations for full-time students.
Miller said the $2.8 billion will be placed in an independent, not-for-profit trust, adding that further terms associated with the settlement will be released next month.
Corrigendum: In a previous version, The Canadian Press erroneously reported that the class action was brought by members of a First Nation in British Columbia, who had attended federal residential schools as day students. In fact, the action was brought by two First Nations for all boarders, not just day students.
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