I Was Abused in a Residential School: Difference between revisions

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{{Template:Legal Help Guide TOC}}From the latter part of the 19th century until late into the 20th century, the Government of Canada and various churches operated '''Residential Schools''' for Aboriginal children throughout Canada. For a large portion of that time, Aboriginal parents were compelled to send their children to these schools, thereby removing the children from their communities and their culture. In addition, many students were subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse while attending a Residential School.
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From the latter part of the 19th century until late into the 20th century, the Government of Canada and various churches operated ''Residential Schools'' for Aboriginal children throughout Canada. For a large portion of that time, Aboriginal parents were compelled to send their children to these schools, thereby removing the children from their communities and their culture. In addition, many students were subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse while attending a Residential School.


For years, a person had to sue in court to get compensation for abuse suffered in a Residential School. Now, the federal government and various church entities provide compensation through the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (Settlement Agreement).
For years, a person had to sue in court to get compensation for abuse suffered in a Residential School. Then, between 2007 and 2012 the federal government and various church entities agreed to provide compensation through the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.  The Settlement Agreement provided for a '''Common Experience Payment''' based on the number of years a survivor attended the school, and compensation for certain types of sexual or serious physical or psychological abuse through an '''Independent Assessment Process'''. The deadlines for applying for Common Experience Payments and compensation through the Independent Assessment Process have now passed, so:
* If you applied for compensation through the Independent Assessment Process, you have to follow through with that process.  You cannot sue in court.
* If you did not apply for compensation through the Independent Assessment Process, you may still be able to sue in court for compensation for the abuse you suffered, even if you did apply for or receive a Common Experience Payment.


The Settlement Agreement offers two types of specific compensation:
* '''Common Experience Payment''' (CEP): A CEP is payable to all former students of Residential Schools who were alive on May 30, 2005. Former students are entitled to $10,000 for their first school year (or part of a school year) of residence, plus $3,000 for each additional school year (or part of a school year) of residence, regardless of the level of abuse that may have been suffered. The deadline for CEP applications expired on September 19, 2011 but the Settlement Agreement allows for late applications to be filed until September 19, 2012 in exceptional circumstances; see step #2 below. 
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| text      = '''Important Notice:''' The final deadline for late CEP applications was September 19, 2012 and is now passed. <br>
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* '''Independent Assessment Process''' (IAP): Under the IAP process, a victim of certain types of sexual or very serious physical or psychological abuse at a Residential School may apply for additional compensation based on the severity and frequency of the abuse.
== First steps ==
== First steps ==


#Because bringing up the past may be difficult, make sure you have emotional and psychological support. You may wish to contact the [[Indian Residential School Survivors Society]] at 1-800-721-0066. The Society provides counselling services and referrals to other services near you. You may also wish to contact Health Canada's Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program at 1-877-477-0775, or the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.
Speak with a lawyer that practices “personal injury” law. Many of them are listed on the internet or in the yellow pages of the phone bookSome of them do not charge for the first interview, but you need to ask about that when you make your appointment.
#If you have not already done so, get and complete an application for a Common Experience Payment. The '''deadline''' for CEP applications expired on September 19, 2011 but the Settlement Agreement allows for late applications to be filed until September 19, 2012 in cases of disability, undue hardship and exceptional circumstances. A letter explaining the delay will also be required. You can get a CEP application:
#* at any [[Service Canada]] office,
#* by calling the CEP Response Centre at 1-866-565-4526, or
#* from [[Indian Residential Schools of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada | Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada]] (AANDC); see the [[Resource List]] for contact and website information for AANDC, including an online application form.   
#If you personally suffered physical, sexual or psychological abuse at a Residential School, get and complete an application for the Independent Assessment Process. You can get an IAP application and Guide:
#* from [[Indian Residential Schools of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada | Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada]]; see the [[Resource List]] for contact and website information, including an online application form, or
#* by calling the IAP Adjudication Secretariat toll-free Info Line at 1-866-879-4913. 
 
{{Tipsbox
| width = 90%
| tips = All of the parties to the Settlement Agreement recommend that IAP claimants have a lawyer assist them through the process. Most IAP lawyers do not charge for their services unless their client is successful with their claim. The federal government contributes towards the payment of legal fees, and all legal fees are capped and subject to review by the adjudicator to make sure they are fair and reasonable. If you choose not to be represented by a lawyer, it is a good idea to get a friend, counsellor or advocate to assist you with completing the IAP application. They cannot, however, "represent" you at a hearing.
}}


== What happens next ==
== What happens next ==


=== Common Experience Payment ===
In order to advise you properly, the lawyer will have to ask you personal questions about the abuse, especially the type of abuse, when and where it took place and when you first started thinking about it as an adult. The lawyer needs to ask these questions to make sure that you are not too late to sue because of ''Limitation Act'' in the Province or Territory where the abuse occurred.
After receiving your CEP application, the federal government will verify the years that you attended Residential School and process a payment. If they have any questions, they will contact you. There is currently a backlog of applications, so the payment may not come for several months.  


If your CEP application is denied in full or in part, you may submit a request for '''reconsideration''' to the federal government. If you are not satisfied with the result of the reconsideration process, you can request an appeal to the National Administration Committee. Any requests for reconsideration or appeal should be filed promptly. To inquire about the reconsideration and appeal processes, you can call the CEP Response Centre toll-free at 1-866-565-4526.
Some lawyers take personal injury cases on a '''contingency fee''' basis, meaning that they will only collect fees if your case is successful. Ask about that possibility at your interview.
=== Independent Assessment Process===
Decisions about IAP compensation are made by independent '''adjudicators'''. Once your IAP application is accepted into the process, the Secretariat communicates with you or your lawyer about all the steps required before a hearing is scheduled. Claimants have to gather and submit various documents which may help demonstrate how the abuse they suffered affected them. The federal government will provide information and documents about the claimant, the alleged perpetrator, and the Residential School.  


A private hearing (meeting) is then held where the adjudicator speaks respectfully with the claimant about their experiences. In some cases, the adjudicator will send the claimant for a medical or psychological assessment to help with the decision-making process. Claimants are not "on trial" and are not cross-examined by lawyers for the federal government, the churches or the alleged perpetrator.
Because bringing up the past may be difficult, make sure you have emotional and psychological support. You may wish to contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066. The Society provides counselling services and referrals to other services near you. You may also wish to contact Health Canada's Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program at 1-877-477-0775, or the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.


== Where to get help ==
== Where to get help ==


See the [[Resource List]] for a list of helpful resources. Your best bets are:
See the [[Resource List for Legal Help for British Columbians|Resource List]] for a list of helpful resources. Your best bets are:


* [[Indian Residential Schools of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada]].
* [[Indian Residential Schools of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada]].
* [[Indian Residential School Survivors Society]].
* [[Indian Residential School Survivors Society]].
* [[Access Justice]], [[Lawyer Referral Service]], and [[Private Bar Lawyers]].
* Call [[Lawyer Referral Service]] and ask to be referred to a personal injury lawyer. They may also be able to connect you with a lawyer who is listed as dealing with sexual assault.
* [[Access Pro Bono]] and [[Private Bar Lawyers|private bar lawyers]].


Before meeting with a lawyer or advocate, complete the form [[Preparing for Your Interview]] included in this Guide. Make sure you bring copies of all documents relating to your case.
Before meeting with a lawyer or advocate, complete the form [[Preparing for Your Interview]] included in this Guide. Make sure you bring copies of all documents relating to your case.
   
   
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{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Cliff Thorstenson]], April 2017}}
 
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Latest revision as of 22:13, 1 May 2017

From the latter part of the 19th century until late into the 20th century, the Government of Canada and various churches operated Residential Schools for Aboriginal children throughout Canada. For a large portion of that time, Aboriginal parents were compelled to send their children to these schools, thereby removing the children from their communities and their culture. In addition, many students were subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse while attending a Residential School.

For years, a person had to sue in court to get compensation for abuse suffered in a Residential School. Then, between 2007 and 2012 the federal government and various church entities agreed to provide compensation through the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement provided for a Common Experience Payment based on the number of years a survivor attended the school, and compensation for certain types of sexual or serious physical or psychological abuse through an Independent Assessment Process. The deadlines for applying for Common Experience Payments and compensation through the Independent Assessment Process have now passed, so:

  • If you applied for compensation through the Independent Assessment Process, you have to follow through with that process. You cannot sue in court.
  • If you did not apply for compensation through the Independent Assessment Process, you may still be able to sue in court for compensation for the abuse you suffered, even if you did apply for or receive a Common Experience Payment.

First steps[edit]

Speak with a lawyer that practices “personal injury” law. Many of them are listed on the internet or in the yellow pages of the phone book. Some of them do not charge for the first interview, but you need to ask about that when you make your appointment.

What happens next[edit]

In order to advise you properly, the lawyer will have to ask you personal questions about the abuse, especially the type of abuse, when and where it took place and when you first started thinking about it as an adult. The lawyer needs to ask these questions to make sure that you are not too late to sue because of Limitation Act in the Province or Territory where the abuse occurred.

Some lawyers take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they will only collect fees if your case is successful. Ask about that possibility at your interview.

Because bringing up the past may be difficult, make sure you have emotional and psychological support. You may wish to contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066. The Society provides counselling services and referrals to other services near you. You may also wish to contact Health Canada's Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program at 1-877-477-0775, or the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.

Where to get help[edit]

See the Resource List for a list of helpful resources. Your best bets are:

Before meeting with a lawyer or advocate, complete the form Preparing for Your Interview included in this Guide. Make sure you bring copies of all documents relating to your case.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Cliff Thorstenson, April 2017.


Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence Legal Help for British Columbians © Cliff Thorstenson and Courthouse Libraries BC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.