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Difference between revisions of "I Was Abused in a Residential School"
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I Was Abused in a Residential School (view source)
Revision as of 19:59, 17 November 2011
, 19:59, 17 November 2011→First steps
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#* at any Service Canada office, | #* at any Service Canada office, | ||
#* by calling the CEP Response Centre at 1-866-565-4526, or | #* by calling the CEP Response Centre at 1-866-565-4526, or | ||
#* from [[Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada]] (AANDC); see the [[Resource Guide]] for contact and website information for AANDC, including an online application form.] | #* from [[Indian Residential Schools of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada | Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada]] (AANDC); see the [[Resource Guide]] for contact and website information for AANDC, including an online application form.] | ||
#If you personally suffered physical, sexual or psychological abuse at Residential School, you can get an application from and “Guide” for the Independent Assessment Process from AANDC. [See Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada in Part 2 of this Guide for contact and website information, including an online application form.] You can also contact the IAP Adjudication Secretariat Help Line at 1-866-879-4913. All of the parties to the Settlement Agreement recommend that IAP claimants have a lawyer to help them through the process. Most IAP lawyers do not charge for their services unless their client is successful with their claim. The federal government makes a substantial contribution towards the payment of legal fees. All legal fees are capped and also subject to review by the adjudicator to make sure that they are fair and reasonable. Statistics show that claimants who are represented by a lawyer receive higher awards of compensation even after legal fees are deducted. 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 this application. They cannot, however, “represent” you at a hearing. | #If you personally suffered physical, sexual or psychological abuse at Residential School, you can get an application from and “Guide” for the Independent Assessment Process from AANDC. [See Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada in Part 2 of this Guide for contact and website information, including an online application form.] You can also contact the IAP Adjudication Secretariat Help Line at 1-866-879-4913. All of the parties to the Settlement Agreement recommend that IAP claimants have a lawyer to help them through the process. Most IAP lawyers do not charge for their services unless their client is successful with their claim. The federal government makes a substantial contribution towards the payment of legal fees. All legal fees are capped and also subject to review by the adjudicator to make sure that they are fair and reasonable. Statistics show that claimants who are represented by a lawyer receive higher awards of compensation even after legal fees are deducted. 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 this application. They cannot, however, “represent” you at a hearing. | ||
Decisions about IAP compensation are made by independent adjudicators. The process begins with a written application form. Claimants then 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. | Decisions about IAP compensation are made by independent adjudicators. The process begins with a written application form. Claimants then 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. | ||
== What happens next == | == What happens next == | ||