A federal court settlement has opened the door to potential financial compensation for over 1,400 Omushkego members who endured Indian Boarding Homes.
Following the federal court settlement on a class action suit handed down last month, Mushkegowuk Council said Omushkego members placed in Indian Boarding Homes between 1951 and 1992 may be eligible. Eligible claimants could receive upwards of $200,000.
“The Indian Boarding Homes Program was a Government of Canada initiative which placed children from First Nations communities and Inuit villages in other communities — usually non-Indigenous — to stay in private family homes for the purpose of attending public school,” wrote Mushkegowuk Council in a release.
“It is estimated 40,000 children across Canada were taken and placed in boarding homes under this program from 1951 to 1992.”
According to Mushkegowuk Council, in accordance with the recent court settlement, eligible claimants will receive a minimum of $10,000 in compensation, but could receive up to $200,000 depending on other factors “for example, if they were abused or experienced varying degrees of hardship.”
“In the 1950s, the Indian Boarding Homes Program placed First Nations and Inuit children in private homes for the purposes of attending school. This settlement provides compensation to people placed in these homes,” wrote Mushkegowuk Council.
“You are a primary class member if Canada placed you in a home between Sept. 1 1951 and June 30 1992. People who were placed in private homes, but died on or after July 24 2016, may also be eligible and their estate can apply on their behalf.”
Individuals can find out if they’re eligible on the Indian Boarding Homes class action website. If eligible, individuals can start applying for compensation beginning Aug. 21 by visiting the website to find the claims form. Claims can be submitted online or by mail.
Those who want to pursue their own legal action separate from the settled class action suit must submit an opt-out form before the expiry date on July 22.
For more information, to check eligibility, or to opt out, click here.
