Indian Residential Schools

The system of Indian Residential Schools in Canada represents a low moral point in our country’s history.  The unfortunate reality during most of the 1900’s was that many thousands of First Nations children were forced to attend these schools where physical and sexual abuse was widespread.

Poyner Baxter LLP has been pursuing justice for Residential School Survivors since 1997.  We have resolved many claims for clients throughout British Columbia during that time and in doing so, we have developed extensive knowledge in the following areas:

1. The history of the Indian Residential School system in British Columbia and Canada
   
   
2. The Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) process; and
   
   
3. The new Agreement in Principle, which will include a Common Experience Payment for Survivors and an improved claims process for Survivors to pursue compensation for sexual and serious physical abuse suffered at Indian Residential Schools.

If you would like more information about whether you have a claim or about any other issue relating to your or your family member’s attendance at an Indian Residential School in Canada, CALL US…We’ll answer your questions.

Contact Connie Smith at 604-988-6321 extension 5 or call toll free at 1-866-988-6321 or by email at connie@poynerbaxter.com or you may click here to complete our questionnaire and we will contact you.

Indian Residential School Agreement In Principle

On November 20, 2005, an Agreement in Principle was reached between the Government of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, numerous churches and several law firms representing Residential School Survivors that provides for a $1.9 billion compensation package.  This Agreement received court approval in early 2007.

If you have questions regarding the national residential school settlement process please click on the following link to visit the website: www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca

To review the federal government news release regarding the Agreement and to review the Agreement, click on the following link: www.irsr-rqpi.gc.ca/english/news_31_01_07.html

To view further information on the Assembly of First Nations web page, click on the following link: www.afn.ca/cmslib/general/IRS-Update.pdf

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