Are you part of the Federal Indian Day Schools class action
Learn about the Federal Indian Day Schools (McLean) Settlement Agreement.
Update
The claims process for the federal Indian Day Schools settlement is closed. For more information on the status of your claim, please contact Deloitte, at:
- Toll-free: 1-888-221-2898
- Website: Indian Day Schools Class Action Claims Administration
- Email: indiandayschools@deloitte.ca
Those affected by the trauma associated with their attendance at an historic Federal Indian Day School, or the ongoing process, will be able to access mental health and cultural support services in addition to crisis intervention services available through the Hope for Wellness Help Line. Hope for Wellness is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the toll-free line 1-855-242-3310, or connect to the online chat Hope for Wellness.
On this page
What is included in the settlement agreement
The key elements of the Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement Agreement include:
- a minimum of $10,000 in individual compensation for harms associated with attendance at a Federal Indian Day School
- additional compensation for incidents of physical and sexual abuse, with amounts ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 based on severity of the abuses suffered
- $200 million in direct investment in the McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation for legacy projects to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture and commemoration
- $55 million for legal fees
- $7 million for class counsel to support additional legal work on behalf of class members at no cost to the class members. Class counsel is committed to not seeking additional legal costs from payments made to class members so as to ensure that compensation intended for plaintiffs is preserved for them
- funding for administrative costs for a court-appointed third-party claims administrator to implement the agreement
Who was eligible for compensation
The settlement agreement includes compensation for all persons who attended an Indian Day School that was established, funded, controlled and managed by the Government of Canada from January 1, 1920, until its date of closure or transfer from Canada's control and suffered harm as a consequence of their attendance.
As of January 2020, 699 federally operated Indian Day Schools have been identified as eligible under this settlement. A final list of schools is available in Schedule K of the agreement.
Family members will be eligible to benefit from healing and commemoration activities through the legacy projects.
What is the McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation
The settlement provides $200 million for community-based legacy projects to support healing, commemoration, education, language and culture. This funding will be administered by the McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation.
The corporation will make available in the coming weeks more information on the guidelines and procedures for organizations to apply for funding.
Background on the settlement agreement
The Government of Canada established and operated 699 Indian Day Schools, starting in 1920. It is estimated that close to 200,000 First Nations, Inuit, Métis and non-status Indian children attended a federally operated Indian Day School. Many students who attended these schools experienced trauma and, in some cases, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of persons entrusted with their care.
On March 12, 2019, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, together with representative plaintiffs, announced a proposed settlement agreement to resolve the national Indian Day Schools class action (McLean et al v. Her Majesty the Queen) outside of the courts and find a lasting and meaningful resolution for former students of Indian Day Schools.
In response to concerns expressed by survivors, amendments to the proposed settlement were made, as announced on May 13, 2019.
The Federal Court approved the settlement agreement on August 19, 2019.
The claims process ended on January 13, 2023.
Related links
- McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation
- Federal Indian Day School settlement claims process now open
- Federal Court approves the Indian Day Schools settlement
- Amendments Made to Indian Day School Proposed Settlement Agreement to Address Survivors' Concerns
- Settlement Agreement reached for former students of Indian Day Schools
- Federal Indian Day Schools Health Support Services