Residential Schools – A Chronology
1890s – early 1900s
Residential and Industrial Schools were established in locations across Canada, predominantly in Western Canada for the purpose of “killing the Indian in the child.” Over 150,000 children attended these residential schools up to 1973.
1990
Phil Fontaine, Grand Chief of the Manitoba Chiefs goes public as the first Indian leader to tell the story of his own abuse in residential school and calls for recognition of the abuse, compensation and an apology for the inherent racism in the policy.
1991
Several individual law suits are launched.
Some residential school survivor groups are formed
1996
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommends that a public inquiry be held to investigate and document the abuses in Indian Residential Schools
1997
July - Phil Fontaine elected as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
AFN initiates negotiations with federal government officials for an out-of-court settlement for the residential school abuses.
1998
Consultative dialogues take place between AFN, survivors, federal government and church officials to set out the Guiding Principles for resolution of residential school claims.
January - AFN and National Chief Phil Fontaine negotiate the Statement of Reconciliation with a Healing Fund of $350 million for survivors of residential schools. Government admits wrongdoing for the first time and apologizes to residential school survivors in the Statement of Reconciliation.
May - The Aboriginal Healing Foundation is established.
A class action is commenced for a single Indian Residential School in Ontario.
2000
Further class actions launched by law firms.
2001
Department of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada is formed to deal with the out of court settlement of residential school abuse claims.
2003
November - Canada launches an Alternative Dispute Resolution process.
2004
March - AFN and the University of Calgary Law School organize a national conference to examine the ADR process and delegates find it to be seriously flawed.
November - AFN, through an expert committee, publishes the Report on Canada’s Dispute Resolution Plan to Compensate for Abuses in Indian Residential Schools, which sets out the requirements for a holistic, just and fair settlement for all residential school survivors, the key elements of which are:
- a lump sum payment for all survivors of $10,000 and $3,000 per year for every year attended;
- and early payment for the elderly;
- a truth commission;
- a healing fund;
- a commemoration fund;
- a more comprehensive and fair and just process for the settlement individual abuse claims.
2005
January - AFN begins discussions with officials to consider the elements of the AFN Report.
May 30 - National Chief Phil Fontaine signs the Political Agreement with Canada. The Agreement appoints the Hon. Frank Iacobucci to be the government representative in final settlement negotiations. The Agreement states that the AFN will play a “key and central role” and that the AFN Report will form the basis of the Settlement.
July - Negotiations with all parties commence in various locations in Canada.
November 30 - All parties to the negotiations sign the Agreement in Principle, incorporating all of the key AFN Report recommendations.
2006
All parties commence negotiations leading towards a final settlement agreement.
April 24 - All parties sign a final agreement, which awaits final Cabinet approval.
