Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of 2006

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of 2006 was a historic agreement between the government of Canada, survivors of Indian residential schools, and the legal representatives of various indigenous communities. The agreement was a long-awaited recognition of the trauma and damage inflicted upon indigenous children who were forcibly taken from their families and sent to residential schools.

Residential schools were established in the late 1800s to assimilate indigenous children into Canadian culture. The government of Canada, in partnership with various religious organizations, operated the schools until the last one was closed in the 1990s. The children who attended these schools were subjected to various forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as having their cultural and linguistic heritage stripped away.

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of 2006 was the result of a class-action lawsuit brought against the government of Canada by survivors of residential schools. The agreement included a compensation package for survivors, as well as funding for various reconciliation and healing initiatives. The compensation package included a Common Experience Payment of $10,000 for every survivor who attended a residential school, as well as an Independent Assessment Process for survivors who suffered serious physical or sexual abuse.

The agreement also established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, whose mandate was to uncover the truth about what happened in the residential schools and to provide recommendations for reconciliation. The Commission spent six years travelling across Canada, hearing the testimonies of survivors, and producing a final report that included 94 Calls to Action.

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of 2006 was a significant step towards acknowledging the harm and trauma inflicted upon indigenous children who attended residential schools. It was also a recognition of the ongoing impact of this trauma on indigenous communities and a commitment to working towards reconciliation. While there is still much work to be done to address the legacy of residential schools, the settlement agreement was a crucial turning point in acknowledging the harm that was done and working towards healing and reconciliation.