IRSRC - News Room

The Path to Healing

	On January 7th, 1998, the Government of Canada announced *Gathering Strength - Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan*. It called for a renewed partnership with Aboriginal people based on recognition of past mistakes and injustices, the advancement of reconciliation, healing and renewal, and the building of a joint plan for the future.
	In responding to the allegations of abuse that took place in Indian residential schools, the Government of Canada is moving ahead with a strategy that includes four elements: apology, healing, litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
	As part of its plan, the federal government presented the Statement of Reconciliation, which acknowledged its role in the development and administration of Indian residential schools. The government also said to the victims who suffered physical and sexual abuse at residential schools that is it deeply sorry.
	As part of the community-based strategy, the federal government also committed $350 million to address the healing needs of individuals, families and communities arising from the legacy of physical and sexual abuse at residential schools. This did not cover individual claims for compensation. The funding was granted to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, an Aboriginally-run, non-profit corporation which operates at arms length from the government. To date, over $136 million has been committed to support over 700 community-based healing projects across Canada.
	Numerous individuals are also seeking damages for the abuse they suffered at Indian residential schools. The federal government, guided by the Statement of Reconciliation, attempts to settle cases wherever possible while making sure that cases are responsibly managed.
	A number of parties have asked the federal government to explore a range of approaches that could be used to resolve claims in a timely manner that would be sensitive to the needs of the victims.
	In response, the Government of Canada, survivor groups and some churches are undertaking innovative work to investigate the potential for using alternative dispute resolution processes to resolve residential school claims. Currently, a series of pilot projects are being implemented to explore the kinds of mechanisms that survivors of physical and sexual abuse at residential schools would consider most appropriate. Options identified need to recognize the deeply emotional nature of these issues, assist in healing, protect the privacy of the individuals, streamline the process and be more responsive to individual needs.