Government of Canada Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement outreach & public education activities

Notice Plan:

• In 2006-2007, the Government of Canada funded a court approved notice plan    , which was implemented in 2 phases. Combined, these notice plans reached over 98% of the target population (Aboriginal people over the age of 25) with a frequency of 11 times and were deemed highly effective by the Courts.
• The Phase 2 notice plan which came out in 2007 included a $1 million grassroots outreach strategy conducted by the Assembly of First Nations.
• From March to May, 2011, the Government of Canada implemented a supplementary notice plan approved by the Courts that focused on the September 19, 2011 Common Experience Payment application deadline and also mentioned the IAP application deadline.
• An additional supplementary notice to provide information about the IAP application deadline of September 19, 2012 was launched in March 2012 and ended in June 2012.
• The 2012 notice was presented through Aboriginal and mainstream publications, English, French and Aboriginal television, radio, on-line banners and targeted outreach to homeless people. It was available in English, French, and 16 Aboriginal languages.
• This notice plan was intended to reach 82% of the target population (Aboriginal people over the age of 25) an average of 3.75 times.
• Together the 4 notice plans reached 98% of the target population an average of 14 times.
• Pursuant to a decision made by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake Schools have been added to Schedule "F" of the IRSSA.
• The Government of Canada has implemented a court ordered notice plan to target former students of these schools to ensure they do not miss the CEP and IAP application deadlines.
• This notice plan appeared in local newspapers, on the radio and was mailed to known students who attended these two schools.

Government of Canada Outreach:

• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Service Canada, Health Canada and the IRS Adjudication Secretariat participated in extensive outreach sessions across Canada to inform former students, their families and communities about the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Assembly of First Nations:

• As part of Phase 2 of the first notice plan, the Government of Canada funded the Community Outreach Mobile Plan, which was implemented by the Assembly of First Nations in over 600 First Nation communities across Canada.

Advocacy and Public Information Program:

• The Advocacy and Public Information Program (APIP) which began in 2007, is a contribution funding program that supports the sharing of information about the Settlement Agreement and promotes reconciliation. This program funds mostly grassroots Aboriginal organizations to ensure all survivors are aware of their rights to CEP and IAP, how to apply and have the support in place in order to apply.
• A focus of APIP has been to reach survivors who are incarcerated, homeless or live in remote locations.
• The Government of Canada initially committed to $6 million for 2007/2008 and $4 million for 2008/2009.
• Due to the success of the program for the first 2 years, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada has continued to provide funding over the past 3 years and will do so again in 2012/2013.
• Over 50 organizations have been funded through APIP, many on an annual basis for a total of over $26 million.
• The following is a list of organizations that have been funded, many on more than one occasion, and the total amounts provided through APIP since 2007:

List of 2007/2008 – 2012/13 APIP partners