This is the official website of the Federal Indian Day School Class Action.
Class Updates
Important Updates on Coronavirus
The Claims Administrator continues to accept and process all Claim Forms. Timelines for claims processing and payments are not expected to be impacted due to COVID-19. We recommend new claims be faxed or emailed at this time.
For any questions about the Claim Form or Claims Process, call 1 (888) 221-2898.
Download the Claim Form here.
In response to the pandemic outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Gowling WLG is cancelling all Community Assistance Sessions until further notice to prevent spread of the virus.
We recognize that many claimants are elders living in remote communities, and bringing everyone together creates a possible risk of exposure. Our team will continue to monitor the situation and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange video conference presentations and virtual legal support for your community, or would like one-on-one support filling out your Claim Form, please call Class Counsel at 1-844-539-3815 or by email at dayschools@gowlingwlg.com.
Survivors have been asking why information provided during the registration form process must be provided again with Claim Forms.
The registration form is independent from the claims process. Registration forms were only used to include Survivors within the class action as part of the opt-in process.
All Survivors are encouraged to complete a Claim Form for compensation and provide as much information as possible, including the narrative and any supporting documentation to verify level of compensation.
Click here for the claim form.
If you have any questions or require support through the claims process, please call the Claims Administrator at 1-888-221-2898.
We are hearing that Survivors are being contacted by individuals posing as representatives from Gowling or Deloitte and asking for Survivors‘ banking information. This is a scam.
Gowling and Deloitte are not asking for and do not need this information from you. In respect of the Indian Day School Claims Process, do not give out your personal banking information.
If you have any questions at all about compensation, please call Deloitte, the Claims Administrator, directly: 1 (888) 221-2898.
What’s Happening
The Indian Day School Settlement Claims Process is now open for Survivors who suffered harms while attending Federal Indian Day Schools and Federal Day Schools. Survivors can now take the next step in their journey by submitting a claim for compensation.
What Does this Mean for Class Members
To get started, Survivors can complete the Claim Form or call 1 (888) 221-2898. Class Members will have two and a half years to submit their claims for compensation. The last day to submit a claim will be July 13, 2022.
What are the Next Steps
The completed Claim Forms can be submitted to the Claims Administrator in the following ways:
To: Indian Day Schools Class Action Claims Administrator, c/o Deloitte
- By Mail: PO Box 1775, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5C 0A2, or
- By Fax: 416-366-1102, or
- By Email: indiandayschools@deloitte.ca
Legal and mental health supports available for Class Members
After waiting many years for justice and recognition, the opening of the Claims Process is a major milestone in many Survivors’ lives. To assist people in the process, a number of supports are available for Class Members:
- Claims Process and legal support: For any questions about the Claim Form or Claims Process, Survivors can call 1 (888) 221-2898. They will be given the option either to seek support from the Administrator on submitting a Claim, or legal support and help filling out the Claim Form from Class Counsel.
- Mental health counselling and crisis support is available to Class Members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Hope for Wellness Hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or online at www.hopeforwellness.ca. Counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, on request.
What’s Happening
We have heard Survivors need to review the Claim Form to prepare their submission.
The Court-approved Claim Form will be available on January 13th through this link: https://indiandayschools.com/en/documents/. At this time, we will have the following supports available:
- Support from the Claims Administrator (1-888-221-2898 – starting Monday, January 13, 2020)
- Legal support from Gowling WLG (1-844-539-3815)
- Mental health and emotional support available 24/7 through the toll-free Hope for Wellness Help Line (1-855-242-3310 or the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca)
Survivors will have until the deadline of July 13, 2022 to complete and submit claims for compensation.
Please call or email us with any questions.
What’s Happening
The Federal Court has confirmed that Class Members in the Federal Indian Day School Settlement will be able to submit claims for compensation beginning January 13, 2020.
Survivors will have until the deadline of July 13, 2022 to complete and submit the Claim Form once the Claims Process begins.
More information will be available by end of week on how Survivors can access and submit the Court-approved Claim Form.
If you have any questions or require support, please call or email us.
What’s Happening
On December 18, Class Counsel received a letter on behalf of Chief Paul-Émile Ottawa from his lawyer. The letter states Chief Ottawa does not intend to challenge the Federal Court of Appeal’s dismissal of his first appeal. It also expresses his intent to discontinue his second appeal.
This is a positive step forward for Survivors in allowing the settlement to proceed. Class Counsel is now in communication with the Federal Court on next steps for opening the Claims Process.
What does this mean for submitting a claim?
Class Counsel are confident we can now begin to move on towards implementation however we don’t have the official date for when claims can be submitted.
Based on conversations with the Federal Court, Class Counsel anticipates the claims process will open very early in the new year. When the implementation date is announced, the approved Claim Form will be made available. Survivors will then have 2.5 years from the implementation date to submit a claim.
We will update you when the implementation date is confirmed and information on submitting a claim becomes available. Should you have any questions or require support, please feel free to call or email us.
What’s Happening
On October 31st, Class Counsel received a court challenge to the Indian Day School settlement from David Schulze (Partner, Dionne Schulze, S.E.N.C.) on behalf of his client, a class member. Class Counsel is in the process of assessing the challenge.
What Does this Mean for Class Members
If not resolved in the next few weeks, this court challenge could delay the opening of the claims process for an unknown period of time. Until this matter is addressed, Class Members will not be able to apply for compensation.
What are the Next Steps
We recognize the frustration and concern that this update may cause Class Members. We want to assure you that Class Counsel is committed to pursuing all avenues to move the settlement forward as quickly as possible. We will keep you informed as matters progress. Please check this website for updates, and please feel free to call or email us if you have any questions.
The Federal Court has approved a nation-wide class settlement to compensate survivors for harms suffered while attending Federal Indian Day Schools and Federal Day Schools. The settlement includes compensation for eligible Survivor Class Members ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 based on the level of harm experienced as well as the creation of a Legacy Fund of $200 million to support commemoration projects, health and wellness projects, and language and culture initiatives. To be eligible for direct compensation, a person must have attended at least one of the Federal Indian Day Schools or Federal Day Schools funded, managed and controlled by Canada, and listed on Schedule K.
What’s next?
Beginning August 19th, 2019, Class Members will have 90 days to opt-out of the Settlement by removing themselves from the Class. Opting out is a serious and permanent decision. Those choosing to opt-out of the Settlement will receive no compensation from this Settlement but will retain the right to bring an individual claim against Canada for harms suffered, if they wish to do so. Anyone choosing to opt out must complete and submit the Opt Out Form by November 18th, 2019.
What can I do now?
Survivors will be able to apply for compensation, however, compensation will not be issued until after the implementation date. Claims for compensation will begin to be processed for compensation 120 days from August 19th, 2019, subject to any appeals that are brought.
The Claim Form is available for review here by contacting Gowling WLG. Right now, we encourage people to review the Claim Form and requirements. Information about how to make a claim will become available on this website in the coming weeks. Once the claims process has started, Class Members will have two and a half years to complete the Claim Form. To be eligible for compensation, Survivor Class Members must have attended one of the identified Day Schools listed on Schedule K.
You can also find answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQ section, copies of important notices, access to key forms and other documents in our Documents section, as well as most recent updates in the settlement process.
Please complete a Registration Form to receive information about the settlement as it becomes available. There is no deadline to register. Should you have any questions or require support, please contact us at 1 (844) 539-3815.
