Federal Representative - Indian Residential Schools
www.iacobucci.gc.ca
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Important
This web site deals with subject matter that may cause some readers to trigger (suffer trauma caused by remembering or reliving past abuse). The Government of Canada recognizes the need for safety measures to minimize the risk associated with triggering.
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former Residential School students. You can access emotional and crisis referral services. You can also get information on how to get other health supports from the Government of Canada.
Please call the Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 if you or someone you know is triggered while reading the content on this web site.
Background
Over the past year, it has become clear to the Government of Canada that there is a fundamental need to tangibly recognize the adverse impacts of the Indian residential school system and to settle the legal claims and other unresolved issues that are part of the residential schools legacy. To achieve this, the Government of Canada on May 30, 2005 appointed the Honourable Frank Iacobucci as Federal Representative to lead discussions with legal counsel for former students, legal counsel for the churches, and other interested parties including the Assembly of First Nation, to achieve a fair and lasting resolution of the legacy of Indian residential schools.
Mandate
Mr. Iacobucci has a broad mandate to achieve a fair and lasting resolution of the Indian residential schools legacy. The mandate includes both legal and non-legal elements.
The matters that are being discussed and that will likely form part of Mr. Iacobucci's recommendations to the Government of Canada include the following:
- a payment that recognizes the common harms experienced by all former Indian residential school students
- a revised alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process to deal with claims of sexual and serious physical abuse
- truth-telling, healing and commemoration
Mr. Iacobucci's discussions pertain to all former Indian residential school students, not just those who are currently pursuing claims against Canada in either the ADR or the Courts. While former Indian residential school students may choose to pursue new litigation, it is not necessary to do so in order to be considered within the context of the discussions. Mr. Iacobucci is working to find solutions for a fair and timely resolution for all former Indian residential school students, whether they are participating in either the ADR process or litigation, or have pursued neither of those options.
Process
Since late July 2005, Mr. Iacobucci has held a series of meetings with legal and political representatives of former students, as well as legal counsel for the churches, that have focused primarily on the "legal" issues -- the universal payment, a revised dispute resolution process and the means to implement any settlement of these legal issues. In parallel with this process, there have also been meetings on the "non-legal" issues -- truth-sharing, healing and commemoration -- that have involved discussions with representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, survivors' groups, groups involved in healing initiatives, and church representatives.
This regular series of meetings will continue into the Fall (the schedule is set out in the "Newsroom" section of this website and will be updated regularly). In addition, Mr. Iacobucci will continue to meet with other National Aboriginal Organizations and other interested groups.
Federal Representative's Team
Mr. Iacobucci is working with officials from Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada as well as the Department of Justice and related government departments. In addition, Mr. Iacobucci is assisted by colleagues at Torys LLP led by John Terry and Amanda Kemshaw.
