News Release

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ANNOUNCES LANDMARK AGREEMENT TOWARD A LASTING RESOLUTION OF THE LEGACY OF INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS AND APPOINTS REPRESENTATIVE TO LEAD DISCUSSIONS

OTTAWA (May 30, 2005) – The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, the Honourable Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Frank Iacobucci as the Government’s Representative to lead discussions toward a fair and lasting resolution of the legacy of Indian residential schools.

“We need to make important changes to our approach in order to resolve the often tragic legacy of Indian residential schools, and to settle the outstanding claims of former students in a more timely way”

said Minister McLellan.

“The work of the Assembly of First Nations, in particular, has been instrumental in helping to highlight the need to recognize the residential school experience of all former students. We have today signed a Political Agreement with the Assembly of First Nations that sets out its key role in the discussions to be led by Mr. Iacobucci”

added the Minister.

The Political Agreement outlines the basis on which the Government of Canada will work with the Assembly of First Nations on issues related to resolution of the Indian residential schools legacy.

“The Political Agreement signed today with the Assembly of First Nations is a landmark agreement in our relationship with Canada’s First Nations. The Agreement will continue to strengthen our relationship and advance the First Nation, Inuit and Métis agenda”

said Minister Scott.

“As Federal Representative, Mr. Iacobucci has been given a mandate to lead discussions towards a fair and lasting resolution of the residential school legacy with legal counsel for former students, the Assembly of First Nations, and legal counsel for Church entities”

said Minister Cotler.

“In addition to exploring ways to recognize the residential school experience so that true reconciliation can be achieved, these discussions will also focus on ensuring that former students have options for pursuing their claims of sexual and serious physical abuse, and on finding ways to support the healing that needs to continue.”

Over the last year, advocacy from many sources, most notably from the Assembly of First Nations, has brought into focus the need to recognize the adverse impacts of the Indian residential school system. The Government acknowledges that a more tangible recognition of the experience of former Indian residential school students is appropriate and necessary if true reconciliation is to be achieved.

Given that many former students are legally represented, it is essential to include their legal counsel in discussions on how to better recognize the residential schools experience and how to ensure that healing as well as other educational and commemorative measures can continue to take place.

For more information on Indian residential schools, the appointment of the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, and the Political Agreement, please refer to the attached Backgrounder.

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For further information, contact:

Alex Swann
Office of the Honourable Anne McLellan
Director of Communications
Ph: 613-991-2863

Erin Gorman
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada
Senior Advisor
Ph: 613-947-4425