Emotional and crisis support is available to day school Survivors and their descendants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through:
- National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
- Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
- Hope for Wellness online chat: www.hopeforwellness.ca. Note: Counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, on request.
Day Scholars Class Action:
The Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars Class Action was brought on behalf of day scholars – students who attended Indian residential schools during the day only but did not sleep there overnight, and their descendants (their children).
The class action lawsuit claimed that Indian Residential Schools destroyed Class Members’ language and culture, violated their cultural and linguistic rights, and caused psychological harms. The federal court has approved a settlement agreement that resolves the Day Scholar Survivor and Descendant Class claims.
The Claim Process for the Federal Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars settlement opened on January 4, 2022.
The Day Scholar Compensation Payment Claims Process is OPEN. Day Scholars, or descendants of Day Scholars, could receive a $10,000 compensation payment. The deadline to apply is October 4, 2023.
To access the online claim forms or check your eligibility, please visit: https://www.classaction.deloitte.ca/en-CA/Indian-Residential-Schools-Day-Scholars-Class-Action-Settlement/
To connect with our Indian Residential School/Indian Day School Liaison for more information or for help completing the forms, please contact:
Martina Fisher, IRS/IDS Liaison – Survivors’ Healing Program
Telephone: 204-946-1869
Toll free: 1-866-876-9701
Email: martina.fisher@scoinc.mb.ca
Residential schools covered in the Day Scholar Class Action
Manitoba Residential Schools that are covered by the Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars Class Action are:
- Assiniboia (Winnipeg)
- Churchill Vocational Centre
- Cross Lake (St. Josephs, Norway House)
- Fort Alexander (Pine Falls)
- Guy Hill (Clearwater, the Pas, formerly Sturgeon Landing, SK)
- Norway House
- Pine Creek (Camperville)
- Portage la Prairie
- Sandy Bay
You can find the complete list of Indian Residential Schools included in the Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars Class Action can be found here.
What’s the difference between Indian Day Scholars and Indian Day School Students?
Day Scholars attended a Federal Indian Residential School during the day only, but did not sleep there overnight.
Day School Students attended a federally operated Indian Day School.
In some cases, a school may have operated as a Federal Indian Residential School and then later as a Federal Indian Day School. This can create a lot of confusion. It is important to check the dates on the Schedule E list.
For more information on Indian day schools:
SCO Pathways to Healing Program
In September 2022, SCO launched the Pathways to Healing Program to support healing for those dealing with ongoing traumas associated with Indian Residential Schools, Indian Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop and child welfare system, and the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people.
Our liaisons are ready to assist and advocate for survivors and families interacting with various colonial systems, and to help in the coordination of gatherings while providing emotional support for Survivors and their families.
Contact pathwayshealing@scoinc.mb.ca or call 204-946-1869 or toll-free 1-866-876-9701 during regular office hours.