Former students at Native residential schools can being applying for a share of a $1.9-billion settlement that was finalized on Wednesday.
Each student will receive $10,000 plus $3,000 for each year of attendance. Those with documented abuse claims are eligible for additional payments.
"This is an important day. It is a day of celebration. It is a perhaps — and I don't want to overstate this — even a turning point in the history of our nation," said Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine, CBC News reported.
Former students can opt out of the settlement and continue litigate their claims individually.
Get the Story:Residential school payout a 'symbolic' apology: Fontaine (CBC 9/19)
Alberta's residential school students start claiming compensation (CBC 9/19)
Residential school survivors can now apply for cash (CTV 9/19)
Racist overtones surround residential school payments: National Chief (CP 9/20)
Residential-school victims can seek cash (CanWest News Service 9/20) Relevant Links:
Residential Schools Claims - http://www.residentialschools.ca
Assembly of First Nations - http://www.afn.ca
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Department - http://www.irsr-rqpi.gc.ca/english Related Stories:
Residential school students warned of scams (08/31)
Residential school abuse settlement accepted (08/21)
Canada House apologizes for Native student abuse (05/03)
Former residential school official in court (03/06)
Lawyers to discuss Native abuse settlement (2/15)
Law firm says $1.9B abuse settlement held up (2/2)
Canada says $1.9B abuse payout won't be held up (2/1)
Delay in residential school abuse settlement (1/29)
Canada delays residential school abuse case (1/18)
Judges in Canada approve residential school deal (12/18)
Elderly Natives denied abuse settlement payments (12/15)
Lawyer paid $2.5M for Native abuse settlement (12/12)
Lawyers in Native abuse case due another $10M (10/17)
Residential school survivors testify on settlement (10/6)
Law firm could get $40M from Native settlement (09/22)
Courts review $1.9B Native school abuse deal (9/19)
Man to return to Canada to face Native abuse charges (08/04)
Residential school students not getting compensation (07/06)
Residential school abuse deal moves forward (05/11)
Lawyers to receive $80M from residential abuse payout (5/8)
Native leaders welcome school abuse settlement (4/27)
Native school abuse deal almost finalized (4/26)
Native payout may lead to scams, RCMP warns (01/24)
Residential school abuse deal being offered (11/23)
Churches can only offer $29M for Native abuse (11/03)
Churches held liable for abuse of Native students (10/24)
AFN to file $12B residential school abuse lawsuit (08/04)
Natives urged to support residential school payout (07/07)
Assembly of First Nations meets for annual session (7/6)
Mediator named in residential school abuse case (5/31)
Court allows residential school abuse class action (05/13)
Deal in works to pay residential school students (5/5)
Court allows damages for residential school abuse (5/2)
Few Natives receive money for residential school abuse (4/25)
Fire destroys former Native residential school (03/22)
Bar association seeks payment for all Native students (02/23)
Native leaders blast plan to hire investigators (02/11)
Exhibit opens on Native residential schools (01/17)
Canadian court approves class action for school abuse (12/08)
AFN calls for $10K payment for every abuse victim (11/18)
Canada slow to compensate Native abuse victims (11/05)
Canada wants abuse victim to return settlement (09/17)
Canada has spent more on lawyers than abuse victims (02/23)
Abuse case settlement process called inadequate (01/22)
Charges laid in Indian school abuse case (04/24)
Canada limits Native abuse suits (11/21)
Canada moves to settle Native claims (11/12)
Church dropped from Native abuse suit (10/25)
Abuses of Natives ignited reaction (04/29)
School church abuse lawsuit dismissed (5/16)
Candidate hit for 'scalp' remark (11/21)
Churches worry about suits (11/2)
Churches to apologize for abuse (09/05)
Official: Churches must pay (07/07)
Elder completes walk (06/20)
Sale of church urged (06/12)
Reconciliation commission urged (06/06)
Lawsuits threaten church (06/02)
Abuse charges filed (06/02)
Churches losing lawsuits (05/22)
Elders walk across Canada (5/9)
Children used as guinea pigs (04/26)
