Residential school survivors targeted for payments

Friday, October 26, 2007  

Former students at Native residential schools are seeing an increase in sales calls and pitches now that their shares in a $1.9 billion settlement are coming in.

The Blood Tribe of Alberta says the number of businesses applying to trade on the reserve has nearly doubled in the past year. "We are concerned some survivors could end up with nothing," pokesperson Rick Tailfeathers was quoted as saying.

Caroline Yellow Horn, a former student from Alberta, said telemarketers are offering trips to Disneyland, cruises and more. "We're also seeing a lot of credit card offers in the mail that we didn't see before, with people's names printed on the offers," she said.

The calls have turned into a joke among Manitoba's Native community. "Bad credit? Go to residential school? Noooo problem!" the punchline.

Each student will receive $10,000, plus $3,000 for every year spent in school. The average payment will be about $28,000. Students with documentable abuse claims are entitled to more money.

Get the Story:
First Nation communities bracing for onslaught (CanWest News Service 10/26)

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:
Canada makes first residential school payment (10/05)
Former residential school students await payout (9/25)
Canada finalizes $1.9B residential school deal (9/20)
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)