OTTAWA: Canada will pay hundreds of Indigenous communities more than US$2 billion in compensation for nearly a century of abuse suffered by children in residential schools, its government has announced. The C$2.8 billion (US$2.1 billion) settlement, the result of a class action lawsuit by 325 Indigeno
OTTAWA: Canada will pay hundreds of Indigenous communities more than US$2 billion in compensation for nearly a century of abuse suffered by children in residential schools, its government has announced.
"It has taken Canada far too long to own up to its history, own up to the genocide it committed and recognise the collective harm caused to our nations by residential schools," said Garry Feschuk, an Indigenous leader who is one of the plaintiffs in the suit. Many were physically and sexually abused, and thousands are believed to have died of disease, malnutrition or neglect.
The search areas were selected near the Catholic-run residential school - which was open until 1998 - on the advice of former students.