Île-à-la-Crosse boarding school survivors reach $27M agreement with feds

Antoinette LaFleur, a survivor of the Île-à-la-Crosse boarding school, finally saw justice served after waiting for more than 70 years. The federal government announced a $27-million agreement in principle with survivors of the school, accompanied by a personal apology and an additional $10-million legacy fund for cultural, language, and treatment programs.

LaFleur, who kept her story of abuse hidden from her children, expressed her relief at the long-awaited acknowledgement of the atrocities that took place at the school. The Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding School, located in the village of Île-à-la-Crosse, operated from the 1860s to the mid-1970s and was one of the oldest residential schools in Canada. Despite being denied the same settlements as other Indian Residential School survivors due to the school’s association with the Roman Catholic Church and lack of federal funding, survivors like Louis Gardner remained resilient in their pursuit of justice.

Gardner, who attended the school from 1961-69, emphasized the importance of the personal apology from the government, stating, “You tell us your sins now.” With many survivors passing away without seeing justice served, the urgency of reaching an agreement was paramount. Metis Nation-Saskatchewan minister Michelle LeClair acknowledged that while the federal government has accepted 50% responsibility, there is still a pending lawsuit against the Saskatchewan government.

As survivors and the federal government work towards finalizing the settlement agreement, the hope is that beneficiaries will have access to the funds by the summer. Emile Janvier, another survivor and elder, reflected on the trauma endured at the school, emphasizing the lasting impact of the abuse on the children. Despite the challenges faced, the survivors are resilient in their pursuit of justice and healing.

The announcement of the settlement serves as a step towards reconciliation and justice, but the fight for accountability continues. The survivors of the Île-à-la-Crosse boarding school have finally been heard, and their stories of resilience and perseverance serve as a reminder of the strength within Indigenous communities.