Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (Irssa)

Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA): A Step Towards Healing

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) was a historic agreement between the government of Canada, survivors of Indian residential schools, and various Indigenous organizations that sought to address the harms caused by the residential school system. The IRSSA was signed in 2006, and it was one of the largest class-action settlements in Canadian history.

The residential school system was a dark chapter in Canadian history. From the late 1800s to the late 1900s, Indigenous children were taken from their families and forced to attend residential schools with the goal of assimilating them into Canadian society. Many children suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at these schools, and the effects of the trauma have been passed down through generations.

The IRSSA sought to address the harms caused by the residential school system and provide support for survivors and their families. The agreement included several components, including financial compensation, a truth and reconciliation commission, commemorative activities, and support for healing and wellness.

One of the most significant components of the IRSSA was the Common Experience Payment (CEP), which provided a one-time payment to survivors who attended residential schools. The CEP was intended to acknowledge the harms suffered by survivors and provide some measure of compensation for their experiences. In total, the CEP provided over $1.6 billion in compensation to over 80,000 survivors.

Another important component of the IRSSA was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC was tasked with documenting the history and legacy of the residential school system and providing recommendations for how to move forward. The TRC held hearings across the country, and its final report included 94 calls to action aimed at addressing the harm caused by the residential school system and advancing reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The IRSSA also included funding for commemorative activities, such as the establishment of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the creation of a National Monument to Residential School Survivors. These activities were intended to help Canadians remember the history and legacy of the residential school system and honor the survivors and their families.

Finally, the IRSSA provided funding for healing and wellness programs for survivors and their families. These programs include support for mental health and addiction, traditional healing practices, and community-led initiatives aimed at promoting healing and reconciliation.

The IRSSA was a significant step towards addressing the harms caused by the residential school system and promoting healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. However, the work of reconciliation is ongoing, and there is much still to be done. The calls to action of the TRC provide a roadmap for how to move forward, and it is up to all Canadians to continue the work of reconciliation and healing.