AMC TAKES LEGAL ACTION TO HAVE TEULON RESIDENCE RECOGNIZED
Winnipeg, MB - AMC Grand Chief Derek Nepinak announced today that the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is taking legal action to have a former school in Teulon, Manitoba finally recognized as a Residential School as defined by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). The move follows a precedent setting court decision handed down by the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice that legally recognized two similar schools in Ontario.
“I applaud the Windigo First Nations Council (Windigo) and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) to have the Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake Residential High Schools recognized. The former students of these schools can now be included in the Common Experience and Independent Assessment processes offered by the IRSSA,” said Grand Chief Nepinak. “We hope to see a similar outcome based on the legal test established in the Stirling and Cristal Lake decision.”
Since 2007, the AMC and the Recognized Schools Working Group (RSWG) have countered the Government of Canada’s position that the Residence in Teulon, Manitoba is not recognized as a residential school as defined in the IRSSA. On September 13th, 2011 the AMC initiated legal action.
“Canada does not recognize the Teulon Residence and claim they were not responsible for the operation of these schools. This argument does not hold water for the AMC. The national policy of assimilation allowed religious organizations to become the agents of government in the promotion and operation of these schools.” said Grand Chief Nepinak.
If recognized as an Indian Residential School, former students would be eligible to apply for a Common Experience Payment (CEP). The CEP entitles each student to receive $10,000 for their first year of attendance, and an additional $3,000 for each year of attendance. Those who experienced abuse, or have been mistreated as defined pursuant to the IRSSA, can apply for further compensation under the Independent Assessment Process (IAP).
In Ontario, the Windigo, supported by the NAN challenged Canada to add Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake Residential High Schools to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). In a recent decision from Chief Justice Winkler, Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, these schools were added. This precedent setting case can determine the parameters for adding further schools to the IRSSA across Canada. | 
