Makivik clarifies its residential school lawsuit actions

Nunatsiaq News has printed several inaccurate statements concerning Makivik Corp. and the federal residential schools issue over the past weeks. It is unfortunate that Makivik was not contacted for comment prior to publication.

In May 2005, the Assembly of First Nations signed a political accord with the Government of Canada to resolve the First Nations residential school legacy. Former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci was appointed by the government as its representative to negotiate an appropriate form of compensation.

To ensure a seat in the negotiation process and to protect the interests of all Nunavik former students, Makivik Corp. had a lawsuit initiated against the Government of Canada in the summer of 2005. It was not the first federal residential school lawsuit sponsored by Makivik. Over the past years, Makivik has approved every request for financial assistance made by groups of Nunavik former students, to enable these students to initiate lawsuits for the abuse they suffered while attending federal schools and hostels. These lawsuits have all been either successfully settled or are ongoing.

It is extremely important for the Inuit organizations, which are working together and closely with the AFN, to participate in the negotiations with Mr. Iacobucci. Makivik could not have relied on the class action lawyers to promote the specific interests of Nunavik former students, since most would not have been included in the class actions. These lawsuits do not necessarily take into account the particular situation of Inuit former students, especially those who attended day schools and resided in federal hostels.

The federal government has not yet acknowledged that many of the former hostels located in Nunavik actually existed and even if their existence were acknowledged, it has not yet been confirmed that former students residing in these hostels would be eligible under the process. Makivik’s main objective in this process is to ensure that all Nunavik former residential students would be eligible for whatever compensation may be offered if the process were successful.

Makivik is also working to ensure that, if the negotiations are successful and compensation is offered, legal fees be kept at a reasonable rate to maximize the benefit for the former students. Obviously, there is only one federal budget for this issue.

The federal residential schools issue is highly sensitive and complex. It should be treated with professionalism and respect and we urge Nunatsiaq News to make every effort to ensure that its reports are both balanced and accurate.

Pita Aatami
President
Makivik Corporation