VANCOUVER — A lawyer for aboriginals who attended Indian residential schools as day scholars says those people also deserve redress for the loss of their language and culture.
Peter Grant is asking a Federal Court judge in Vancouver to permit the courts to examine whether an apology and compensation is owed to all children, rather than just those who stayed overnight.
Grant told the court the children who attended school by day and went home at night were ignored when the Canadian government delivered its formal apology in July 2008.
The lawyer represents two B.C.-based First Nations and is mounting arguments to certify a class-action lawsuit on behalf of day scholars aimed at getting reparation.
The lawsuit specifically represents about 300 survivors from First Nations bands in the B.C. Interior and along the Sunshine Coast who say they were left out of compensation.
Prior to the hearing, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Vice-President Bob Chamberlin said granting the day scholars permission to bring the lawsuit to trial would be the start of getting another piece of justice that has been denied.
