Lawyer Maxime Faille (FYE) says a Calgary judge has refused a request from the church to dismiss the lawsuit, meaning it can go to the next step to have it certified.
Faille represents Sphenia (suh-FEEN-ee-uh) Jones.
Jones, an 80-year-old Haida elder and residential school survivor, has filed a statement of claim alleging a priest, during a 2021 sermon in Edmonton described evidence of unmarked graves as lies and manipulation.
The statement argues that the comments target residential school survivors who have spoken publicly about the deaths associated with residential schools.
One of the defendants, the Oblate Fathers of Assumption Province, says it is challenging the case but that the priest did not intend to cause harm and is working to further the cause of truth and reconciliation.
