2022 General Grant – Bridging the Gap Initiative for Indian Day School Claims

The Nunavut Law Foundation is pleased to support

the Bridging the Gap Initiative

 

Background

In March 2019, the Government of Canada announced a nationwide class action settlement agreement to compensate an estimated 140,000 people who attended federally run Indian Day Schools (IDS) from the late 1800s to the year 2000, where many experienced physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. In some cases, the abuse was severe. These abuses were in addition to the mocking, denigration and humiliation of students by reason of their culture and language. Through McLean v Canada, the Plaintiffs have sought the recognition of and justice for the harms inflicted on former students of Day Schools and their family members.

The Court has appointed Roger Augustine and Claudette Commanda as Representative Plaintiffs for the Survivor Class and Mariette Buckshot as Representative Plaintiff for the Family Class. Former students have until July 2022 to apply for compensation, and they must fill out a complex 15-page claim form with a detailed description of the harms they experienced. After community feedback expressed the need for greater support and access to the process, the Court appointed Argyle to providing claimants with culturally appropriate, trauma-informed assistance.

Claims Assistance in Nunavut

The Tukisigiarvik Society is supporting Argyle for this process in Nunavut. However, since Argyle’s mandate does not include support for the Family Class Members who need help with Wills & Estates or Power of Attorney, the Law Society of Nunavut has taken steps to bridge the gap. Many victims of the IDS passed away and their family also suffer the consequences of the abuses. Providing direct support to the families who need assistance to navigate the complex legal world regarding wills and estates is facilitating access to justice for the Family Class Member’s claims.

MARCH 31, 2022 PRESS RELEASE English Inuktitut 

2018 Grant Recipients

In 2018, the Law Foundation provided a grant to:

Chris Hummel, QIA law internship

Marion Lewis, Nunavut Law Program student

University of Saskatchewan, Nunavut Law Program ( Cultural Activities and Emergency Fund for Students)

View current policy and application

Please note the Board of Directors is currently reviewing the General Grant policy. The Inuktitut version of both the policy and application form will be provided as soon the work of the Board is completed. Please contact the administrator for application deadline dates: .

[Click here] to view or download the general policy grant.
[Click here] to download the direct fill-in application form. Requires Adobe Acrobat reader.

Extraordinary grant proposals may be considered at a regular Directors meeting throughout the year depending upon the availability of funds and the majority approval of the Board of Directors.

Launch of the Video Understanding the Nunavut Court Process  in all 4 languages

The Foundation is pleased to be part of this important initiative and to support access to justice initiatives that enhance public awareness and experience with the legal system as it is an important guiding principles for the work of the Foundation.

Read the complete speech by Director Marie Belleau INUKENG .

Read the Government of Nunavut’s announcement INUK; ENG; IKW and FR .

The video is a first step to help Nunavummiut understand the criminal court process and for complainants and other witnesses who may be called to court to testify.

ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᔅᓴᓕᐅᕐᓂᖅ ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᒐᔅᓴᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕈᑕᐅᓗᓂ ᖃᓄᐃᓕᐅᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐱᕋᔭᖃᑦᑕᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᐃᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ.

Copies of the video can be obtained by contacting Community Justice at or 1866-456-5216.

ᐊᔾᔨᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᑕᕐᕆᔭᒐᔅᓴᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒋᐊᕐᓗᑎᑦ ᓄᓇᓕᓐᓂ ᐃᖅᑲᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᐅᕙᓂ
ᐅᕝᕙᓘᓐᓃᑦ 1866-456-5216.

We thank the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council for supporting the Access to Knowledge Initiative under the guidance of the Law

Society of Nunavut. The Council is an important stakeholder for the Family Issues and Family Violence priority theme of the Initiative. We dropped by the Council office on May 27  in Iqaluit and met with Beth Beattie, ED ( left) and Charlotte Borg, President (right)to provide a grant that will help to disseminate the legal information on their new website.

Grant to Robin Anawak

The Law Foundation provided a grant in November 2013 to Robin Anawak in support of his efforts to complete the LSAT exams in Ottawa. The Board of Directors wishes Mr. Anawak the best of luck !