Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indian Act
Know Your Rights
Criminal Law
Child Protection
Fair Decision Making
Below are examples of class action lawsuits that have been settled and where the period to apply for compensation has passed.
Indian Residential Schools Settlement
This class action was based on the harm Indigenous children and families suffered at government run residential schools. Although the period for applying for compensation has closed there, is a Residential Schools Missing Children Fund that is still open. First Nation Councils and others can apply for funds. The funded activities need to be related to one of the residential schools included in the settlement.
The funds are to support efforts to document, find and commemorate the children that did not return home from a residential school. They can also be used for work on unmarked burial sites at former residential school sites.
This fund is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action about Missing Children and Burial Information, including Call to Action 75:
We call upon the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, churches, Aboriginal communities, former residential school students, and current landowners to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried.
First Nations Drinking Water Settlement
This class action was based on the government’s failure to ensure that First Nations communities have safe drinking water. On December 22, 2021, the Courts approved a settlement between Canada and certain First Nations and their members who were subject to a drinking water advisory that lasted at least one year between November 20, 1995 and June 20, 2021.
The settlement includes compensation for individuals and Impacted First Nations subject to a drinking water advisory during this timeframe, along with commitments to fund the construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure to help class members enjoy regular access to safe drinking water in their homes.
