"Mush-Hole" $900 million survivor suit sparks memories By Lynda Powless Editor A $900 million class-action lawsuit launched last week by fonner students of the Mohawk Institute is causing a fluny ofactivity at a London, Ontan·o law .inn where for­ mer students have begun calling. Russell Raikes, of Cohen, have been served. However, Highley, Vogel and Dawson said spokesman for the Anglican as many as 1,000 fonner students Church in Toronto said Tuesday may still be alive and could be the church had not been served. involved in the class-action suit. Since the suit was filed last week He said both the Attorney Gener­ students have begun contacting al's office and Anglican Church (Continued on page 3) ''Survivors'' launch multi-million dollar lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the par- legal cases slow down this wracked up the biggest tab in Can- Fon~e is torn between trying (Continued from front page) ents, siblings, children and rela- process," he said. dian history, the report says. to cut a deal with Ottawa and the lawfirm to find out informa- tives of the students. Ellie Johnson, director of partner- Indian Affairs Minister Jane appeasing hard-line aboriginals tion, and for some, the lawsuit is The suit also seeks individual ass- ships works.with the healing fund. Stewart responded to the commis- who think he was too soft when he sparking painful memories. esments of damages for students She said the church has a healing sion's 1996 report by apologizing openly embraced Stewart's apolo- "lt's kinda funny when you who were sexually abused and and ·reconciliation fund and com- to residential school victims and gy. think about it," said one elderly aggravated damages of $150 mil- munities are encouraged to apply putting up $350 million for a Marilyn Buffalo is one of several man who spoke to Turtle Island lion. for funding for healing events. "healing fund" for counselling aborignal leaders who think the News. "Who would have thought Named in the suit at the Attorney The Primate, Archbishop within aboriginal communities. apology was half-hearted because that getting whipped 50 years General of Canada, The Anglican Michael Peers, apologized on The fund has yet to be adminis- the government did not acknowl- ago ... that they'd have to Church of Canada and the incor- behalf of the Anglican Church in tered. A Healing Foundation edge blame. pay for it now." .------....:.::..______-=._ Buffalo, the head of the The man said he was Native Women's Associa- repeatedly strapped by ,. tion of Canada, wants the, then principal of the Fontiane to push for a full school. "You know, inquiry with recommenda- you'd get strapped for tions. stuff like swinging on "The whole of Canada must the pipes, being late." know what happened there." The man was placed in Meanwhile aboriginal peo- the school at four and a ple are using other methods half years old and spent to try to tell their stories. eight years there. Last week, Gordon Beardy, "Everytime they fig- an Anglican bishop from ured you did something northern Ontario arrived in wrong you'd get a strap Ottawa ending a two-month but each time you'd get 6,500 kilometre "healing five more. 1 was up to march". He arrived at Parlia- 35 when I left there." ment Hill and said his jour- Each, time, he said, ney was to focus attention "they told you to pull on the plight of former stu- down your pants and .,_ dents and their children lean over the desk or "The healing starts by com- something." He said the , • ing out with the terrible skin was broken every- - experience," he said. Beardy time. remembers students being Ac1other man, who Former Mohawk Institute Residential School stripped and forced to parade lives in Arizona now around in their underwear. was six years old when he went porated Synod of the Diocese of 1994 to aboriginal peoples for try­ headed by a board, is being estab­ And Fontaine plans a trip to Italy there and spent 10 years there. Huron. Damages are being sought ing to "remake you in our image." lished to administer the fund. in November. He has a meeting "It was terrible, in capital letters," for allegations of the mistreatment She said the schools were part of But the government is under with the Pope at the Vatican where said Elwood Burning. "You of aboriginal children, mostly the apology. but it was also for growing pressure to come up with Fontaine says he will seek an weren't allowed to see your sisters from Six Nations, who attended participating in the endeavor of additional compensation for indi­ apology from the Catholic ChUICh at all, you couldn't visit." Today, the Mohawk lnstituite Residential trying to make indigenous people vidual victims, some 1,400 of for its role in running some of the he said sitting across from each School on Six Nations lands adja­ into the image of white people." whom have filed lawsuits against schools on the federal govern­ other the siblings are scared of cent to Brantford. The healing fund was originally Ottawa alleging se>..'Ual and physi­ ment's behalf. each other. "We don't know each The school operated from 1834 to set up as a residential school heal­ cal abuse. The $900 million class-action other. We're practically strangers." 1969 and now houses the Wood­ ing fund but _the indigenous coun­ Negotiations for a process to suit alleges, among other things, Burning said "l got strapped just land Cultural Centre and museum. cil that set it up has broaden the allow victims to speak publicly that students were physically, spir­ about every other day. If l didn't James- Cullen, treasurer of the mandate. The fund sits at about are part of broader talks to try to itually, emotionally and psycho­ do anything wrong, I got strapped Anglican Church, said he has not $100,000 a year. So far about settle lawsuits out of court, con- . logically abused. It seeks compen­ anyway. He said one girl had the been served. "I haven't received it $500,000 for healing circles and firmed a government official and sation for breach of fiduciary duty, skin tom right off her wrist. I seen yet. I've heard about it though," he gatherings has been allocated Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First negligence, assault, battry and them strip kids down and beat said from the church's Toronto since the fund was established. Nations chief. breach of Aboriginal and Treaty them with a belt. Then, they'd head office. She said the church is trying to be "When you live a life of denial Rights. make the kids kneel down and Cullen said the Diocese of Lon­ proactive in healing work. and suppressing these sorts of The suit claims the federal gov­ other kids had to go by and hit don has received the suit, "but we I.N.A.C. officials could not be things, a validation publicly of ernment and church breached them. They made us hit each haven't." He said once the paper­ reached to comment on the suit. A what happened is important," said their fudiciary obligations to the other. work has arrived it will be passed spokesman in the Attorney Gener­ Shawn Tupper, of the Department children as a result of their con­ They'd make the kids line up and on to the Church's lawyers. "It al's Ottawa office refused com­ of Indian Affairs. duct and that of their servants, spread your legs apart and the kids won't be settled quickly. These ment saying the suit hasn't been He warned however, the govern­ agents or employees in the opera­ would, have to crawl through, as things take time." recieved from its Toronto bureau. ment is not talking about an tion of the school. they went by you had to whack Cullen said the suit is not the only Meanwhile, Canadian Press inquiry. The suit alleges the children were them with both hands. And if you lawsuit against the government or reported late last week that the The schools, run by churches, physically or sexually abused didn't do it you had to join them." churches, of this kind. "I don't federal government is negotiating existed in every province but resulting in the children, as adults, The $900-million suit was think any other class actions have with "aboriginals" on a forum for Newfoundland, New Brunswick earning lower incomes and suffer­ launched against the federal gov­ been filed but right now there is victims of abuse at residential and Prince Edward Island. The ing self esteem problems. ernment, and the Anglican Church 74 lawsuits against the church schools so the victims can publi­ royal commissin report devoted So far more than 300 former stu­ of Canada. from individuals." cally tell thier stories of suffering. more than 50 pages to the horrible dents or survivors families have The statement of claim is one of He said the church has been The plan falls short of the recom­ experiences that many children joined the suit, that actually repre­ the largest ever filed on behalf of active in trying to promote healing mendation in the Royal Commis­ suffered at the schools, set up to sents all survivors former aboriginal residential from the residential school experi­ sion on Aboriginal Peoples for a assimilate about 100,000 aborigi-r---~------.J schools students called "Mush­ ence. full-scale inquiry into widespread nals into mainstream culture. - Hole Survivors," (the name was "It is our intention trying to effect sexual and physical abuse at the Fontaine, himself a vicitm of sex coined after student claims they healing with the communities government sponsored schools ual and physical abuse at a Mani were daily fed mush or oatmeal where it is unfortunate, it hap­ before the last ones closed in the toba school, said he hopes to con sometimes, three times a day). pened. We regret it happened and 1980s. elude a deal by Christmas. The suit was filed last Monday in we are trying to get healing. We Ottawa--and even some aborigi­ "I am supportive of anything tha with the Ontario Court, General have spent a lot of money to try nal leaders -and resideIJ,tial school will establish this experience as Divison in London. and work with various councils students--are wary of spending part of the public record," sai An additional $600-million suit and people to try to restore the millions on an inquiry after the Fontiane, who would not be mor community. But unfortunately, $58 million royal commisison specific.