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	Residential Settlements Begin By Phil Melnychuk The News September 22, 2007 http://www.mapleridgenews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=46&cat=23&id=1070005&more=0 For the first year of their childhood spent in an institution, away from parents and family, they'll get $10,000. For every year after that, $3,000. Katzie band members who were sent to residential schools can now apply for that as part of the recently announced residential schools settlement. Band administrator Coleen Pierre-Sam expects between 15 to 20 will qualify. "I pretty well have all my elders covered here," she said of the Pitt Meadows reserve. The band also has reserves on Barnston Island and in Langley. The payment is the major part of the federal government's Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, announced Wednesday and available to those sent to the church-run, government-funded schools, as late as the 1970s. The deadline to apply isn't until Sept. 19, 2011. "They have up to five years … but how long has this been going on?" asked Pierre-Sam. Coleen's mom, Agnes Pierre, who was sent to Kuper Island Residential School near Nanaimo, was one of those who applied for an advance payment under the program. She didn't receive it. She died in March 2006. Band chief Diane Bailey's father and father-in-law were both sent to Sechelt Residential School, run by the Roman Catholic church. She says going to the school played a big role in the loss of their language. "I think if they weren't made not to speak their language in school they would have carried it on to their offspring." Her dad never talked about his experiences too much, however. Bailey said the second generation, the children of those sent to the schools, suffered as well. "There's a lot of negative stuff that happened to the second generation. I don't know if money can repair that, but it should be mentioned." Those who spent their childhood institutionalized had to start families without learning parenting skills from their families. Bailey noted not all native kids were sent away and doesn't know why some went and some didn't. Her mom didn't get sent away, though she used to threaten to send her kids when they weren't behaving. "Some of the things … even the food in the places was terrible." She remembers a friend at St. Mary's school in Mission always craving fresh fruit and fish during her absences from the school. Bailey said even the third generation is struggling because it's hard to recover when the effects are so strong. She says her kids could have gone to a religious school, but "when our oldest turned six, there was no way he was going to St. Pat's. We sent him to Pitt Meadows school." The announcement of the settlement was made Wednesday by Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl. Applications for the Common Experience Payment, available to all those who attended residential schools, will be mailed to all former students who requested one. An independent assessment process also is available for claims of sexual or serious physical abuse.
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