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	Marilyn Gray Has Been Paid Compensation for Suffering at Native Residential School By Cathy Dobson The Observer July 25, 2008 http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1129740 It took two years and a lot of persistence but Sarnia's Marilyn Gray has finally been paid full compensation for the years she suffered at a native residential school. "It's such a relief," said the 73-year-old Gray. "They said they couldn't find my papers. They didn't do anything for so long. Now I've finally been able to pay some of my bills." Gray applied to Service Canada after Ottawa approved a compensation agreement in 2006 for residential school survivors. It promised $19,000 for the four years she spent at St. Mary's School in Spanish, Ont., far from her home at the Cape Croker reserve near Wiarton. In December Service Canada responded with a letter that stated they could locate records for only one year of her residency, and would pay her only $10,000. She filed a reconsideration, providing a list of nicknames and possible spellings for Akiwenzie, her maiden name. Gray even provided a list of her teachers' names from her years at the school, from 1945 to 1948. She checked her bank account frequently but no more money was deposited. Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain helped her do the research and determined she was owed another $9,000. In June, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally apologized for rampant abuse at native residential schools, Plain urged Gray to speak to The Observer. "The government says so many things," she said. "Someone should have apologized a long time ago. But now the money would help me pay some bills." Two weeks later, she found a $9,000 direct deposit in her account from the government. "They saw that everybody knew about it in the paper so they just gave it to me, I guess," Gray said. "I'm very thankful to The Observer." MP Pat Davidson's office and members of Aamjiwnaang also helped her sort through the red tape, she said. "It's hard on you when you have bills that you can't pay. The money sure helps a lot," said Gray who lives with her daughter in a small apartment in Sarnia's south end. "I was also able to put half of it away to help me out later." "It's better late than never," said Chief Plain. "Payment was anticipated for a long time and with help from Pat Davidson and the newspaper, she finally received it." Twenty-five other Aamjiwnaang members applied for and received full compensation as surviving students of residential schools.
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