Federal Government Suing Corporation of Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement for $1.5 Million
By John Barker
The federal government is suing the Corporation of Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement, created in 2006 to oversee the undertakings of the group of 54 Catholic dioceses and religious congregations under the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, for $1.5 million in contested expenses on funds. The Catholic entities had sought mediation over the disputed expenses, but the federal government opted to litigate the matter. The Corporation of Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement reached a $79-million agreement involving Canadian Catholic participation in residential schools almost a decade ago in an out-of-court settlement. The corporation was created in 2006 to oversee the undertakings of the group of 54 Catholic dioceses and religious congregations under the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, as there was no one central Catholic entity, unlike the Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches, who are also parties to the agreement, to enter into negotiations or reach an agreement with. The $79-million agreement involved three phases, including a $29-million first phase cash donation on the part of the entities to be provided for healing and reconciliation programs for those impacted by residential schools. Some of the $29-million first phase settlement was to be mitigated by payouts in lawsuits resolved before the settlement was signed. About $8.5 million had been paid out in previous court settlements, leaving the Catholic entities responsible for $20.5 million. Of that $20.5 million, the Corporation of Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement understood it was to pay 80 per cent to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and 20 per cent to programs of its own choosing, Archbishop Gerard Pettipas of the McLennan, Alberta-based Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan, who chairs the board of the Catholic entities, said in a story reported last week by Deborah Gyapon of Catholic News in the Catholic Register, Western Catholic Reporter and elsewhere. The entities chose to fund the Returning to Spirit Residential School Reconciliation Inc. program, a not-for-profit Catholic charity program started in 2001 and focused on reconciliation and spiritual healing for aboriginal persons affected by the residential schools, founded by Sister Ann Thomson, a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart from British Columbia, and Marc Pizandawatc, an Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation in Maniwaki, Quebec. Thompson and Pizandawatc had met at a workshop in Yellowknife. The Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement was intended to end litigation facing the federal government and the four churches that ran the schools, where rampant abuse occurred, for more than a century, and least 3,000 children died, while many more were subjected to emotional and physical abuse. The Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches have met their obligations under the agreement. All obligations under the agreement are supposed to be met by September. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas was involved in four Indian residential schools – two in Saskatchewan and two in Manitoba – at Beauval, Sturgeon Landing, Guy Hill and Cross Lake. Both Saskatchewan Indian Residential Schools burned down. Beauval Indian Residential School, located in Beauval Saskatchewan, about 400 kilometres north of Saskatoon, opened in 1895 and closed in 1983. It was operated by Grey Nuns. The original school burned down in September 1927, killing Sister Lea Bellerose and 19 boys – almost half the student population – from the ages of 7 to 12. The school was rebuilt in 1931. Sturgeon Landing Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, about 50 kilometres southwest of Flin Flon, was operated between 1926 and 1952 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the Oblates. It was destroyed by fire in September 1952 and the federal government decided not to rebuild it. Guy Hill Indian Residential School in The Pas operated between 1955 and 1974, while Cross Lake Indian Residential School operated between 1915 and 1942. Through the Corporation of Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, operating as the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Keewatin, was obligated to provide $1 million in cash over five years, $1.6 million of in-kind services and community work over 10 years, as well as support the fundraising Canada-wide campaign of the Corporation of Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement. The archdiocese met its $1 million in cash obligation by paying out $200,000 a year beginning in 2007 and ending in 2011. The Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement was intended to end litigation facing the federal government and the four churches that ran the schools, where rampant abuse occurred, for more than a century. The Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas takes in some 430,000 square kilometres and comprises the northern parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The farthest point west is La Loche, Sask., near the Alberta border. The farthest point north is Lac Brochet here in Manitoba and the farthest point east is Sandy Lake in Northwestern Ontario. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) established the first mission at Ile-a-la-Crosse, Sask. in 1860. Archbishop Murray Chatlain, installed as archbishop last March 19, is the first non-Oblate priest to shepherd the archdiocese since its creation originally as a vicariate apostolic almost 104 years ago in March 1910. Chatlain told the Nickel Belt News in an e-mail Feb. 4, "What is before the courts is a question of some of the expenses that were applied to the $29 million. There was an initial agreement that some expenses could be included. The government is not wanting to accept some of the claimed expenses." The second phase of the $79-million settlement involved the provision of $25 million in "in kind" services toward healing and reconciliation. "The Catholic entities have raised the $25 million in kind services very quickly," Chatlain said, "and have gone well over it. After $30 million they have stopped counting. We continue to be offering in kind services among our aboriginal brothers and sisters." The archdiocese "raised well over the $1.6 million in kind services" it was committed to, Chatlain said, "And we continue to serve in many of our communities." But the third phase of the settlement agreement has not been as successful. The Corporation of Catholic Entities Party to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement "were to make our 'best efforts' to raise $25 million for healing projects," Chatlain said. "This has not gone very well despite a lot of effort and expense on our part. In order to really make our best effort, we hired a professional fundraising company. For two years this company led us in much work during which we developed a strategy; we had pilot projects and we approached many businesses. "All this effort was with very little success and the company was costing us a lot itself. Since that time we have continued trying to raise funds … I believe that despite truly our best efforts we are going to be much short of the $25 million." Said Chatlain: "While the fundraising has not been a financial success (I think it has helped educate more people about the residential school legacy) the Catholic dioceses and orders have put in millions of dollars and a tremendous amount of effort. "In my mind, what is really important today is how we are present and respond to the people who truly want healing and help. I pray and am working at supporting people who are on a healing journey. Addictions continue to bring so much suffering to us and our families. I pray for God's help for myself and all who want to find a healthy road to walk."
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