The Claims Period is closed and the Administrator is processing claims. You will receive a decision letter about your Claim.
Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free) to make sure your mailing address is up-to-date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
About the Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars settlement
What is this class action about?
This class action called Gottfriedson v. Canada is about the claims of Day Scholars, students who attended Indian Residential Schools (“IRS”) during the day only and did not sleep there overnight. The lawsuit asserted that the purpose, operation, and management of IRSs destroyed the Class Members’ language and culture, violated their cultural and linguistic rights, and caused psychological harm.
The Class Action sought compensation for Survivors who say they were harmed as a result of their attendance at IRSs as Day Scholars. The class action also sought compensation for Descendants and Bands who say they too were harmed as a result of Survivors’ attendance as Day Scholars at IRSs and IRS policy.What is the settlement?
The settlement applies to the Day Scholar Survivor Class (students who attended Indian Residential School as Day Scholars), and the Descendant Class. The Day Scholars Survivor and Descendant Class Settlement includes a $10,000 individual compensation for each eligible Day Scholar who attended an IRS during the day only (but did not sleep there overnight) and was alive as of May 30, 2005.
In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, their estate administrator, executor, trustee, liquidator, or if none is appointed, their highest priority heir, could have applied for compensation on their behalf.
Note: The claims period closed on January 4, 2024 and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
The Administrator is reviewing and processing all submitted claims. If you submitted your claim before the deadline, you will receive a decision letter about your claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free).
The settlement also includes a $50 million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund to be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage, and commemoration for the benefit of the Survivor and Descendant Classes. The funds are being administered by a non-profit society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel will not make decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund. Day Scholars and their children will be able to apply for grants to access the money in Society. Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
The class action and settlement are not about sexual or serious physical abuse endured by students at IRSs. Day scholars were eligible to apply for compensation for sexual or serious physical abuse endured at IRSs through the Independent Assessment Process of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (“IRSSA”).
This class action and settlement are not about Federal Indian Day Schools. Claims regarding Federal Indian Day Schools are part of the Federal Indian Day Schools Class Action. You can find out more about the settlement in that class action at IndianDaySchools.com.
In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, their estate administrator, executor, trustee, liquidator, or if none is appointed, their highest priority heir, could have applied for compensation on their behalf.
Note: The claims period closed on January 4, 2024 and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
The Administrator is reviewing and processing all submitted claims. If you submitted your claim before the deadline, you will receive a decision letter about your claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free).
The settlement also includes a $50 million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund to be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage, and commemoration for the benefit of the Survivor and Descendant Classes. The funds are being administered by a non-profit society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel will not make decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund. Day Scholars and their children will be able to apply for grants to access the money in Society. Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
The class action and settlement are not about sexual or serious physical abuse endured by students at IRSs. Day scholars were eligible to apply for compensation for sexual or serious physical abuse endured at IRSs through the Independent Assessment Process of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (“IRSSA”).
This class action and settlement are not about Federal Indian Day Schools. Claims regarding Federal Indian Day Schools are part of the Federal Indian Day Schools Class Action. You can find out more about the settlement in that class action at IndianDaySchools.com.
How does this settlement impact the Band Class?
The settlement does not include the Band Class. The Band Class claim is subject to a separate settlement agreement. Learn more >
What’s happening with the claims process right now?
The claims process for the Day Scholars Settlement has closed. It is no longer possible to submit a claim.
The Administrator is now processing all claims. If you submitted a claim, you will receive a decision letter about your Claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
The Administrator is now processing all claims. If you submitted a claim, you will receive a decision letter about your Claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
How many Day Scholars does this settlement affect?
Approximately 12,000-20,000 Day Scholars Survivors were alive as of May 30, 2005.
In addition, Descendants (natural or adopted children) of Day Scholars may be eligible to benefit from the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund, which greatly increases the overall number of individuals impacted by the settlement.
Missing Information
What are the top types of missing information?
The top types of missing information include:
- Schedule E School attendance
- ID or Statutory Declaration
- Authorization
How many claim forms have missing information?
With most of the submitted claims processed, there are approximately 1,400 claims with missing information. Of these:
- 625 require outreach to the Claimant
- 733 are awaiting reply from the Claimant
- The Administrator has not been able to connect 122 Claimants
What is the deadline to submit missing information?
Please submit any missing information by the timeline included in your Missing Information Request Letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
I received a Missing Information Request Letter. What do I do now?
Please submit any missing information by the timeline included in your Missing Information Request letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you have any questions about your letter, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786.
The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Support & Resources
Which supports and resources do I have access to?
Free emotional and crisis support is available to Survivor and Descendant Class Members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 & Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or the online chat at www.HopeForWellness.ca.
Survivor and Descendant Class Members are able to speak to Class Counsel (Waddell Phillips) about the class action lawsuit, the settlement, and the claims process without charge.
Claimants whose claims have been rejected for reasons other than the school that they attended is not an IRS listed on Schedule E, or the claim is on behalf of an individual who died on or before May 29, 2005, and are seeking reconsideration before the Independent Reviewer can choose to be represented by the lawyers for the Class Members (Class Counsel) at no cost to them.
If you have questions about this settlement agreement, a rejected claim, or about the class action in general, you can contact Class Counsel (the lawyers for the Class Members) at:
Phone: 1-888-222-6845 (toll-free)
Fax: 416-477-1657
Email: DayScholars@WaddellPhillips.ca
Please note, Class Counsel will not be able to inform you of the status of your claim. If you have questions about your claim submission, please contact the Administrator directly at DayScholarsClaims@Deloitte.ca or 1-877-877-5786 (Monday – Friday, 12:00 pm – 8.00 pm EST) or visit https://www.ClassAction.Deloitte.ca/en-CA/Indian-Residential-Schools-Day-Scholars-Class-Action-Settlement/ for more information on the claims process.
Learn more about free resources on our Support & resources page.
Eligibility Decision
Why has my claim been dismissed by the Claims Administrator?
If your claim is rejected, the claims Administrator will send you a written notice providing clear reasons why the claim has been dismissed.
If your school is not listed in Schedule E of the Settlement Agreement, then you cannot request reconsideration.
Also, if you submitted a claim on behalf of an individual who died before May 30, 2005, then you cannot request reconsideration. If your claim has been dismissed for any other reason, you can ask for reconsideration.
If eligible for reconsideration, the claims Administrator will inform you of your right to reconsideration. If that happens, you can choose to have a lawyer provided by Class Counsel (at no cost to you), you can represent yourself, or you can choose your own lawyer (you will have to pay your lawyer).
An Independent Reviewer will reconsider the claim based on the written submissions of the Claimant (or their counsel) and any new evidence submitted by the Claimant.
The Independent Reviewer’s decision will be final and binding. If you want to seek reconsideration, it is important that you act quickly after you receive notice that your claim has been denied using the instructions contained in the notice.
Eligibility
What criteria was used to determine which schools to be listed in Schedule E?
The schools listed in Schedule E are schools that were covered by the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) listed in Schedule A of the Federal Court certification order and that had or could have had Day Scholars.
It includes two Lists. List 1 is a list of Federal Indian Residential Schools confirmed to have Day Scholars (those who attended during the day but did not sleep overnight) in attendance. List 2 is a list of Federal Indian Residential Schools that have no confirmed Day Scholars but might have had Day Scholars in attendance.
How is this settlement different from the Federal Indian Day Schools settlement?
This settlement is for Federal Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars from the Gottfriedson class action. This settlement provides compensation for Day Scholars who attended a Federal Indian Residential School during the day only but did not sleep there overnight. This lawsuit is not for students who attended Indian Day Schools – those students are covered by a separate class action settlement called the McLean Federal Indian Day Schools settlement.
In some cases, schools may have operated as a Federal Indian Residential School and then later as a Federal Indian Day School. We understand this can be confusing. That’s why it is important to check the dates on the Schedule E list.
To confirm which settlement, you may be eligible for, check the schools' lists for both class actions. You can find the lists of Federal Indian Residential Schools included in the Day Scholar Class Action in Schedule E, and you can find the schools list for the Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement at www.IndianDaySchools.com
In some cases, schools may have operated as a Federal Indian Residential School and then later as a Federal Indian Day School. We understand this can be confusing. That’s why it is important to check the dates on the Schedule E list.
To confirm which settlement, you may be eligible for, check the schools' lists for both class actions. You can find the lists of Federal Indian Residential Schools included in the Day Scholar Class Action in Schedule E, and you can find the schools list for the Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement at www.IndianDaySchools.com
Compensation & Revitalization Fund
What is the status of the Revitalization Fund?
The funds will be administered by a non-profit society called the Day Scholars Revitalization Society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel are not involved in making decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
When will all the payments be completed?
The Administrator is reviewing and processing claims. Payments are being issued to Claimants as their claims are approved.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
What benefit do Descendants of Day Scholars receive in the Settlement?
Descendants (i.e., the children of Day Scholars) are not eligible for direct compensation under the settlement. However, the settlement includes $50 million for a Day Scholars Revitalization Fund, established to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, and commemoration activities for the benefit of the Day Scholar Survivor and Descendant Classes.
The funds will be administered by a non-profit society called the Day Scholars Revitalization Society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel are not involved in making decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
The process for applying for funding from the Day Scholars Revitalization Society has not yet been set. Day Scholar Survivors and Descendants will be able to apply for funding to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, and commemoration activities.
More information is available on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society’s website at DSRSociety.ca.
The funds will be administered by a non-profit society called the Day Scholars Revitalization Society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel are not involved in making decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
The process for applying for funding from the Day Scholars Revitalization Society has not yet been set. Day Scholar Survivors and Descendants will be able to apply for funding to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, and commemoration activities.
More information is available on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society’s website at DSRSociety.ca.
What is the compensation available in the settlement?
The settlement includes a $10,000 individual compensation for each eligible Day Scholar who attended an IRS during the day only (but did not sleep there overnight) and was alive as of May 30, 2005. In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, their estate administrator, executor, trustee, liquidator, or if none is appointed, their highest priority heir, may be able to apply for compensation on their behalf.
The settlement also includes a $50 million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund to be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage, and commemoration for the benefit of the Survivor and Descendant Classes. The funds will be administered by a non-profit society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel will not make decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
Day Scholars and their children will be able to apply for grants to access the money in the Society. More information can be found in Schedule F.
Claims
My mailing address has changed since submitting my claim, what should I do?
If your mailing address has changed since submitting your claim, please let the Administrator know. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
I have questions about a letter I received from the Administrator, who should I contact?
If you have questions about a letter you have received from the Administrator, call the claims Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free), or contact Class Counsel, Waddell Phillips, at 1-888-222-6845 (toll-free) or by email at DayScholars@WaddellPhillips.ca.
The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
I haven’t heard back about my claim. Could my claim form be missing information?
If you submitted a claim for compensation before January 4, 2024 and haven’t heard back, your claim form may be missing information, like Schedule E School attendance, ID or Statutory Declaration, or Authorization.
Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 today to check the status of your claim. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Claims with missing information may be denied.
If you received a Missing Information Request Letter, please submit any missing information by the timeline included in the letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 today to check the status of your claim. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Claims with missing information may be denied.
If you received a Missing Information Request Letter, please submit any missing information by the timeline included in the letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
How will I receive my compensation payment?
If your claim is approved by the Claims Administrator, you will receive your compensation payment through the method you requested on your claims form, either by: 1. Cheque sent to the mailing address you provide on the Claim Form; OR 2. Direct deposit.
Can I still apply?
The claims period closed on January 4, 2024, and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
What about those who did not submit a claim in time? Is there a process for them to still submit a claim?
No. The Settlement Agreement provided for one three-month extension, called the ‘Ultimate Claims Deadline’ which expired on January 4, 2024. The Settlement Agreement does not allow for further extensions.
I submitted a claim and have not heard back. How do I know it has been received?
The Claims Period closed on January 4, 2024, and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
The Administrator is processing claims. You will receive a decision letter about your claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. If you’ve moved since submitting your claim, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
What is Class Counsel’s role now that the claims period is closed?
Class Counsel remain available to provide any information you need on the settlement. You can also contact Class Counsel for help or legal support without charge if you receive a decision from the Claims Administrator about your application and need an explanation or guidance on what to do next.
You can contact Class Counsel, Waddell Phillips, at 1-888-222-6845 (toll-free) or by email at DayScholars@WaddellPhillips.ca.
What is this class action about?
This class action called Gottfriedson v. Canada is about the claims of Day Scholars, students who attended Indian Residential Schools (“IRS”) during the day only and did not sleep there overnight. The lawsuit asserted that the purpose, operation, and management of IRSs destroyed the Class Members’ language and culture, violated their cultural and linguistic rights, and caused psychological harm.
The Class Action sought compensation for Survivors who say they were harmed as a result of their attendance at IRSs as Day Scholars. The class action also sought compensation for Descendants and Bands who say they too were harmed as a result of Survivors’ attendance as Day Scholars at IRSs and IRS policy.What is the settlement?
The settlement applies to the Day Scholar Survivor Class (students who attended Indian Residential School as Day Scholars), and the Descendant Class. The Day Scholars Survivor and Descendant Class Settlement includes a $10,000 individual compensation for each eligible Day Scholar who attended an IRS during the day only (but did not sleep there overnight) and was alive as of May 30, 2005.
In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, their estate administrator, executor, trustee, liquidator, or if none is appointed, their highest priority heir, could have applied for compensation on their behalf.
Note: The claims period closed on January 4, 2024 and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
The Administrator is reviewing and processing all submitted claims. If you submitted your claim before the deadline, you will receive a decision letter about your claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free).
The settlement also includes a $50 million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund to be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage, and commemoration for the benefit of the Survivor and Descendant Classes. The funds are being administered by a non-profit society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel will not make decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund. Day Scholars and their children will be able to apply for grants to access the money in Society. Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
The class action and settlement are not about sexual or serious physical abuse endured by students at IRSs. Day scholars were eligible to apply for compensation for sexual or serious physical abuse endured at IRSs through the Independent Assessment Process of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (“IRSSA”).
This class action and settlement are not about Federal Indian Day Schools. Claims regarding Federal Indian Day Schools are part of the Federal Indian Day Schools Class Action. You can find out more about the settlement in that class action at IndianDaySchools.com.
In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, their estate administrator, executor, trustee, liquidator, or if none is appointed, their highest priority heir, could have applied for compensation on their behalf.
Note: The claims period closed on January 4, 2024 and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
The Administrator is reviewing and processing all submitted claims. If you submitted your claim before the deadline, you will receive a decision letter about your claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free).
The settlement also includes a $50 million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund to be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage, and commemoration for the benefit of the Survivor and Descendant Classes. The funds are being administered by a non-profit society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel will not make decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund. Day Scholars and their children will be able to apply for grants to access the money in Society. Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
The class action and settlement are not about sexual or serious physical abuse endured by students at IRSs. Day scholars were eligible to apply for compensation for sexual or serious physical abuse endured at IRSs through the Independent Assessment Process of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (“IRSSA”).
This class action and settlement are not about Federal Indian Day Schools. Claims regarding Federal Indian Day Schools are part of the Federal Indian Day Schools Class Action. You can find out more about the settlement in that class action at IndianDaySchools.com.
How does this settlement impact the Band Class?
The settlement does not include the Band Class. The Band Class claim is subject to a separate settlement agreement. Learn more >
What’s happening with the claims process right now?
The claims process for the Day Scholars Settlement has closed. It is no longer possible to submit a claim.
The Administrator is now processing all claims. If you submitted a claim, you will receive a decision letter about your Claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
The Administrator is now processing all claims. If you submitted a claim, you will receive a decision letter about your Claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
How many Day Scholars does this settlement affect?
Approximately 12,000-20,000 Day Scholars Survivors were alive as of May 30, 2005.
In addition, Descendants (natural or adopted children) of Day Scholars may be eligible to benefit from the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund, which greatly increases the overall number of individuals impacted by the settlement.
What are the top types of missing information?
The top types of missing information include:
- Schedule E School attendance
- ID or Statutory Declaration
- Authorization
How many claim forms have missing information?
With most of the submitted claims processed, there are approximately 1,400 claims with missing information. Of these:
- 625 require outreach to the Claimant
- 733 are awaiting reply from the Claimant
- The Administrator has not been able to connect 122 Claimants
What is the deadline to submit missing information?
Please submit any missing information by the timeline included in your Missing Information Request Letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
I received a Missing Information Request Letter. What do I do now?
Please submit any missing information by the timeline included in your Missing Information Request letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you have any questions about your letter, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786.
The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Which supports and resources do I have access to?
Free emotional and crisis support is available to Survivor and Descendant Class Members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 & Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or the online chat at www.HopeForWellness.ca.
Survivor and Descendant Class Members are able to speak to Class Counsel (Waddell Phillips) about the class action lawsuit, the settlement, and the claims process without charge.
Claimants whose claims have been rejected for reasons other than the school that they attended is not an IRS listed on Schedule E, or the claim is on behalf of an individual who died on or before May 29, 2005, and are seeking reconsideration before the Independent Reviewer can choose to be represented by the lawyers for the Class Members (Class Counsel) at no cost to them.
If you have questions about this settlement agreement, a rejected claim, or about the class action in general, you can contact Class Counsel (the lawyers for the Class Members) at:
Phone: 1-888-222-6845 (toll-free)
Fax: 416-477-1657
Email: DayScholars@WaddellPhillips.ca
Please note, Class Counsel will not be able to inform you of the status of your claim. If you have questions about your claim submission, please contact the Administrator directly at DayScholarsClaims@Deloitte.ca or 1-877-877-5786 (Monday – Friday, 12:00 pm – 8.00 pm EST) or visit https://www.ClassAction.Deloitte.ca/en-CA/Indian-Residential-Schools-Day-Scholars-Class-Action-Settlement/ for more information on the claims process.
Learn more about free resources on our Support & resources page.
Why has my claim been dismissed by the Claims Administrator?
If your claim is rejected, the claims Administrator will send you a written notice providing clear reasons why the claim has been dismissed.
If your school is not listed in Schedule E of the Settlement Agreement, then you cannot request reconsideration.
Also, if you submitted a claim on behalf of an individual who died before May 30, 2005, then you cannot request reconsideration. If your claim has been dismissed for any other reason, you can ask for reconsideration.
If eligible for reconsideration, the claims Administrator will inform you of your right to reconsideration. If that happens, you can choose to have a lawyer provided by Class Counsel (at no cost to you), you can represent yourself, or you can choose your own lawyer (you will have to pay your lawyer).
An Independent Reviewer will reconsider the claim based on the written submissions of the Claimant (or their counsel) and any new evidence submitted by the Claimant.
The Independent Reviewer’s decision will be final and binding. If you want to seek reconsideration, it is important that you act quickly after you receive notice that your claim has been denied using the instructions contained in the notice.
What criteria was used to determine which schools to be listed in Schedule E?
The schools listed in Schedule E are schools that were covered by the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) listed in Schedule A of the Federal Court certification order and that had or could have had Day Scholars.
It includes two Lists. List 1 is a list of Federal Indian Residential Schools confirmed to have Day Scholars (those who attended during the day but did not sleep overnight) in attendance. List 2 is a list of Federal Indian Residential Schools that have no confirmed Day Scholars but might have had Day Scholars in attendance.
How is this settlement different from the Federal Indian Day Schools settlement?
This settlement is for Federal Indian Residential Schools Day Scholars from the Gottfriedson class action. This settlement provides compensation for Day Scholars who attended a Federal Indian Residential School during the day only but did not sleep there overnight. This lawsuit is not for students who attended Indian Day Schools – those students are covered by a separate class action settlement called the McLean Federal Indian Day Schools settlement.
In some cases, schools may have operated as a Federal Indian Residential School and then later as a Federal Indian Day School. We understand this can be confusing. That’s why it is important to check the dates on the Schedule E list.
To confirm which settlement, you may be eligible for, check the schools' lists for both class actions. You can find the lists of Federal Indian Residential Schools included in the Day Scholar Class Action in Schedule E, and you can find the schools list for the Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement at www.IndianDaySchools.com
In some cases, schools may have operated as a Federal Indian Residential School and then later as a Federal Indian Day School. We understand this can be confusing. That’s why it is important to check the dates on the Schedule E list.
To confirm which settlement, you may be eligible for, check the schools' lists for both class actions. You can find the lists of Federal Indian Residential Schools included in the Day Scholar Class Action in Schedule E, and you can find the schools list for the Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement at www.IndianDaySchools.com
What is the status of the Revitalization Fund?
The funds will be administered by a non-profit society called the Day Scholars Revitalization Society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel are not involved in making decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
Find more information about the application process on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society website.
When will all the payments be completed?
The Administrator is reviewing and processing claims. Payments are being issued to Claimants as their claims are approved.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
What benefit do Descendants of Day Scholars receive in the Settlement?
Descendants (i.e., the children of Day Scholars) are not eligible for direct compensation under the settlement. However, the settlement includes $50 million for a Day Scholars Revitalization Fund, established to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, and commemoration activities for the benefit of the Day Scholar Survivor and Descendant Classes.
The funds will be administered by a non-profit society called the Day Scholars Revitalization Society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel are not involved in making decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
The process for applying for funding from the Day Scholars Revitalization Society has not yet been set. Day Scholar Survivors and Descendants will be able to apply for funding to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, and commemoration activities.
More information is available on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society’s website at DSRSociety.ca.
The funds will be administered by a non-profit society called the Day Scholars Revitalization Society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel are not involved in making decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
The process for applying for funding from the Day Scholars Revitalization Society has not yet been set. Day Scholar Survivors and Descendants will be able to apply for funding to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, and commemoration activities.
More information is available on the Day Scholars Revitalization Society’s website at DSRSociety.ca.
What is the compensation available in the settlement?
The settlement includes a $10,000 individual compensation for each eligible Day Scholar who attended an IRS during the day only (but did not sleep there overnight) and was alive as of May 30, 2005. In cases where the Day Scholar died on or after May 30, 2005, their estate administrator, executor, trustee, liquidator, or if none is appointed, their highest priority heir, may be able to apply for compensation on their behalf.
The settlement also includes a $50 million Day Scholars Revitalization Fund to be used to support healing, wellness, education, language, culture, heritage, and commemoration for the benefit of the Survivor and Descendant Classes. The funds will be administered by a non-profit society that is independent of Canada and Class Counsel. Canada or Class Counsel will not make decisions on who receives funding through the Day Scholars Revitalization Fund.
Day Scholars and their children will be able to apply for grants to access the money in the Society. More information can be found in Schedule F.
My mailing address has changed since submitting my claim, what should I do?
If your mailing address has changed since submitting your claim, please let the Administrator know. Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
I have questions about a letter I received from the Administrator, who should I contact?
If you have questions about a letter you have received from the Administrator, call the claims Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free), or contact Class Counsel, Waddell Phillips, at 1-888-222-6845 (toll-free) or by email at DayScholars@WaddellPhillips.ca.
The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
I haven’t heard back about my claim. Could my claim form be missing information?
If you submitted a claim for compensation before January 4, 2024 and haven’t heard back, your claim form may be missing information, like Schedule E School attendance, ID or Statutory Declaration, or Authorization.
Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 today to check the status of your claim. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Claims with missing information may be denied.
If you received a Missing Information Request Letter, please submit any missing information by the timeline included in the letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 today to check the status of your claim. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
Claims with missing information may be denied.
If you received a Missing Information Request Letter, please submit any missing information by the timeline included in the letter.
Your response to missing information must be provided within 60 days from the date on your Missing Information Request Letter.
If you are still unsure of when that is, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786. The Call Centre's hours of operation are from 10:00am-6:00pm EST Monday-Friday (closed on Statutory Holidays).
How will I receive my compensation payment?
If your claim is approved by the Claims Administrator, you will receive your compensation payment through the method you requested on your claims form, either by: 1. Cheque sent to the mailing address you provide on the Claim Form; OR 2. Direct deposit.
Can I still apply?
The claims period closed on January 4, 2024, and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
What about those who did not submit a claim in time? Is there a process for them to still submit a claim?
No. The Settlement Agreement provided for one three-month extension, called the ‘Ultimate Claims Deadline’ which expired on January 4, 2024. The Settlement Agreement does not allow for further extensions.
I submitted a claim and have not heard back. How do I know it has been received?
The Claims Period closed on January 4, 2024, and it’s no longer possible to submit a new claim.
The Administrator is processing claims. You will receive a decision letter about your claim.
Make sure your mailing address is up-to-date. If you’ve moved since submitting your claim, please call the Administrator at 1-877-877-5786 (toll-free). The Administrator's Call Centre hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET Monday-Friday (closed on statutory holidays).
What is Class Counsel’s role now that the claims period is closed?
Class Counsel remain available to provide any information you need on the settlement. You can also contact Class Counsel for help or legal support without charge if you receive a decision from the Claims Administrator about your application and need an explanation or guidance on what to do next.
You can contact Class Counsel, Waddell Phillips, at 1-888-222-6845 (toll-free) or by email at DayScholars@WaddellPhillips.ca.