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.