-
Canada pledges $31bn in compensation for indigenous Canadians

In September, a top court upheld a 2016 ruling that the government underfunded First Nations services compared with those for non-indigenous children.
It ordered C$40,000 ($31,350; £23,340) payouts to each child who was in the on-reserve welfare system after 2006.
The government initially said it would appeal the verdict.
But it has come under intense public scrutiny after the discovery of over 1,100 unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools.

Until as recently as 1996, Canada's residential school system separated indigenous children from their families and sent them to boarding schools where many were malnourished, beaten and sexually abused.
Read more: UK PM faces big rebellion as MPs vote on new Covid rules
The school system was part of attempts to assimilate indigenous children - forcing them to abandon their native languages and convert to Christianity.
The government's compensation amount, expected to be formally announced on Tuesday, will be used to settle the 2016 tribunal, two other lawsuits, and fund long-term reforms in the indigenous child welfare system, a source told public broadcaster CBC.
RoseAnne Archibald, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said: "Money does not mean justice, however, it signals that we are on the healing path forward."
She added: "The magnitude of the proposed compensation package is a testament to how many of our children were ripped from their families and communities."
Some 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were housed in the schools, which operated between 1874 and 1996.
The policy traumatised generations of indigenous children, who were forced to abandon their native languages, speak English or French and convert to Christianity.
Read more: UN anti-corruption conference kicks off in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh
Christian churches were essential in the founding and operation of the schools. The Roman Catholic Church in particular was responsible for operating up to 70% of residential schools, according to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
Earlier this year, the Vatican said Pope Francis had agreed to visit Canada to assist with reconciliation efforts.
But a formal date has not been announced, and the Pope has not issued an official apology for the Church's role, despite repeated called by Canadians.
Source: BBC
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!