Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace
Member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti: The Israeli aggression on Yemen will not deter us from continuing to support Gaza, no matter the sacrifices
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Israeli aggression targeted the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street, southwest of the capital, Sanaa, with several raids

Canada to pay $31 billion to compensate Indigenous families

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Jan 2022 14:22
3 Min Read

The families suffered from its discriminatory child welfare system that removed children from families and caregivers and enrolled them into residential schools.

  • x
  • Canada to pay $31 billion to compensate Indigenous families
    Lorna Standingready, left, during Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in Ottawa. (Reuters)

Canada has announced its biggest settlement to date: A $31.5 billion agreement to reform its discriminatory child welfare system and compensate Indigenous families who had their families broken up. 

$20 billion will be allocated for First Nations children removed from family care and enrolled into state residential schools to assimilate them.

The child and family services system will also be reformed, reserving funds to attain the goal within 5 years.

Patty Hajdu, the Minister of Indigenous Services said "No compensation amount can make up for the trauma people have experienced...but these Agreements-in-Principle acknowledge to survivors and their families the harm and pain caused by the discrimination in funding and services." 

The agreement, which came about as a result of litigation filed by First Nations families against the Canadian government, admits that "discriminatory underfunding" of child and family services in indigenous areas has caused hardship for people concerned.

According to Census Canada in 2016, although accounting for fewer than 8 percent of children under the age of 14, Indigenous children account for more than half of those in foster care in Canada.

Related News

Aboriginal group sues Australia for $1.1bln iron ore claim

Australian PM calls for urgent reforms in indigenous welfare

At least 150,000 Indigenous children have been removed from their homes and placed in one of 139 residential schools during the last three decades.

National tragedy

Thousands perished, largely as a result of hunger, sickness, or neglect, in what a truth and reconciliation commission dubbed "cultural genocide" in a 2015 report.

Many more were mistreated physically or sexually. Following the discovery of nearly 1,200 unmarked graves at these institutions, Canada is beginning to cope with the national tragedy.

According to attorneys in two lawsuits, the number of compensations, as well as how and when, will be established later in collaboration with specialists and the country's biggest Indigenous group, the Assembly of First Nations.

Attorney Robert Kugler said the settlement is "historic" and hopefully represents a turning point, adding that the amount "underscores the severity of the harm suffered, and will provide financial support to enable victims to better their lives going forward."

The Canadian government has repeatedly challenged orders to pay Indigenous families for systems that it conceded were discriminatory, including an appeal filed last year to reverse a landmark ruling granting billions to indigenous children.

Canada has stated that it feels the payments are necessary but would prefer to work out the details in negotiations.

The agreements in principle reached on Tuesday are anticipated to be formalized in the following months.

  • indigenous people
  • Canada
  • Canadian Residential Schools

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS