Officials with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band are expressing disappointment after a judge turned down efforts to have the Timber Bay school included in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
Justice Neil Gabrielson handed down his decision yesterday.
A hearing into the matter was held earlier this summer at Court of Queen s Bench in Saskatoon.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says she believes lawyers for the former students put forward strong arguments and she is very disappointed in the decision:
“Since 2006, we’ve been trying to have this institution of the Timber Bay Children’s Home to be added to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. We’ve kept the fight, we’ve collected all the documentation, we’ve submitted all the documents saying that Canada had a hand and they inspected the home — but the judge has denied all our claims. So it will have to be put before the council next week.”
Lawyers for the students argued the school operated under the complete direction and authority of the Department of Indian Affairs and so they should qualify for compensation under the settlement agreement.
Cook-Searson says the matter will be discussed next week by the band council and a legal opinion on a possible appeal in the case will be considered.