Many will spurn residential school payout: elder (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Many will spurn residential school payout: elder

Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-Post
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=9a7380d0-ad3d-40c0-8fb2-0b550caa651c

REGINA (SNN) -- The deadline for those wanting to opt out of the residential
school settlement passed on Monday, but criticism of the deal has not.

"If we had been thinking long term, $2 billion in language and culture
programs would have lasted a lot longer than a couple of weeks of
shopping," said Floyd Favel, a playwright and performer,

According to official court notice of the settlement, former students had
three main options. The first option was to request a claim form and agree
to the terms of the settlement. The second choice was for survivors to
remove themselves from the process by opting out, which meant they still
retained the rights to sue the church or government on their own. The third
alternative was to do nothing, which meant those people would be choosing to
not receive a payment and giving up the right to sue.

"I have travelled this country, I've been to the territories, the Yukon,
Nunavut and all the provinces and I haven't met one person that is opting
out," said Ted Quewezance, executive director of the National Survivor
Society.

He said at last count the numbers were very low, but will get an exact
number later this week. One estimate puts it under 40. The only benefit to
opting out is that it allows survivors to settle their own cases in court,
explained Quewezance.

Favel believes the settlement isn't enough to right the wrongs the
residential schools have done to First Nations people. Favel attended
residential school for one year and is choosing the third option by doing
nothing, because he doesn't agree with the deal.

"The financial figures are too little. It works out to approximately $20,000
per person. In a way, it's not really a settlement," said Favel.

First Nations people were taken from their homes and lost both their
language and culture, so no amount of money can erase that devastating
effect of residential schools, he said.

"Home life is the central part of Cree culture and to destroy culture you
destroy a home. That was a deliberate policy of the federal government
through the church-run residential schools," said Favel, whose father also
attended residential school.

Residential school survivors then brought that dysfunction back into their
own homes, Favel said. He said the more subtle effect of residential
schools was assimilation. Survivors turned their backs on the traditional
value system and adopted a foreign culture and religion.

He believes a better deal could have been negotiated, because survivors were
not given any alternatives. Favel believes aboriginal leaders who negotiated
the settlement have done a great injustice for First Nations people across
the country that will affect future generations.

"That money effectively washes away a tragic event in Canadian history,"
said Favel.

Mike Piney, an elder from the Peepeekisis First Nation, went through the
residential school system. He said the settlement process has been
confusing for some and many don't know what it meant to opt out.

"They really don't understand the total process. A lot of our people are
still confused, especially the older ones," said Pinay.

He said there are many factors one has to think about when it comes to
residential schools and although some have chosen to opt out that's not to
say everyone agrees with the settlement.

"Some won't apply. There's going to be a few who want nothing to do with it.
They're happy in their own little world," Pinay said, adding everyone's
experience was different and not all experiences were bad.

He said there are many First Nations people who have strong religious
beliefs and are hesitant to apply for the money. Pinay believes the
settlement has been a long time in coming and it's important to acknowledge
the older people because every day more survivors are dying.

"It's not enough, but at the same time it's something," said Pinay.

(REGINA LEADER-POST)
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007