News Releases and Media Advisories
Call for Proposals for Group IAP
February 18, 2014
Program supports healing and reconciliation for former IRS students
Ottawa, February 18, 2014 -- The Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat (IRSAS) has launched a call for proposals to fund activities that support healing and reconciliation for groups of former students of Indian Residential Schools.
The Group IAP program, launched in 2008, allows former Indian Residential School students to go through the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) with support from other former students.
“Group IAP offers community healing, not just individual healing,” said Dan Shapiro, the Chief Adjudicator of the Independent Assessment Process. “It empowers former students by giving them access to the tools and resources they need to develop and strengthen relationships with other students, their families, their communities, and with other Canadians as they move along their healing journey,” he said.
The IAP is a claimant-centred process that provides compensation to former students for abuse they suffered at Indian Residential Schools. It was established in 2007 under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA), the largest class action settlement in Canadian history.
Groups have until March 31, 2014 to submit their proposals to be considered for funding for the 2014-15 fiscal year under Group IAP. Groups must be incorporated, or associated with an incorporated non-profit group at the time of application. All members of groups selected for funding must have had their individual claims for compensation accepted into the Independent Assessment Process. They must also share a common bond, such as being from the same community or having attended the same residential school.
Groups can propose a variety of activities to support members in the healing process. Eligible activities include counselling sessions, workshops, traditional and cultural activities such as sweats, round dances, pow-wows, sharing circles, healing circles, and potlatch ceremonies.
Funding of up to $3,500 per eligible group member is available under Group IAP for proposals that are selected. All proposals will be assessed based on established criteria that are available on the IAP website. Further information on the Call for Proposals, and detailed application instructions are available on the IRSAS website.
The IAP is administered by the Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat (IRSAS), a quasi-judicial tribunal that operates independently from the parties to the IRSSA, including the Government of Canada.
As of January 31, 2014, IRSAS had received 37,922 applications for compensation under the IAP. Of these, 25,800 cases have been resolved and more than $2.275 billion has been paid out in compensation by the Government of Canada.
Contact:
Michael Tansey
Senior Communications Officer,
Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat
(819) 934-1444
(613) 851-4587 (cell)
Michael.Tansey@irsad-sapi.gc.ca
Michael@tancom.ca
www.iap-pei.ca