After decades of fighting for recognition, survivors of the Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding School have reached a historic milestone. On Monday, the federal government signed a $27-million agreement in principle with survivors, marking a significant step toward reconciliation.
Among them was Antoinette LaFleur, who has waited a lifetime for this moment. Speaking at a news conference in Île-à-la-Crosse, the elder shared how she had kept her painful experiences hidden for years. “I’ve waited 77 years for this time to happen,” LaFleur said. She revealed that she had never told her children about the abuse she endured at the school.
The agreement also includes a formal apology from the federal government and an additional $10-million legacy fund for cultural, language, and treatment programs. Île-à-la-Crosse Boarding School, located approximately 460 kilometers north of Saskatoon, was one of Canada’s oldest institutions of its kind, operating from the 1860s to the mid-1970s. However, its students were excluded from the Indian Residential School settlement process because the school was operated by the Roman Catholic Church without direct federal funding.
Louis Gardner, another survivor, attended the school from 1961 to 1969 after being sent there at the age of five. He expressed relief that the agreement comes with a personal apology. “They used to force us to go to confession and tell our sins. Now we’re saying the same thing to them. You tell us your sins now.”
For over 20 years, survivors have fought for this acknowledgment, and with many aging or passing away, securing the agreement was a race against time. “We’re losing the survivors at a rapid pace,” Gardner said. “It’s time to at least honor some of our survivors and look after them the way we should be looking after them.”
Michelle LeClair, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan minister of justice and vice president, emphasized that while this settlement is a breakthrough, the fight is not over. “With this settlement with Canada, it’s exciting, but we still have a lawsuit against the Saskatchewan government.” She noted that the federal government has accepted 50 percent responsibility, and now survivors demand the province take accountability. “There can never be true reconciliation or justice for the survivors until Saskatchewan fulfills its obligations on this file.”
As discussions continue to finalize the settlement, survivors hope to access the compensation by this summer. However, no financial restitution can erase the trauma they endured. Elder Emile Janvier, another survivor, described the suffering they went through just to receive an education. “We went through hell just to get an education. We went through abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, and loneliness. No person should be treated like that… It affects the children too.”
Beyond the financial settlement, the agreement serves as a step toward healing, cultural restoration, and environmental justice. Indigenous communities have long emphasized the deep connection between healing, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. The legacy fund, which includes cultural and language programs, can play a vital role in restoring traditional knowledge systems, strengthening ties to the land, and ensuring future generations can reclaim what was taken from them.
Source: Swifteradio.com
