Canadian Lawyer

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 27 1960 1980 2000 2010 12 Residential Schools are in operation (as defi ned by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement). The Constitution is amended. It recognizes and affi rms the rights of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people. Churches begin to apologize for their role in Indian residential schools. 60 residential schools still operate in Canada. The partnership between the government and churches ends. The government takes over responsibility for residential schools and begins transferring responsibility to First Nations bands. 1979 1982 1986-1994 1958 1991 1996 1996 2005 2015 2006 1960 1969 Indian Aff airs recommends closing residential schools. Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine speaks out about the abuses he endured while attending residential school. Prime Minister Stephen Harper issues an apology to aboriginals in the House of Commons in Ottawa June 11, 2008. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal People report. The last residential school in Canada, the Gordon Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, closes. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal People calls for a public inquiry on the eff ects of residential schools on aboriginal people. A class action suit announced against the Government of Canada over residential school abuses. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission submits its fi nal report and winds down with a fi nal event in Ottawa from May 31 to June 3. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement is reached, but it does not apply to all schools that were in operation. triggered by the content." She says the stories reminded her of being isolated and very lonely. Sunchild spent her childhood, from the age of two until her teens, living in care. When she returned home, her grandparents spent a lot of time teaching her about her culture, something Sunchild credits for helping her do the work she does today. "So, when I first started doing the stories, I had to embark on intensive therapy," she says. "As I think we all who have been involved in this process, at some point, it really makes you question your own humanity." The firm's main office is located on reserve land owned by the Poundmaker Cree Nation south of of Battleford, Sask. Sunchild Law consists of seven lawyers, a dozen staff members, three First Nation elders, and a psychologist. Clients have access to the elders and the psychologist. "We don't force anybody to partake in any of those services, but we do offer it and encourage them to because the content of their hearing and the content of their stories are very traumatic," says Sunchild. "It makes my role easier in helping the claimant. That goes for all of our lawyers. We use that support for them as well, when the stories get too tough to hear or when they become overwhelmed or showing signs of burnout." In addition, the firm has a monthly talking circle to help its lawyers debrief and, in some instances, a counsellor may be brought in to debrief the legal team. "Having heard these experiences, it does forever change the lives of the people that hear them," says Shapiro, the IAP's chief adjudica- tor. "I think there is a renewed understanding, first of all, an appre- ciation for aboriginal traditions and culture, but understanding of what folks went through and the ripple effect of what they experi- enced in their family and their communities. That's something that's bound to change a person." Shapiro replaced Dan Ish as the head of the IAP in 2013. He's been around since the IAP was established in 2007, when he held the position of deputy chief adjudicator. Prior to that, he was a senior adjudicator with the alternate dispute resolution system, the precursor to the IAP. Just before he started the ADR job, the Saskatoon-based lawyer read as much as he could get his hands on 2007 2008 2008 The Common Experience Payment (CEP) and the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) applications begin. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is established. Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologizes for the government's role in residential schools and the impacts it had on children and families. Phil Fontaine. Sources: wherearethechildren.ca Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Algoma University Engracia De Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections "We don't force anybody to partake in any of those services, but we do offer it and encourage them to because the content of their hearing and the content of their stories are very traumatic. It makes my role easier in helping the claimant." ELEANOR SUNCHILD, SUNCHILD LAW 2020 BRANDON INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL/UNITEDCHURCH OF CANADA ARCHIVES; PHIL FONTAINE/JEFF VINNICK/ REUTERS; HARPER/CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS

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