Support for all former Residential School survivors to get attendance records
Questions and Answers Regarding Indian Residential School Records
June 6, 2007
Q. Will I be able to apply for a Common Experience Payment (CEP) if I do not have a copy of my school records?
A. Former students do not need copies of their school records to apply for a Common Experience Payment. All that is required is for you to fill out and return an application form, and the Government will use the school records it has to validate your application. If the Government needs more information to validate your CEP application, you will be contacted.
Q. What if the Government does not have my records?
A. The Government is aware that, in some cases, school records are incomplete. Three new elements will be implemented by the Government for validating applications under the Common Experience Payment:
- A computer-assisted search system to help validate applications more efficiently and thoroughly;
- A new policy and process for requesting additional information if records cannot be found through the computer or manual search. In these cases, the Government may request additional documents and will assist you in providing these documents. These may include sworn statements from you, or from other students who resided at a residential school at the same time; and,
- An advisory review panel, including Aboriginal and former student representatives, which will provide expert advice on the Common Experience Payment validation process.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, the Settlement Agreement gives you the right to appeal the decision. The appeal process includes all parties to the Settlement Agreement, including representatives of former students.
It is important to note, once again, that throughout this process the Government's primary principle will be to assist you to confirm that you resided at an eligible residential school, not to try to prove that you didn't.
Q. What steps are being taken to increase the Government's collection of records?
A. The Government is committed to minimizing the impact of incomplete records. In some cases, the churches and other organizations may still have records in their possession. The Government is working with these organizations to ensure that all existing residential school records are included in its database. In addition, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to be established by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement will create as complete a historical record as possible of the Indian Residential School system and its legacy.