The federal government has come to a $2.8-billion agreement to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by two British Columbia first nations related to the collective harms caused by residential schools.

At a Saturday morning news conference in Vancouver, Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Marc Miller said the government signed the deal with plaintiffs representing 325 nations that opted into the Gottfriedson Band suit.

害羞草研究所淲hile settlements that are being announced like these today do not erase or make up for the past 害羞草研究所� what it can do is help address the collective harm caused by Canada害羞草研究所檚 past 害羞草研究所� a deeply colonial one 害羞草研究所� in the loss of language, the loss of culture and the loss of heritage,害羞草研究所� said Miller.

The lawsuit originally involved three classes of complainants, but in 2021 all parties agreed to concentrate initial settlement efforts on survivors and their descendants to ensure they害羞草研究所檇 receive compensation during their lifetimes.

Saturday害羞草研究所檚 announcement marked the settlement for the band class of plaintiffs, which Miller called 害羞草研究所渦nfinished business害羞草研究所� from the 2021 settlement.

Miller said the settlement will be guided by four pillars: the revival and protection of Indigenous language; the revival and protection of Indigenous culture; the protection and promotion of heritage and the wellness of Indigenous communities and their members.

It marks the first time Canada is compensating bands and communities as a collective for harms related to residential schools, he said.

害羞草研究所淩econciliation isn害羞草研究所檛 free. This is a lot of money,害羞草研究所� Miller said. 害羞草研究所淚s it enough? I think only time will tell, but we know there害羞草研究所檚 a heck of a lot more to do.害羞草研究所�

Miller said the $2.8 billion for members of the band class will be put in an independent, not-for-profit trust, adding more terms of the settlement will be released in the next month.

Former sh铆sh谩lh chief Garry Feschuk and former Tk害羞草研究所檈ml煤ps te Secwepemc chief Shane Gottfriedson launched the suit more than a decade ago seeking justice for day scholars who were abused while attending the schools but who were ineligible for the 2006 settlement for full-time students.

害羞草研究所淭oday we are representing 325 Indigenous nations across Canada and have developed a settlement plan to allow for the nations to work towards the four pillars,害羞草研究所� said Gottfriedson.

害羞草研究所淭his settlement allows our Indigenous nations to control this process 害羞草研究所� we will manage and distribute the funds, we will provide it to all 325 nations in a fair and objective manner.害羞草研究所�

Individual nations will decide which of the four pillars to focus on and will develop ten-year implementation plans.

害羞草研究所淭his has never been done,害羞草研究所� Peter Grant, class council for the nations, said at the news conference. 害羞草研究所淭his is where the government is saying, 害羞草研究所榶ou take care and you害羞草研究所檙e in charge of how you wish to start to repair the damage.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Grant explained that, after the first decade, another ten-year plan will be developed with the intention of ensuring all funds are dispersed after 20 years.

A settlement approval will take place between Feb. 27 and March 1 before a federal court, followed by an appeal period before the funds are transferred to the trust.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press

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