Latest news with #ClaudetteCommanda
CBC
23-07-2025
- General
- CBC
$200M legacy fund for day school survivors now open for applications
The $200-million legacy fund for federal day school survivors and their families is now open for applications. The McLean Legacy Fund is for survivor-led initiatives for collective healing, wellness, language, culture, commemoration, and truth telling. "We've been waiting for this day," said Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation elder Claudette Commanda, who is CEO of the McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation. "It's very promising. There's finally something there for us. Let's take advantage of what is there for us to build what our communities, what our survivors [need]," she said. The corporation's board will consider funding submissions received between now and the end of September, with funds expected to flow by January 2026, according to the settlement fund website. Only survivor applicant groups or communities can request funding. They are outlined in Schedule K of the settlement, which lists recognized federal day schools. Canada ran 29 day schools in the N.W.T., 30 in Nunavut, and 13 in Yukon, according to that list. Individual survivors and groups of individuals are not eligible for funding alone, the fund's website states. The legacy fund is part of the larger $1.47-billion class action settlement, and is distinct from the individual compensation money, said Commanda. The first round of submissions are open for survivor committees and for community programs and projects, the settlement states. Communities can apply to support existing programs they already run, such as men's healing lodges and language preservation. There is money to hire healers and mental support workers, especially for commemoration programming, she said. "Survivor communities, they know what's needed and they're in the best position to develop whatever program and services are needed to meet those needs of wellness, language, truth telling [and] commemoration," she said. 'Justice for day school survivors' The legacy fund is named in honour of the late Garry McLean, from Lake Manitoba First Nation, the lead plaintiff representing hundreds of thousands of survivors in the Federal Indian Day Schools Class Action case. McLean advocated for justice and healing for survivors of day school institutions where abuse was "rampant," said Commanda. She said he "spearheaded the justice for day school survivors" who were excluded from the residential school negotiations. "Regardless of the fact that the Indian Day Schools were on reserve and we went home each night to our families, it was still the same objective — assimilation, the loss of language and culture," said Commanda. Students at these institutions were not allowed to speak their language and not allowed to know anything about their culture and identity, she said. Communities can apply for up to $25,000 to establish a survivor committee. Establishing one is not mandatory, but encouraged to ensure programming is survivor-led, she said. The fund is split among four areas: Collective healing is important, said Commanda, noting that survivors of day schools may also be survivors of multiple "devastating federal policies," including residential school, the child welfare system, boarding schools, and segregated hospitals. "Regardless of what policy that we fell under or that we've experienced, there's still that trauma and our communities have to heal, period. Survivors, you're not alone," she said.
Cision Canada
07-07-2025
- General
- Cision Canada
The McLean (Federal Indian Day Schools) Legacy Fund is now accepting applications for funding Français
OTTAWA, ON, the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation, July 7, 2025 /CNW/ - The McLean Legacy fund was created to support healing and wellness, language and culture preservation, commemoration and truth-telling for Survivors of Federal Indian Day Schools and their families. Today, the McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation (MDSSC) is inviting First Nation, Inuit Communities and/or community-based Survivor Committees to apply for funding. Shaped by the voices of Survivors and their families following a historic, multi-year national outreach process, the $200 million McLean Legacy Fund, part of the $1.47 billion Federal Indian Day Schools Class Action Settlement, is launching its first call for submissions nationwide, which will run until the end of September 2025. "It's incredibly rewarding and humbling to have reached this pivotal moment, which marks both the culmination of a comprehensive engagement process but also what we firmly believe will be the start of a powerful and restorative healing journey for Survivors and communities impacted by Federal Indian Day Schools," said Elder Claudette Commanda, CEO of the McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation (MDSSC). The MDSSC serves as the steward of the fund and supports the enduring legacy of Garry McLean, a member of the Lake Manitoba First Nation who represented hundreds of thousands of Survivors as the lead plaintiff in the Federal Indian Day Schools Class Action case. Although he passed away weeks before the establishment of MDSSC, the Legacy Fund which bears his name is infused with his spirit. "We know that healing does not happen overnight, and every community will approach this journey in their own way and in their own time," said former Regional Chief Roger Augustine, MDSSC Board Member. "The Legacy Fund was built to create space for Survivors to gather, share their stories, and create positive pathways for support for Survivors, communities and their families." The first call for Submissions provides funding in two categories: up to $25,000 for communities with Schools listed in Schedule K of the Settlement Agreement to establish their own Survivor Committees; or anywhere between $100,000 and $250,000 (per year for up to four years, or as one-time only funding depending on each pillar) for community programs and projects. "One of the most important things about the Legacy Fund is that decisions about funding are being guided by Survivors, for Survivors. Every part of this process respects the voices of our people and puts communities in the lead, where they decide what they need to heal and provide support not just for Survivors but for future generations," added Elder Gloria Wells, MDSSC Board Member. To learn more about the submission process and the resources available to help communities submit their requests, visit Your well-being is important to us. If you require immediate emotional support, please call the toll-free, 24/7, Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 to receive culturally sensitive counselling and crisis intervention services in English, French, Cree, Inuktitut, and Ojibway. For more information, please refer to the backgrounder below. The McLean Legacy Fund The McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation (MDSSC) was created as part of the Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement Agreement to manage and deliver the $200 million Legacy Fund. This fund is intended to support healing and wellness, language and culture, commemoration, and truth-telling for Survivor Communities of Federal Indian Day Schools. MDSSC conducted six regional and national outreach sessions and an online survey to gather Survivor and community input on how the Legacy Fund should operate. This engagement shaped a Survivor-centered funding approach with clear community focus. The Legacy Fund is designed to empower Survivor Committees and communities with recognized Federal Indian Day Schools (as per Schedule K in the Settlement Agreement) to develop and deliver programs and initiatives that reflect what healing means to them. Individual Survivors are not eligible to apply directly. There are two funding categories Category One: Survivor Committee Establishment Funding Each community can receive a one-time payment of up to $25,000 Supports the creation of Survivor Committees Eligible expenses: meeting costs, facility rentals, Elder honoraria, refreshments, and other foundational needs Category Two: Community Program Funding Submission Timeline: July 7, 2025 – end of September 2025.
