Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and shíshálh Nation, (the Plaintiffs) with the support of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) brought a class action lawsuit against Canada. This lawsuit is about the collective harm suffered by Indigenous communities as a group as a result of Indian Residential Schools. The lawsuit says that the Government of Canada is responsible for damages to Indigenous communities caused by the Indian Residential School system, and in particular, the collective harm suffered by Indigenous communities due to the loss of language and culture because of Indian Residential Schools.
T’ít’q’et joined this class action suit against Canada. In 2021, the plaintiffs and Canada settled the lawsuit and under terms of the settlement agreement Canada made a payment to a Trust Fund managed by a not-for-profit society called the Four Pillars. This society will be responsible for prudently investing the Fund, and for distributing the Fund to the 325 class members to support the Four Pillar principles in accordance with the Disbursement Policy.
The Four Pillars are:
1. Revival and protection of Indigenous languages;
2. Revival and protection of Indigenous cultures;
3. Wellness for Indigenous communities and their members;
4. Promotion and protection of heritage.
Each of the 325 participants in the lawsuit will receive funds to develop a plan to address the Four Pillars listed above. T’ít’q’et formed an ad hoc committee to develop a plan to carry out one or more of the objectives and purposes of the Four Pillars. To this end, the committee wants to engage T'ít'q'et members in a series of surveys relating to the Four Pillars.
This first of 4 surveys will gather information from you on Pillar #1 Revival and Protection of Indigenous Languages.
You are invited to complete the survey to help with T’it’q’et’s language revitalization plan.
