Victims of Residential Schools Shouldn't Have to Prove Abuse

UVic social work assistant professor Robina Thomas says Canada's offer to pay just 70 per cent of cash settlements negotiated out of court with former Indian residential school students is just a tiny step in the right direction. She says that since residential school policy was a federal government initiative, Canada should pay 100 per cent and bear the onus to hold the churches accountable. She also says the onus of proof shouldn't be on the victims. "What exactly do First Nations people need to do, say or feel that would suffice as proof of their abuse," asks Thomas. "More importantly, who in the government does not believe what happened in residential schools was wrong? The government knows what happened." Thomas, whose traditional name is Qwul'sih'yah'maht, is of the Coast Salish Nation. She is currently doing research on the residential school experience. Thomas' masters thesis is entitled Storytelling in the Spirit of Wise Woman Experiences of Kuper Island Residential School.

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