Residential school survivors discuss concerns about lawyers

A gathering of residential school survivors at Lac Seul First Nation on Wednesday will deal with concerns over the actions of some lawyers.

The two-day meeting in the community, about 400 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay will also touch on other aspects of healing from the abuse at residential school.

Some abuse victims are facing long delays in having their abuse claims heard, while others have complaints about the way lawyers have handled cases, said Fred Thomas, who is helping some survivors with their claims.

"It's like the older days, we had no place to run when we were abused; no place to hide; no place to go to," Thomas said. "It's the same thing when you're re-victimized by law firms."

One man has been waiting more than five years for his claim payment to be released by his lawyer, Thomas said.

"Everybody else gets to be treated fairly, so I want this person to be treated fairly by law firms," he said.

'No way to voice concerns'

The Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat recently clarified its protocol for dealing with complaints about lawyers and appointed "independent special advisers" to the court monitor who oversees the claims process.

It's helpful to have a toll free number now for people to call with legal concerns, Thomas said, adding that he'll be sharing the information with participants at the gathering. 

It's crucial that survivors have as much information as possible about moving forward in their healing, he said.

"It's important that we follow up with them, because they seem to be in a stuck area where they have no way to voice their concerns over their [abuse] claims."