Update On Stirland Lake And Cristal Lake Residential High Schools’ Motion To Be Added To The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA)

For the information of all those who attended at either Stirland Lake (Wahbon Bay Academy) and/or Cristal Lake residential high schools, and who are interested in knowing the status of NAN’s and Windigo First Nations Council’s request to the court to add these schools to the list of Indian residential schools so as to qualify for compensation under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (Common Experience Payment and, where appropriate, the Independent Assessment Process), and as the lawyers representing NAN and Windigo in this matter, we are pleased to report as follows:

1. On October 10^th, 2007, Windigo and NAN delivered a formal Request to Canada to add Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake to Schedule F of the IRSS Agreement. Delivering a formal Request is a mandatory requirement under the IRSS Agreement that must be completed before a court process can be started.

1. In May, 2008, Canada rejected Windigo’s and NAN’s Request. This rejection then permitted Windigo and NAN to challenge this decision before the Superior Court of Justice.

1. A motion by NAN and Windigo to add Stirland Lake and Cristal Lake was filed in December, 2008.