Lethbridge Law Firm - Aboriginal Law, Divorce, Real Estate & Wills Lawyers - Letourneau Law

Lethbridge

704 - 6th Avenue S.

Lethbridge, Alberta
T1J 0Z5

ph.(403) 329-4311
fax.(403) 329-4343

Raymond

52 Broadway N.
PO Box 259

Raymond, Alberta
T0K 2S0

ph.(403) 752-4800
fax.(403) 752-4815

Aboriginal Law

Letourneau Law can provide information in the area of Aboriginal Law, Native Law and Metis Law, including

Indian Residential Schools Independent Assessment Process (IAP)
Aboriginal Rights
Aboriginal Title
Aboriginal Business Law
Treaty Rights
Residential Schools
Metis Rights
Funding Applications

Adam Letourneau is Cree-Metis (adopted) and is an active member of the Metis Nation of Alberta. He is a former Director and Chairperson of Apeetogosan (Metis) Business Development Inc., and has a personal interest in this area of the law. Michael Jones has experience in working with Aboriginal peoples in a variety of situations, and works with Indian Residential School IAP applicants.

Indian Residential Schools Independent Assessment Process (IAP):

We are currently taking on new clients who are applying for the Indian Residential Schools Independent Assessment Process. This is the application for those who attended Residential Schools in Canada who suffered physical or sexual abuse. (Read more about the Indian Residential Schools Independent Assessment Process (IAP), including our Frequently Asked Questions).

This IAP provides additional compensation to individuals who can establish specific abuses at residential schools above and beyond those covered by the CEP (Common Experience Program). Compensation is available for sexual abuse, serious physical abuse, and certain other wrongful acts which caused serious psychological consequences for the individual.

You may have your abuse claim considered in the IAP:
- if you are a former resident of an IRS (see Appendix G) and you did not opt-out of the settlement agreement which created this IAP; or
- if you are not a former resident, but were abused after being permitted on the
premises of an IRS by a staff member to take part in an authorized activity and you were under 21 years of age at the time of the abuse; and provided that, in either circumstance, you have not already been compensated for your abuse
claim or it was not dismissed at a trial.

Legal costs

If you decide to hire a lawyer to represent you throughout the entire process, and you are successful in being awarded compensation by the decision-maker, the government will assist you with your legal bill by adding 15% to your award to help you pay your lawyer. This is on top of the compensation you are entitled to for wrongs you suffered. You will be responsible for paying any additional amount if you have agreed to pay your lawyer more than 15%.

As well as legal costs, you or your lawyer will be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses that have been spent in order to participate in this process. In discussion with you or your lawyer, reasonable and necessary amounts will be assessed. If you or your lawyer disagree with the amount, an independent decision-maker will determine the amount. You will have to provide receipts for your expenses to have them paid in this
process.

Please call us to make an appointment to discuss your IAP applicaton.

Read more about the Indian Residential Schools Independent Assessment Process.