A law office in the Lakeland is hoping to hear from and represent Indigenous people in a lawsuit against the Canadian government over both day-school residential schools and “indian hospitals.” Grey Wowk Spencer LLP was founded in 2005 in Cold Lake.
Their Facebook page had put the call out to anyone who might have a claim, including a list of schools that would be pertinent to the class action suit.
Leighton Grey is the senior lawyer at the firm. He saws this suit differs from others that have come to pass. The firm is currently gathering stories to see how many people will be a part of the action.
“What we’re doing is we’re going out to native communities and we’re providing information. We’re collecting stories. For people who want to bring claims and where there claims are eligible for consultation; We’ll advance those claims on their behalf.”
The lawsuit for day schools was approved in late June by the Canadian Federal Court. Litigators argued that the abuse was no different for students who were allowed to go home at the end of the day.
Grey says when it comes to the indian hospitals, what he’s heard so far is nothing short of terrible.
“Almost everyone at some point in their life is taken to one of these indian hospitals, to be born or for treatment. Some of the stories that come out of these are just atrocious.”
Grey cites stories including poor medical care, unauthorized experimentation and others that he has heard so far. He says in 1960’s Alberta the average cost of care per day was around $13 a day. He says for indian hospitals that number was $2 a day.
More information can be found by contacting the law firm at 1-877-594-0299.