RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS PERSONAL CREDITS DATE EXTENDED

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne would like to inform the community that on December 17, 2004, the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled to extend the deadlines for those individuals that qualified for the Indian residential schools personal education credits.

On January 8, 2015, the court directed the following deadline dates:

Acknowledgement Forms-NEW Deadline March 7, 2015

Redemption Forms-NEW Deadline June 7, 2015

Payments Finalized-NEW Deadline August 7, 2015

All education programs and services must be concluded by August 31, 2015.

The extension deadline was in response to the serious administrative concerns expressed by the family members and the survivors of Indian residential schools. The personal education credit is the final phase of compensation in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) of 2007.

Personal Credits are defined as credits that have no cash value and are redeemable for either personal or group educational programs and services, provided by approved educational entities and groups. Personal Credits can be used by Common Experience Payment recipients or family members, as defined in the Court-approved terms and conditions. Personal Credits are available for a wide range of programs and services including those provided by universities, colleges, trade or training schools, Indigenous Institutions of Higher Learning or which relate to literacy or trades, as well as programs and services which relate to the preservation, reclamation, development or understanding of native history, cultures or languages.

Personal Credits can also be used for either approved individual or group learning activities.

If you have any questions and would like additional information on Personal Credits, please visit the Official Court Website at http://www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca, by calling the Personal Credits toll free number at 1-866-343-1858 or by contacting the MCA’s Mohawk Government Office at 613-575-2348.