Cochrane Saxberg have filed a Federal Court Class Action lawsuit against Canada to address the harms done to Indigenous nations.

Cochrane Saxberg and our legal team, which includes four other law firms from across the country specializing in class actions, Indigenous and child welfare law, have filed a Federal Court Class Action lawsuit against Canada to address the harms done to Indigenous nations as a result of Canada’s discriminatory child welfare system and the resulting cultural genocide. The claim seeks compensation and declarations for the harms that First Nations experienced from April 1, 1991, until the date the claim is certified by the Federal Court, or another date later determined by the Court. The harms to a Nation can include, but are not limited to, the collective loss of language, culture, traditional practices, religion, and identity, the threat to each Nation’s continued existence and the effects of intergenerational trauma on the community as a collective.

As this is a Federal Court claim, Nations from across the country are able to join together and form part of a single claim being advanced against Canada. Currently, the claim name 10 Nations from both Manitoba and Alberta, with more to be added in the coming weeks. The claim will operate as an “opt-in” claim, meaning the Nations can continue to join the claim even though it has been filed.

Nations that are interested in joining the claim should contact Cochrane Saxberg LLP for assistance and information.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/first-nations-class-action-child-welfare-collective-1.6777536

https://www.sotosclassactions.com/cases/first-nations-bands/