The Innu Nation has launched a class action against the federal and provincial governments seeking recognition for Innu who experienced mistreatment in day schools in Labrador.

The class action mirrors similar previous claims, including the Day Schools class action which was settled in 2019, and the Band Reparations class action which was settled last year.

In a release issued on Thursday, the Innu Nation says Innu were left out of those settlements because they did not come under the Indian Act until the early 2000’s.

They took control over their own education system under the Innu School Board in 2009. Between 1949 and 2009, Innu were educated by day schools which were funded by the Canadian government and overseen by the province.

The next step in the process is to have the courts certify the claim to proceed as a class action.

The Innu Nation says many of its members have been speaking out about the harm suffered in day schools at the Inquiry into the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System, which resumes hearings on January 22.