Port Alberni residential school victim settles lawsuit

Page 2

After two days of grueling testimony in a Victoria courtroom, Art Thompson made an out-of-court settlement with lawyers representing former employees of the Alberni Indian Residential School (AIRS).

During the two days of testimony, the noted Nuu-chah-nulth artist described how he was "physically, sexually, and culturally assaulted" while a student at the notorious residential school.

Thompson's evidence against six former employees of the federal government- and United Church of Canada-operated school went uncontested by lawyers for the defense.

"Being an artist who has represented our country through artistic projects, they didn't want to fight with me," said Thompson. "It wasn't confrontational or adversarial. I just wanted to tell my story, and get this horrible piece of history down on paper."

During his testimony, Thompson compared the Alberni Indian Residential School to a concentration camp, adding even though the church claimed to be messengers of a Christian God sent to rescue Native people from their 'heathen ways,' "all they did was kill our souls".

Thompson was taken from his home in Nitinaht at the age of five, and remained at the school for the next nine years, until 1963. During that time, Thompson told the court he was abused by more than six people, including the notorious sexual terrorist Arthur Henry Plint.

"I have come to terms with my history and, being unable to change it, I recognize it and move on," said Thompson. "The case was about my assailants and that they be held accountable, since there has been no defined ownership of responsibility from any of the people involved in the residential school system."

As the three-day trial in B.C. Supreme Court wrapped up, a deal was struck at the last minute where Thompson was given a compensation package that he "is not at liberty to discuss."

Supreme Court Justice Donald Brenner then adjourned the proceedings, congratulating both sides for negotiating a settlement outside of court.

Brenner is also the judge in the multi-party suit against the United Church and Government of Canada for their complicity at AIRS. The three sides in that trial are currently preparing for a settlement conference in September, where lawyers will try to negotiate a settlement before the damages and apportionment hearings begin in October.

Meanwhile, all sides are anxiously awaiting Justice Brenner's decision on the seven weeks of direct liability hearings that concluded last May.

Thompson, who has been involved in the AIRS trial along with other members of his family, expects the next 20 weeks of damages and apportionment hearings to be "a long and drawn out trial that's going to be hard on the plaintiffs."

Satisfied with the process and result of his own suit, Thompson hopes others can use his "non-adversarial" approach to "release the dirty baggage they're carrying around."

"I told my story with the hope that it would encourage the thousands and thousands of other residential school victims to come forward and tell their stories," said Thompson. "It's important these people be held accountable for terrorizing little children."