This guide provides information to assist you in completing the IAP Group Application. If you have any questions after reviewing the material, please do not hesitate to contact the local office (information at back of guide)

The Group Independent Assessment Process (IAP) provides an option for individuals who have come together to support each other in the resolution of their claims of sexual or physical abuse, to go through the process together as an established group.

Each group member must still apply individually to be accepted into the IAP as a claimant in exactly the same manner as any survivor seeking access to the IAP and each will have their own individual hearing.

The IAP adjudication process is a difficult process to go through as claimants will need to explain to an adjudicator what happened and answer questions on their experience and abuses at Indian Residential Schools.

Funding for group activities that support claimants as they go through the adjudication process is provided through an agreement with an incorporated organization or entity designated by the group to manage their Group IAP initiative. Group members identify the type of support they need to facilitate their healing and reconciliation journey.

The application form was developed to make the process as clear and as easy to complete as possible. This Guide also includes sample forms and information that will assist you in the application process. If you have any questions while completing the application, staff at the Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat would be happy to help you.

For further information, you can:

The Group initiative of the IAP is to provide a process by which individuals with commonalities such as school or community and a desire to proceed through the IAP together can do so as a group.

The Group initiative expects to achieve the following outcomes:

• that group members, and their family members will provide mutual support to each other through the claims resolution process;
• appropriate mental or emotional health supports will be accessed by the claimants and by family members providing supports to claimants
• claims will be resolved as expeditiously as possible

Funding will be provided to the eligible recipient though a contribution Agreement. An amount up to but not exceeding $3,500 may be paid to the recipient for each group member admitted into the IAP process, as set out in the approved contribution agreement in total.

Eligible Participants: Individuals with potentially compensable IAP claims may apply to be identified as a group to resolve their claim. Individually, each group member must apply to be accepted into IAP as a claimant by the IAP Secretariat in exactly the same manner as any survivor seeking access to the IAP. In addition, the group as a whole must apply to be accepted.

Eligible Recipients: Eligible recipients are incorporated groups (public or private organization, or entities formally established by a survivor group) designated by eligible participants to manage and administer their Group IAP initiative.

A group must be incorporated, and designated by its eligible members to manage and administer their group IAP project. A resolution proposal must be submitted to the IAP Secretariat. All individual members’ application must be admitted into the IAP process to be an eligible funded group member.

A Group will be accepted as an eligible recipient in the group process if the applications of the individual group members are admitting into the IAP and their proposed resolution plan demonstrate the following:

• The group is established, with evident stability and decision-making capacity;
• Issues raised in individual members’ applications are similar enough to make proceeding together reasonable;
• Members are already providing each other with support in connection with their experiences, or have a clear plan and realistic capacity to do so; and
• The group has a clear plan to achieve resolution of their claims for themselves.

Once a group has been accepted as an eligible recipient, and they have created or designated an eligible recipient, that eligible recipient must provide a resolution proposal that will serve as the basis for a contribution agreement with the IAP Secretariat. The resolution proposal will:

• List the names of its members;
• Show the name and contact information of the Coordinator;
• A detailed description and costing of the proposed group initiative and activities;
• Include a proposed budget

• Administering the Group;
• Hiring and training facilitators, paraprofessionals, or community elders;
• Acquiring relevant resource materials and equipment;
• Holding workshops for members and their family members relevant to supporting members through the process of resolving their claims, and to dealing with settlement money; and
• Engaging and training community members or relatives of the participants who may wish to support the survivor at home.

Acceptable expenditures for the Group IAP initiative include disbursements for:

• Compensation for the group coordinator and administration support person;
• Travel, accommodation, transportation for the group coordinator and group members;
• Daily living allowance for the group coordinator and group members when required to travel;
• Training and professional development for the group coordinator and group family members who are providing support to group members; research and resource material;
• Community Elders, for a small gift, consistent with local cultural practices, offered in acknowledgement of their role;
• Expenses related to the holding of workshops, events and activities designed to help support group members through the process of resolving their claims;
• Fees related to the incorporation of the group;
• Administrative expenses of the Group IAP (i.e. rent; office supplies; equipment dedicated to the IAP ; telecommunications; printing; community information initiatives, data collection, analysis and reporting; evaluation; and incremental fees for accounting and audit services directly related to the IAP ).

Box 1: Legal Name of Organization:

This is the incorporated name of the entity or the existing incorporated organization that will manage and administer the group initiative

Box 2 - 5: Mailing Address:

Please provide the address where you wish to receive mail from us.

Box 6, 7 & 10: Area Code/Telephone:

Please provide the number the contact person can be reached at Monday through Friday, during the day. If available, please provide cell phone number also.

Box 8: Email Address:

If applicable, please provide us with email address of contact person.

Box 9: Name of Contact Person:

Provide the name of the person who will be answering any questions we have about the proposal.

Box 11 & 12: GST, HST or Rebate Number/Percentage Reimbursement:

Question 1: Primary work of organization, experience and skills:

• Background on any programs and services the organization offers (indicates previous experience)
• the organization’s mandate
• the reasons that qualify you or your organization to undertake this project. This should include an indication of the expertise, skills, interest and experience (present and past) with such issues

Question 2: Coordinator and committee members’ name

Question 3: Identify the commonalities of the group members. Example: attended same school, speak same language

Question 4: Provide brief information on how long has the group been together and, as a group how decisions are made. Example: Members vote and all members have to agree – consensus or decision is made by majority

The proposal narrative must include a description of the questions below.

Question 1: Provide a description indicating how the members have supported each other; was there any specific activities or events.

Question 2: Explain as a group, how are activities/events or member needs identified or chosen. For example does the coordinator tell the group about planned activities and everyone just agrees or are choices offered. Do members contribute ideas?

Question 3: From discussions and planning the activities, you should have an idea of start and end date. Try and set realistic timelines for workshops, etc and include any projected start and end dates for any preparation time.

Question 4: In developing this section, clearly define the activities/workshops, the intent of the activities in supporting each other, how the activities address the needs of the individuals and the group as a whole. Researching, planning and discussions with group members will result in a well planned project.

Eligible Activities

• Administering the group
• Hiring and training facilitators, para-professionals, or community elders;
• Acquiring relevant resource materials and equipment;
• Accommodations, meals and transportation costs for Group IAP members to participate in group functions related to issues for resolving their claim;
• Holding workshops for members and their family members relevant to supporting members through the process of resolving their claims, and to dealing with settlement money.

Question 5: What does the group want to accomplish from the activities; how will these activities/workshops assist the members in working towards the goal of a healthy and lasting resolution of their claims. What do the members want to achieve through the group process? These questions, when answered will help the group decide whether they accomplished their goals.

Question 6: Activities for participation and/or training of family members of group participants: What activities/workshops are going to focus on engaging and training community members or relatives of the participants who may wish to support the survivor at home; how will this be supported.

• List the activities/workshops and how each supports the goals of the group.
• What steps will be undertaken for each activity/workshop
• How much time is required for each stage - approximate start and end dates
• How will you check and consider the project’s success or effectiveness

Detailed Budget

Eligible Expenditures: Acceptable expenditures for the Group IAP

• Salaries, wages and benefits for the group coordinator and administration support person;
• Travel; accommodation; transportation for the group coordinator and group members;
• Daily living allowance for the group coordinator and group members when required to travel;
• Training and professional development for the group coordinator and family members providing support to group members; research and resource materials
• Community elders, for a small gift, consistent with local cultural practices, offered in acknowledgement of the importance of their role;
• Expenses related to the holding of workshops, events and activities help to support group members through the process of resolving their claims;
• Fees related to the incorporation of the group
• Administrative expenses of the Group IAP (i.e. rent; office supplies; equipment dedicated to the IAP ; telecommunications; printing; community information initiative; data collection, analysis and reporting; evaluation; and incremental fees for accounting and audit services directly related to the IAP

Your budget should be realistic and provide as much actual information and costs you can research. Expenditure items should be supported with a cost breakdown and proper justification. You must submit a detailed project budget that includes

• Our group members have similarities (i.e. same community, school, etc) that enable us to work together and support one another.
• We have already been supporting each other or have a clear plan to do so throughout the resolution process
• We have discussed how we will make group decisions related to our resolution plan.
• Each member of the group has completed their individual application and completed Question 10, on page 5
• Each question has been completed on the application to the best of your ability
• The Coordinator is fully aware of the responsibilities of his/her position
• We have become incorporated or we have identified an existing incorporated organization that contribution funding can flow through.
• We (group members) have identified our needs and have discussed the activities, support, traditional and spiritual ceremonies and information sessions that we want to include in our resolution plan
• Resolution plan complete including budget and breakdown of expenses, activities and timeframes for when events/workshops are to occur
• Have any of the members who are elderly or in ill health been identified? (Consideration will be given to recommending an earlier hearing date)
• Coordinate a meeting date with Group Development Consultant and group members to introduce the members and the consultant and provide information on the Group IAP process

Contribution Agreement

If your application is approved to receive contribution funding, you will receive and be required to sign a formal agreement between you and the Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat. The agreement will specify the terms and conditions for the project, including the amount of funding that you will receive the conditions of payment, the activities that you plan to undertake, and the start date of the agreement.

It is important to note that costs incurred prior to the date of the approved and signed agreement will not be eligible for reimbursement.

In a contribution agreement, you are required to submit financial statements and progress reports in addition to a final report and financial audit. The dates for submitting these reports will be included in your contribution agreement.

Proactive Disclosure

The Government of Canada proactively discloses the awarding of grants and contributions over $25,000. When funding is approved, the amount of funding, the purpose for which the funds were granted and the name of the organization receiving the funding are considered public information.

Information on grants and contributions awarded will be posted on our Web Site. Every three months the information will be updated to include information on grants and contributions awarded in the previous fiscal year quarter.

Monitoring/Reporting Requirements

In accordance with the contribution agreement, you will be expected to:

• Submit progress reports according to the dates set out in the contribution agreement
• Submit a final project report on what was done, after the funding period is completed. The date for the final report will be set in the agreement.
• The activities should be monitored through out the life of the contribution agreement to ensure that there has been some success achieved as a result of the funding

Access to Information

The information provided in the application for funding and progress reports may be accessible under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. It is important to note that personal information is protected under the Privacy Act and would not be disclosed. The designation PROTECTED (when completed) ensures that this information receives enhanced protection.

Getting Prepared for your Individual Hearing

Once Group participant’s applications have been screened and all mandatory documents collected, discussions will begin on the readiness of the Group to proceed to their hearings. Each member of the Group have their own individual hearing date. Hearings are scheduled consecutively so group members may continue to provide support to each other as they move forward on reconciling their claims. Discussions on the Group’s preferences on location and supports should begin early in the process. Most members may proceed with the same supports they have been working with.

Each individual receives their own decision. If an individual wishes to plan for future care, they are responsible for preparing and writing their own future care plan. In the past group members have requested that their decisions be send them within close proximity of each other. Individual members can discuss their preference with the Adjudicator at the time of their hearing.

Consumer Information – Service Alberta

Ministry of Finance, Corporate & Personal Property Registries

Business & Corporate Inquiries

General Incorporation Information:

Service New Brunswick

General Information

Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre

Canada-Nunavut Business Service Centre Inuksugait

Canada-Ontario Business Centre

Canada Business Centre – Prince Edward Island

In Person:
#2 - 345 Third Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 1M6

Hours of Operation
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday

By Mail:
#2 - 345 Third Avenue South
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Canada-Yukon Business Centre