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Home Media Releases FSIN Believes Former Timber Bay Residential School Students Re-Victimized FSIN Believes Former Timber Bay Residential School Students Re-Victimized (White Cap Dakota First Nation, SK) FSIN Vice-Chief Lyle Whitefish is appalled the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada would reject the common experience payment claim by former students from the Timber Bay School. Vice-Chief Whitefish points out that the school is like other residential schools that qualified for the CEP claim. The Timber Bay School fits the "Dynamics" of any other recognized Residential School in Canada. The last federally recognized school in the Northwest Territories was more like a Group Home whereas Timber Bay was run like a Residential School. "The former students were removed from their homes. They weren’t allowed to practice their culture. They lost their language," says Vice-Chief Whitefish. "This decision by Indian Affairs flies in the face of last summer’s Residential School apology by the Prime Minister. At that time, we believed the apology didn’t go far enough because it failed to address schools like Timber Bay." The Common Experience Payment was awarded to former residential school students based on a formula. Each student received $10,000 plus $3,000 for each subsequent year they attended a residential school. The Lac la Ronge Indian Band filed a claim on behalf of about 150 band members who attended the Timber Bay School. "The Federation will support the Lac La Ronge Indian Band if they decide to appeal the decision," says Vice-Chief Whitefish. "We hope the former Timber Bay students remain vigilant in their pursuit of justice." The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the Treaties, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.