Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement: Personal Credits Notice

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Date: Monday, September 15, 2014

Please join the UBC Learning Circle and presenters Sharon Slippery, Community Liaison with the Indian Residential Schools Unit of Assembly of First Nations, and Elder Advisor, Leonard George (First Nations Health Authority) for an informative workshop on Personal Credits. Former Indian Residential Schools students who qualified for the Common Experience Payment (CEP) under the IRS Settlement Agreement may now qualify for a one-time IRS Personal Credit (no cash value) for educational programs.

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement stipulates that once all Common Experience Payments (CEP) have been made, if more than $40 million remains in the Trust Fund, the funds are to be made available to CEP Recipients, upon application, in the form of non-cash Personal Credits of up to $3,000 each for educational purposes. CEP Recipients will be able to choose to transfer their Personal Credits to certain Family Members as defined in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and the Terms and Conditions.

Terms and Conditions for Personal Credits have been developed by Canada and the Assembly of First Nations and by Canada and Inuit Representatives to determine which Education Entities and Groups and which Educational Programs and Services are eligible. Once the Personal Credits have been distributed, any amount remaining in the Trust Fund on January 1, 2015 is to be paid to the National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund and the Inuvialuit Education Foundation to be used for educational programs.

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Session Topics:

What is the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement?
Health Supports
What Are Personal Credits?
Where Can I Use Personal Credits?
Education Entities
Group Educational Service
Group Educational Service: Eligibility Criteria
How Can I use my Personal Credits?
What Does Family Member Mean?
What is the Personal Credits Process
Acknowledgement Form
Redemption Forms
Appeal Forms
What Happens Next

Deadline Reminders

Application

Personalized Personal Credits Acknowledgement forms were mailed out January 2014

Deadlines

October 31, 2014 (midnight)

Deadline for CEP Recipient to submit Personal Acknowledgement Form

December 1, 2014 (midnight)

Deadline for Education Entity or Group to submit Redemption Form

April 30, 2015

Deadline to SPEND the personal credits Right to Appeal

One month to appeal decision

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is not overseeing this process but can provide assistance to complete forms if required. Sharon Slippery is also available for community presentations. For more information on Personal Credits, please visit www.afn.ca or contact Sharon at 1-866-869-6789, ext. 254 or via email at sslippery@afn.ca.

About the Presenters

Sharon Slippery is of Cree and Saulteaux descent and was raised on the Kawacatoose First Nations in Southern Saskatchewan. Her education at both Carleton University and Algonquin College provided her with opportunities to work on behalf of First Nations at the both Assembly of First Nations and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation for the past 15 years.