Vancouver, B.C. – A 51 year old man has been awarded more than $200,000 for sexual abuse he suffered at a BC native residential school on Meares Island - as a child.

The man, who was identified only by his initials was sexually abused by a convicted killer hired to work as the school's baker.

The native man was sexually assaulted by Martin Saxey about twice a week from the age of seven until he was eleven or twelve, he testified in BC Supreme Court.

Justice Bruce Cohen found the Order of Oblates that ran the residential school liable for the assaults, awarding the former student $150,000 for general damages, $80,000 for loss of past earning capacity and $3,400 for future care costs. "It is clear that the plaintiff has suffered immensely as a result of the sexual abuse assaults" Cohen said. "Virtually every aspect of his life has been affected by this.

"At this stage, the Oblates can only escape liability if they can demonstrate that the plaintiff would have become an alcoholic regardless of the sexual abuse." Cohen wrote in his judgement.

From 1900 - 1971 about 8,000 native children attended the Christie Indian Residential School.

West Vancouver, B.C. - The court decision that awarded compensation to an Indian residential School survivor was welcomed by the BC First Nations Summit Provincial Residential School Project. "The judgement is a vindication for the plaintiff and once again a confirmation that heinous crimes were carried out against little children in the schools," said Chief Robert Joseph, executive Director of BC FNs Summit Provincial Residential School Project (PRSP).

Chief Robert Joseph explained that the Churches have argued they didn't know what was taking place in the schools, but fortunately the judge in this latest case didn't buy into that argument. "Hopefully the outcome of this latest trial will further remove the walls of denial that currently exist around the issue, and encourage the parties- the churches and the federal government to become more accountable," said Chief Robert Joseph.

He said if the denial persists and the government and churches continue to deny their responsibility, then, nothing less than full scale public inquiry should be held to bring about justice for Aboriginal people.

On this issue, Chief Robert can be reached at the PRSP Office by fax: 1.604.925.0020 or by mail to:

Provincial Residential School Project,

911 - 100 Park Royal South,

West Vancouver, B.C. V7T 1A2