Independent Assessment Process Final Report

The Final Report of the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) Oversight Committee (2021) documents the history, structure, and outcomes of the IAP, a non-adversarial, out-of-court mechanism established under the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) to resolve claims of sexual abuse, serious physical abuse, and other wrongful acts suffered by survivors at residential schools. Created to resolve litigation more quickly, provide justice as a precondition for reconciliation, and ensure a claimant-centered process, the IAP ultimately received claims from more than 38,000 survivors, conducted 26,707 hearings, and awarded $3.233 billion in compensation. The report details the IAP's objectives—including using an inquisitorial approach and providing cultural supports to validate survivors' experiences—and discusses the numerous challenges and lessons learned from administering the massive, complex program.