Locals among group suing church, gov't WARNING. This story contains descriptive passages that may not be suiteble for all members of the family. By KATHLEEN BRANDSMA A TERRACE RESIDENT is among a group of 15 men suing the United Church of Canada, the Canadian govem- ment, three past principals and a former supervisor of the Port Alberni residential school on Vancouver Island. Roger Gray and the 14 others, all nalive, seek un- specified damages for physical and sexual abuse they suf- fered while boarding at the school in the 1950s and 60s, Arthur Plint, a supervisor in the bays’ dorms at the time, was convicted last March of scries of sexual assaults and sentenced to 11 years in prison. “It’s very important to our clients that the defendants ac- knowledge what happened,’’ says Vancouver lawyer David Patterson who is representing the men. “They've lived for decades with enormous personal dis- tress, Some thought they were they only ones this had hap- pened to, and some thought they were personally responsible.’? Patterson says it's very difficult to assign a dollar figure to the suit, but says things like treatment costs, the cost of dropping out of school, and assessing how far the men could have gone in life can all be assessed financially. The final figure will likely reach into the tens of millions. Gray, 52, now lives at Kitsumkalum and boarded at the residential school for four years, from about 1949 to 1952, One of the other men is Darryl Watts, 37, who lives at Greenville in the Nass Valley. Others live in the Hazeltons. The lawsuit claims the federal government authorized the United Church, which ran the school, to take Gray out of the Indian Hospital in Nanaimo and place him the school without his parents’ consent, And that’s when {he horror for the little boy began. Information filed by the law firm for the 19 men says Gray was forced to fondle Plint and masturbate him, was forced into oral sex, and was threatened and beat with a strap. Gray was just six years old at the time, His family didn’t know he was at the school until another student there told bis sister. Thal was four years later, The suit states that because of this abuse, Gray is not able to fully control his anger and that has led to a past prison term. The suit also claims Gray has had to deal with drug and alcohol addiction and has needed ongoing medical and psychological treatment and counseling. Gray was unavailable for an interview last week. Willie Blackwater, 41, a Gitksan from the Kispiox who now lives in Coquillam is acting as a coordinator for all the plaintiffs. *T was taken out by Plint and taken to his room where [ was abused soon after I was pul in the residential school,"’ writes Blackwater in the lawsuit. “When I went to the . principal to report what Plint bad done to me, he called me a lying Indian. [ was afraid for my life.’’ The suit claims that in or about 1965, Blackwater reported to principal John Andrews that he was sexually assaulted by Plint, It says Andrews didn't investigate, but rather beat Black- water for making the allegation. Andrews then spoke to Plint, who also beat Blackwater for speaking out. Andrews, who still lives in Port Alberni, did not know he’d been named in the suit when telephoned last week for a comment. “{ guess I have to contact the United Church and see what they have to say before making any comment,” said Andrews, The suit alleges that he, along with fellow principals A.E. Caldwell and John Dennis failed to protect the plaintiffs by hiring Plint in 1948 and allowing him to work at the school until 1953 and then rehiring him in 1961 and supporting his employment again until 1969, . The suit also alleges the United Church of Canada failed the protect the plaintiffs, not only by hiring Plint, but also by hiring the three principals. The suit states the church should have know Plint was a pedophile, and claimed that although the church was aware of the abuse, nothing was done to stop il. The church issued a statement Feb. 1, a day after the suit was file in Vancouver. In it, Virginia Coleman, General Secretary of the General Council says the church is very disturbed by the scrious al- legations that are contained the suit. ‘We are also concerned about the assertion that the United Church has been silent with regard to the painful history of the residential school system.” “The United Church and the government were nowhere to be seen when Piint was being sentenced,’’ plaintiffs’ lawyer Patterson said. ‘‘He was protected by the govern- ment and the church.”’ “The United Church of Canada is very aware of the painful legacy of many aspects of the residential school system,’ said Coleman in reply. And to that end she says the church issucd what has be- come know as The Native Apology in 1986, Since then, she says the church has given money and other resources as part of its commitment to healing, In 1993 the church began a five-year project to provide $30,000 per year to native communities which are dedi- cated to the healing process. And a year later, Coleman says the church set up a voluntary fund which it hopes will generate $1 million to support native healing initiatives, For the 15 men suing the church and the federal govern- ment, money, or the lack of it, is a serious issue. Most are unemployed and are in the process of trying to raise moncy through their tribal councils to help offset legal fees. _ Palterson says the Vancouver law firm he works for is financing the case, If there’s a settlement, be says it will then negotiate how much it'll receive. “‘T€ not, then I guess we don’t get paid,” he said. ‘This is complicated stuff that these men just couldn't afford and we're committed that the case won't die just because the money’s not there.’’ Patterson says the firm usually bills between $125 and $200 an hour. Two to three hundred hours have already gone into the case, and Patterson says by the time it’s over, that number wil! be a lot higher. Victim still afraid of men today WILLIE BLACKWATER says to this day he’s still very afraid of men, and he blames Henry Plint. “I still have a drastic fear of men,’’ he says. ‘‘And that’s why I’m on a medical leave of absence from my job,”’ Blackwater, 41, works as a heavy equipment operator at Repap in Coquitlam, *T applaud them for their understanding. I’m not just an- other number to them,” he says. ‘Another company might have laughed my problems off, but they completely under- Stand where I’m coming from.” Blackwater says he’s had a couple of near accidents on the job, and that’s what prompted him to take the leave. He’s has been in treatment centers in Coquitlam, and is now under the care of a doctor and sees a councillor on a regular basis. “It’s helping quite a bit,’” Blackwater says. “It’s making me realize what feelings are. The only true feelings I'd ever had were of hatred and anger and J didn’t want to pass that along to my daughter.”” Blackwater was a student at the Port Alberni residential school for about six years, and he says the main abuse hap- pened when he was between 10 and 12 years old. As as result of this, Btackwater says he twmed to drugs and alcohol when he was about 14. RADELET & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors, Vancouver, B.C. Pre-Budget Crystallizations & Freezes James W. Radelet. Phone 689-0878 Fax 689-L386 PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW FOR VALENTINE’S DAY * Chocolates ¢ Valentine Balloons » Stuffed Toys © Gi Baskets * Fresh & Silk Flower Arrangements ROSES ROSES ROSES Pes 101-4716 LazelieAve: ~ 635-5920'or 638-1900 a “To try and forget about the pain, it would have to sub- stituled with something else,’’ he says. But that’s behind him now, When his daughter was bom in 1990, Black- water vowed he would try and turn over a new leaf. He’s been sober for five years now and says his family is the center of bis life. “It’s learning the true meaning of love that’s helped me gel this far,”’ Blackwater says. “My love for my daughter is a lot stranger than my temptation for aicohol and drugs.” Blackwater’s first marriage broke up because he was abusive to his wife, and he says that carried over into the carly years of his current relationship. “There was lime when she was going to leave me and I realized if | didn’t stop, I'd lose them,”’ Blackwater says, “She put with what I’d been doing and I thank God she’s ‘ ; 638-3880 still with me."” He plans to marry the woman this fall. Curr | a. = Ma. _ a a in Se Soe SFerSceeseees Gaaaa =a fo oo -AAAG ea Re ay he Gwen =- SERBS Gy wm a a Overflowing THE KITIMAT Recyslers were back in town last weekend, picking up paper and cardboard for recycling. One lacal business took advantage of the truck to dispose of a huge pile of paper, That's KUTE volunteer Brian Price, holding back the flood of paper. The move is over, the renovations are complete. Join us and enter to win FREE Tans, Gift Packs and Reflexology Sessions. The Head Shed now features: ® Precision Cuts * Ear Piercing *Facial Waxing *Private Colouring Area Spocial Specia 100 Min | 200 Min * Wolffe Tranning Bed * Bulk Refills * Professional Award Winning Stylists ; L 5.95 *28.95 Mead She, Tanning 4671 Lakelse Ave. $92 995... wi We’re down to our last few ‘95 models, so we're blasting them out of here at prices you won't believe! 1995 Toyota Celica JOLY AGW. Terrace Motors Toyota “Canada’s Oldest Toyota Dealership” _ 1-800-313-6558 _ 635-6558