Yellowknife (Oct 09/06) - Muriel Betsina spoke of eight years spent at residential schools, with no visits home. She forgot what her little sister looked like. She was raped by priests and had her fingers broken by nuns, she said.

Betsina said she was telling her story to make sure people never forget.

NWT Senator Nick Sibbeston stands outside the Yellowknife courthouse after speaking at a judicial review for a residential schools settlement package. - Erika Sherk/NNSL photo

"We grew up so happy," she said. "We were always laughing, always joking."

Her world "fell apart" she said, when she was taken to residential school.

"We were scared nothing but scared," she said of her time spent at St. Joseph's Convent.

Betsina spoke this week at a judicial review of the federal government's plan for a historic residential school settlement.

First Nations in the NWT were given the chance to hear an explanation of the plan and object if they wished.

The federal government's settlement package was created last November. It is now making the rounds of the country, visiting nine cities all together, so that residential school survivors can be involved in the decision to approve it or not.

The court room was filled with observers. Wilbert Antoine was there to hear exactly what the settlement involved.

His time at residential school was traumatizing, he said. He spoke of being taken from his family, being forbidden to speak his language, and constant punishment.

"All those things and we have two days to listen to lawyers? Two days versus a lifetime of nightmares? I don't think it's fair," he said.

However, he said that the government's approach made sense.

"When you're talking about 79,000 people, class action is probably the way to go," he said.

The package the government is proposing would mean that all First Nations who lived at residential schools could receive payment - $10,000 for the first year and $3,000 for each year thereafter, for attendance alone.

Those who suffered abuse are eligible for further payment. Those who can prove loss of income due to abuse could also receive more.

Hearings have been held in Quebec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, and now Yellowknife.

The hearings are expected to be finished in the next two weeks, said Janice Payne, a plaintiff lawyer who helped create the package. It is hoped that a decision will be reached in November, she said.

The goal, said plaintiff lawyer Kirk Baert, is to have all the payments out within five years after the settlement begins.

It's the "importance of getting a settlement before we lose these survivors," that is the focus of the package, said Payne.

Ernie Lennie was an objector at the hearing.

"I've lost my language, my connection to my people, I can't calculate the cost - I have nothing," he said.

He said he was concerned that the reality of the residential schools would be lost in a class-action settlement, instead of each story being heard individually in court.

He was audibly crying as he spoke. Other men and women in the audience had tears running down their faces.

"It was very personal, very difficult to rip that anger and frustration from our psyche," said Lennie of speaking his opinion in public, "but it was an opportunity to bring something to light."

Though the time allotted to the public was intended for those objecting to the plan, some were approving. Senator Nick Sibbeston was one of them.

He said he has experienced times of dark depression as a result of his time at residential schools, "to the point where I haven't been able to function very well in society," he said.

He said the settlement package is a good thing.

"We are glad this agreement has come along," he said.

"We're going to take this money, enjoy it, and use it in a useful way," he added. "It is acknowledgement from the federal government of what we went through."

A class-action lawsuit is a good idea, he said.

"They're compensating us without each of us going through the horrible ordeal of reliving the experiences," he said.

Betsina cried as she told her story. She is in favour of the plan, she said.

"I want to celebrate today," she said, "celebrate that finally we'll see justice."

Supreme Justice Ted Richard oversaw the proceedings and has reserved his decision.