Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson listens to the testimony of former residential school students in Hay River in 2013. Legal representatives for the residential school independent assessment process are looking for six people in NWT who have not had their claims processed. - NNSL file photo

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Staff with the Independent Assessment Process are looking for hundreds of residential school survivors, including six individuals from the Northwest Territories, who still haven't had their claims processed, the program's chief adjudicator said.

"Our information at this point tells us that there are six people from the Northwest Territories who have claims but that we've lost touch," Dan Shapiro said.

"We'd very much like to hear from those folks." The six NWT residents are among 400 survivors across Canada being labeled "lost claimants", Shapiro said.

That means the individuals had filed claims under the IAP by the September 2012 deadline, but staff and lawyers have been unable to make contact with them in order to proceed.

Some claimants may have died, while others might have moved to a new address or become homeless or incarcerated, Shapiro said.

"It could be that people have passed away or become incapacitated and we haven't been notified of that," he said.

No matter what the reason, Shapiro said anyone who knows a claimant should urge them to contact their lawyer or the IAP directly to ensure their claim is processed.

"It may be a situation where people know someone with a claim," he said. "Just reach out and ask them if their claim has been resolved. That is the main message." qThe IAP is scheduled to begin wrapping up next spring and Shapiro said unresolved claims could end up being discarded.

He said an exact deadline is expected to be announced early in the New Year.

"At this point we still have adjudicators. There will come a point in time where we don't have staff available," he said. "Claims will be asked to be moved forward or dismissed."

However, Shapiro said the deadline wouldn't be set in stone.

"Every effort is going to be made to allow the claims to go to hearing," he said. "We're not looking for reasons to dismiss claims."

A nation-wide public service campaign is currently underway to help spread the message, including radio announcements and notices displayed at band offices, health centres and other locations, as well as on social media.

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement launched the IAP in 2007 in order to compensate residential school survivors. Eligible claimants could be compensated between $5,000 to $275,000.