Frequently Asked Questions

We are engaging with Survivors, their families and communities who attended any of the thirty-three Federal Indian Hospitals listed in the Settlement Agreement (and below) to help shape a Foundation focused on healing, commemoration, research, and education.

There are thirty-three Federal Indian Hospitals included in the Settlement and listed below. Some of the Hospitals were known by different names over time. The list of the included Hospitals, the dates when they were operated by the Government of Canada, and their alternate names can be found here.

List of Federal Indian Hospitals Included in Settlement Agreement:

“Indian hospitals”, as they were known at the time, were places where some First Nations, Métis, Inuit and others were sent to receive medical treatment. These hospitals were, for the most part, racially segregated and even though they didn’t always treat only Indigenous patients, many were called “Indian hospitals.” Some hospitals were located near Indigenous communities or reserves, while others were in cities or larger urban areas. Patients were sometimes treated close to home, but many were sent far away—sometimes hundreds of kilometres away. Some of these hospitals began as places where patients were treated for tuberculosis but later became general hospitals as the role of hospitals changed over time. Some hospitals treated only Indigenous patients at certain points, while others also served the general population. Individuals had different experiences in these hospitals. Tragically, some people experienced abuse in these hospitals; the very places that were supposed to take care of them. Some patients didn’t return to their home communities after attending hospitals. Sadly, some patients died in hospitals and they were buried far away from home and their friends and family.

We recognize the term “Indian” can be painful, harmful, and is language which can be associated with discrimination and trauma. We use the term when referring to Federal Indian Hospitals because that was the term used at the time, and it appears in legal and administrative documents. It is also the name most widely recognized by Survivors and families as it was the name used when they attended the hospitals.

The purpose of the Federal Indian Hospitals Foundation engagement process is to inform the establishment, design, structure, and activities of a Foundation to support Survivors, of Federal Indian Hospitals, and their families and communities. The Claims Process for compensation for abuse that occurred at Federal Indian Hospitals is a separate process being managed by the Claims Administrator. Please visit their website to find out all the details regarding that process and how to determine if you’re eligible to submit a claim.

The engagement locations were chosen based on the locations where Survivors and their descendants live today, the locations of the 33 Hospitals, and urban/regional hubs.

There are several ways to contact us about the events! You can email us at info@ihfes.ca or phone and leave a voicemail at 1-833-977-5668 (toll free). Someone will respond to you promptly to help you register or answer any questions. You can also register for an upcoming event on our Upcoming Engagements page.

A Foundation is being created as part of the Federal Indian Hospitals Settlement Agreement to support Survivors, their families, and communities. Its focus will be on healing, wellness, reconciliation, culture, language protection, commemoration, research, and education related to the Federal Indian Hospitals.

Your participation in the engagement process will help shape the Foundation—how it will be led and set up and what work it will do.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership hasn’t been decided yet. This engagement process is meant to gather ideas and recommendations from Survivors, their families and communities about many aspects of the future Foundation, including its leadership and the activities it will undertake.

The engagement process will begin in the Spring of 2026. Once it’s finished, Dr. DeGagné will create a detailed Foundation Plan with recommendations on how to set up the Foundation, which will be submitted to the Federal Court. The Foundation Plan will establish the process for creation of the Foundation, including hiring criteria for Directors, their duties, and structure of the Board of Directors, as well as the Foundation’s objectives and the activities it will undertake through the Healing Fund and Research and Commemoration Fund. The Foundation Plan will be based on the feedback and guidance shared throughout the engagement process and will reflect the needs and wishes of Survivors, their families and communities.

Yes! Even if you can’t attend in person at one of the upcoming events, we would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the Foundation. You can email us at info@ihfes.ca or phone and leave a voicemail at 1-833-977-5668 (toll free). Additionally, we have an online submission form on this website where you can submit your thoughts confidentially. Please be assured that your information will be treated with the utmost care. You can read how we are protecting your personal information here.

Some people may be triggered by discussions or content related to the Federal Indian Hospitals. Your well-being is important to us. If you require immediate support, please contact the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or at www.hopeforwellness.ca to access toll-free, 24/7 counselling and crisis intervention. These culturally-competent services are available in several dialects of Cree and Inuktitut, as well as Ojibway, French, and English. 

Indigenous Services Canada also provides dedicated cultural and emotional support services for those affected by the Settlement. 

Under the Mental Health and Cultural Support section of this site, you will find additional information about available mental health resources for Indigenous people.

Yes! We welcome all Survivors, their family members, and descendants to participate in this engagement process. You may participate either by attending a session with your loved one, by attending individually on their behalf, or providing written or verbal feedback.

Summaries of past engagement sessions will be posted on our website. You can visit the Summary of Engagements page for summaries of what’s been shared during the engagement sessions so far. All information shared will stay anonymous and only highlight common themes. Attributed quotes will only be used with express permission of participants, and a proper consent process. At some sessions, a graphic recorder/illustrator will be present, and we’re excited to share some of their visual depictions of the events too.

The Federal Indian Hospitals Foundation Engagement Support Team is a small team that was formed to support Dr. DeGagné as he leads a cross-Canada engagement process with Survivors and families of Federal Indian Hospitals and their communities. They will attend all meetings with Dr. DeGagné to support Survivors and family members, ensure the events run smoothly, and resolve any logistical issues on the ground. The Team will post regular updates about locations for engagement, summaries of the engagement sessions, and other key information on this website.

Please visit our contact page to reach out to us directly by email, mail, or telephone.