First Nations victim of forced sterilization says she feels abandoned – APTN News
An Anishinaabe woman, who says she was sterilized against her will following childbirth, is questioning a proposed class-action lawsuit meant to bring relief.
“When I think about the whole situation…it feels pointless to me,” said Luanna Robertson, 51, of Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba.
Robertson joined the lawsuit that was proposed after a series of news stories on the practice of both forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women across Canada.
The lead counsel was First Nations lawyer Alisa Lombard who was with Maurice Law Barristers & Solicitors.
“In this putative class action the plaintiffs allege that the defendants participated in a practice of sterilizing Aboriginal women, by way of tubal ligation, without the women’s proper or informed consent,” said the statement of claim.
“Citing proportionality, the health authority and physicians point out that the plaintiffs claim an award of at least $7 million for each member of the class. M.R.L.P. says in an affidavit that she believes that the potential class members number more than 40.
