Thirty More Come Forward In The Oregon Province

American Indian school in Omak part of Yakamas' lawsuit American Indian school in Omak part of Yakamas' lawsuit

By Mark Morey
Yakima Herald-Republic
Posted April 25, 2009 YAKIMA — Yakama tribal members are among those suing a Northwest order of Catholic Jesuits over allegations that they were abused at an Indian boarding school in Okanogan County. The claims were originally raised in a lawsuit filed last year in U.S. District Court by 18 anonymous plaintiffs, represented by the Tamaki Law Firm of Yakima. That case was dismissed because the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus in February filed for bankruptcy because it is facing hundreds of similar claims.

Attorney Blaine Tamaki said he now represents close to 30 claimants who will be submitting requests as creditors in the bankruptcy case. Some of those are members of the Yakama tribe, he said. The original plaintiffs are not named in the federal lawsuit, a move which defense attorneys objected, and Tamaki would not name any of the Yakama claimants.

The Oregon Province covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Society of Jesus priests, known as Jesuits, staff and manage a variety of schools around the Northwest. The lawsuit filed by Tamaki alleges that priests in the order who were assigned to St. Mary's Mission near Omak were responsible for abuse against the claimants. Most of the alleged activity took place in the 1960s. Tamaki said in a news release that the order had a history of sending pedophile priests to isolated Indian reservations, where they were able to continue their abuses. The St. Mary's school is on the Colville reservation. In public statements, the province has emphasized that the abuse allegations involve only a small percentage of the order's priests. Most of the suspects are dead or elderly.

Because the province has paid millions to cover legal claims by alleged victims, bankruptcy reorganization is the only way to keep the organization viable, according to statements on the provincial Web site.

Tamaki urged any other victims to come forward if they want to join the bankruptcy process. The Oregon court handling the matter is expected to soon establish a deadline for any claims against the province.

Link (here)

Photo is of the first St. Mary's Mission Church at Coleville Reservation