18 THE SIXTIES SCOOP

THE SIXTIES SCOOP

Planning Your FIRST STEPS Learning Journey In the 1950s and 60s, compulsory attendance at What is the Sixties Scoop and how federally governed residential schools began to be phased out, although it continued for children can understanding its impacts whose families were deemed “unsuitable” to care for them.1 Indigenous children were expected to contribute to reconciliation? attend the provincial public education stream. This shift was coupled with a 1951 amendment to the that enabled provinces to deliver child welfare services to Indigenous people where none had formerly existed. Indigenous children went from being forcibly removed from parents to attend residential schools to being forcibly removed from families by provincial child welfare agencies. The underlying root of the forced removals aligned with aggressive assimilation policies. Genocidal tactics of residential schools aimed at “killing the Indian in the child” continued with the transfer of responsibility to provincial child welfare agencies because of existing court structures and provincial policies. These child welfare policies have been identified as racist. The aggressive apprehension of Indigenous children between the 1960s and 80s is referred to as the Sixties Scoop. Social workers at this time did not require training in working with or understanding the cultural or historical context of Indigenous communities, HTTP://ACTIVEHISTORY.CA/2017/10/SELLING-THE-SIXTIES-SCOOP-SASKATCHEWANS -ADOPT-INDIAN-AND-METIS-PROJECT/ and often let their biases influence their decisions. Eurocentric views clashed with original child- Newspaper advertisements for the Adopt Indian and Métis Program, late 1960s, . rearing methods and ways of living that had The forced removals directly correlate with IMPACTS socioeconomic impacts such as mental health Children were expected to assimilate into the culture of issues, homelessness, incarceration, “high the foster or adoptive family suicide rate, sexual exploitation, substance while, most often, abandoning their heritage, which may have use and abuse, poverty, low educational contributed to an identity crisis achievement and chronic unemployment.”2 and a relationship breakdown between the caregiver and the child.10 There are cases in which sustained Indigenous communities inform the community if children children were told that they for tens of thousands of years. were being apprehended or were anything but Indigenous.11 “When social workers entered the to provide information as to “Conditions of suppressed identity homes of families subsisting on a their whereabouts. Disturbing and abuse result in psychological traditional Aboriginal diet of dried numbers of apprehended children and emotional problems and game, fish, and berries, [with no were bounced between non- these impacts may not surface running water or electricity] as Indigenous foster homes, placed for survivors who learned of in typical Euro-Canadian fashion, in institutional facilities, adopted their family or culture until later 12 they assumed that the adults in or sold.7 “Scattering children in life.” Barriers to attaining the home were not providing for across the globe undermined socioeconomic equity coincide with their children.”3 Kinship systems identification with the close-knit the disparity of not fully belonging to either group.13 Children were rooted in community care were traditional Aboriginal culture and forced to disconnect from families disregarded as negligent. Indigenous destroyed its kinship network.”8 rich in love, land, language, status women were deemed as unfit Often family members would and, most important, ceremony. mothers, and living off the land as plead to the courts for the return 4 Some survivors express having uncivilized. Indigenous original of the child but would be left nurturing adoptive or foster methods of nurturing and living empty handed and empty hearted. families and hold no ill feelings were disrupted and severed through Many Sixties Scoop survivors toward those who raised them. assimilation policies and laws. as well as families of scooped However, they also experience children continue searching for Child-rearing methods of shaming, feelings of confusion and each other. belittling, violence and abuse disconnection from their kinship were instilled at residential While there are stories of foster network and cultural ways, as well schools, thus resulting in a legacy families nurturing Indigenous as feeling guilty about being raised of trauma. Colonization tactics children, these families were led in a nurturing home, unlike the such as the forcible confinement to believe that children had been majority that suffered abuse. of the reserve system and other abandoned, impoverished and Families and communities suffered methods of oppression inflicted by unwanted by their families. More as well. The loss of children caused policies and attitudes “influenced often, though, many survivors mental, emotional and spiritual the severity of social problems experienced horrific treatment harm to individuals, families many communities endured, from those in positions of power and communities.14 “Problems of such as poverty, unemployment, who claimed to be filling in the alcoholism, emotional stress and and addiction, [and] some social role of caregiver. “Slave labor, low self-esteem were compounded workers felt a duty to protect the emotional, physical and sexual with the increased formal scrutiny local children.”5 abuse was not uncommon, and likelihood that other children “Power, privilege and poverty but it was usually covered up, would be removed from the are complexly related to the rendered invisible by the lack of family.”15 Often families who disproportionate number social resources and support for “approached child care agencies in of Aboriginal children who Aboriginal families and children, search of help for funds to supply were removed from their own a result of the general social food and shelter ended up losing communities.”6 There was no reluctance to publicly acknowledge their children … Often times they requirement for workers to such abuse at the time.”9 were forced to relinquish custody

Walking Together: Education for Reconciliation of the child.”16 The apprehension of (AFN) and the and children in care now tactics “weakened the traditional First Nations Child and Family than there were during the peak family structure, and in doing so, Caring Society of in 2007, of the residential school era. weakened Aboriginal society as found that overrepresentation of Some declare the child welfare a whole.” 17 The intergenerational First Nations children in child system to be a contributor legacy of grief and loss in relation welfare was a direct result of to current issues such as the to family, identity, culture, heritage discrimination and underfunding Missing and Murdered Women and community continues into of children on reserve.22 Children’s and Girls epidemic and high subsequent generations. 18 rights advocates such as Cindy incarceration rates across the Blackstock continue to work country. Canada has transitioned tirelessly to uphold and uplift the CHILD WELFARE from the Sixties’ Scoop to the rights of Indigenous children. “Millennium Scoop” in relation In the 1980s, reports by 26 In 2016, the Office of the Child to the child welfare system. In Kimmelman and Johnston and Youth Advocate (OCYA) , approximately 10 per recommended sweeping policy released a report that examined cent of children are Indigenous, changes. Kimmelman affirmed that the continued overrepresentation yet approximately 70 per cent of “ has taken place 27 of Indigenous children and children in care are Indigenous. in a systematic, routine manner.”19 families in the child intervention On February 14, 2017, a narrowly The reports, combined with decades 23 system in Alberta. The Alberta defined legal settlement for loss of outcry from Indigenous rights Ministry of Children’s Services advocates such as the Voice of of language and culture was recognized “that the tragic announced for First Nation and Alberta Native Women’s Society reality of overrepresentation Inuit survivors of the Sixties and First Nations band resolutions, of Indigenous children is the Scoop; the Métis Nation were influenced amendments to single most critical challenge excluded despite their inclusion laws. Eighteen First Nations child facing the child intervention in the policies of aggressive welfare agencies were developed system, and is working to assimilation. On May 28, 2018, following the 1973 signing of the make sustainable changes to the Alberta government formally Blackfoot (Siksika) child welfare support positive outcomes, apologized to Sixties Scoop agreement, which was the first family engagement, cultural survivors as a first step towards child welfare agreement with connections, and increased reconciliation. Survivors may a First Nations community in community capacity. As this 20 be compensated financially, yet Alberta. report and others have indicated, wellness and healing initiatives there are many complex factors In 1989, Canada played a key role to help repair the damage done at play that have contributed in drafting the United Nations are also necessary. The child Convention on the Rights of the to the overrepresentation of Indigenous children including welfare system in Alberta Child; yet, in 2007, UNICEF reported currently works with Indigenous that “Canada has been slow to the intergenerational trauma of colonialism, the tragic legacy of communities to try to alleviate honor its commitment to uphold the problems that were evident those rights and ensure the well- the residential school system, and in the past, although children being of children.” The report the ongoing effects of the Sixties in care and families continue featured the dire situation of the Scoop. These, along with a host of to need further supports. There Indigenous context.21 other challenges, have resulted in profound socioeconomic is a need for these supports to It wasn’t until 1990 that Indigenous disparities for Indigenous peoples include Sixties Scoop survivors, Nations had the authority to and communities.”24 because nothing currently exists. administer child and family Education to build a foundation services according to provincial of knowledge, understanding legislations and child welfare RECONCILIATION and empathy will contribute to standards, although problems “Too many Canadians know uplifting survivors and assist reflective of the Sixties Scoop little or nothing about the in motivating positive changes continued. In 2016, the Canadian deep historical roots of these in policies and attitudes that Human Rights Tribunal, based on conflicts.”25 Currently, there are negatively affect Indigenous a complaint filed by the Assembly many more First Nations, Metis children and families.

Stepping Stones | 18 | THE SIXTIES SCOOP generation want its history back.” Retrieved from Under article 2(e) of FURTHER www.cuckoografik.org/trained_tales/orp_pages/ news/news5.html (accessed January 17, 2020). the UN Convention INFORMATION 12. Hansen, E. 13. White, L, and E Jacobs. 1992. Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta on Genocide (1948), 14. Alston-O’Connor, E. 2010. (SSISA) is “A non-profit society formed “forcibly transferring to represent survivors in Alberta, create 15. Johnston, P. 1983. Native Children and the dialogue and engagement and develop true Child Welfare System. Canadian Council on children of the group reconciliation.” www.ssisa.ca/ Social Development series. Toronto: Lorimer. 16. Kimmelman, E. 1985. No Quiet Place: Final to another group” Report to the Honourable Muriel Smith, Minister NOTES of Community Services. Winnipeg: Community Services. constitutes genocide 1. Hansen. E. 2009. “Sixties Scoop.” Vancouver, 17. Johnston, P. 1983. BC: University of . Available when the intent is to at https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/ 18. Ibid 19. Kimmelman, E. 1985. 28 sixties_scoop/ (accessed January 17, 2020). destroy a culture. 2. Lavell, J C, and D M Lavell-Harvard. 2006. 20. Alberta Child and Youth Services. 2007. Until Our Hearts Are on the Ground: Aboriginal Delegated First Nations Agencies. Available at Mothering, Oppression, Resistance and Rebirth, www.child.alberta.ca/home/506.cfm (accessed Continuing Your p 144. Toronto: Demeter. January 17, 2020). 3. Hansen. E. 2009. “Sixties Scoop.” Vancouver, 21. Ball, J. 2008. “Promoting Equity and Learning Journey BC: University of British Columbia. Available Dignity for Aboriginal Children in Canada.” at https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/ IRPP Choices 14, no 7: 21. sixties_scoop/ (accessed January 17, 2020). 22. Ibid a) How can educators learn more 4. Alston-O’Connor, E. 2010 “The Sixties Scoop: 23. Alberta. 2017. Ministry of Children’s first-hand stories of Sixties Implications for Social Workers and Social Work Services Response to the Office of the Child Scoop? Education.” Critical Social Work 11, no 1: 53–61. and Youth Advocate Special Report Voices for 5. Hansen, E. Change: Aboriginal Child Welfare in Alberta. 6. Kulusic, T. 2005. “The Ultimate Betrayal: Available at www.humanservices.alberta.ca/ Claiming and Reclaiming Cultural Identity.” documents/response-to-ocya-report-voices Atlantis 29, no 2: 23–28. -for-change.pdf (accessed January 17, 2020). 7. https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/ 24. Ibid sixties_scoop/ (accessed January 17, 2020). 25. Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 8. Alston-O’Connor, E. 2010. 2015. Final Report. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press. b) How does the legacy of the 9. Fournier, S, and E Crey. 1997. Stolen from Our Embrace, p 30. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & 26. Sinclair, R. 2007. “Identity Lost and Found: Sixties Scoop fit into the larger McIntyre. Lessons from the Sixties Scoop.” First Peoples journey of reconciliation? 10. White, L, and E Jacobs. 1992. Liberating Child and Family Review 3, no 1: 65–82. Available Our Children Liberating Our Nations, pp at http://journals.sfu.ca/fpcfr/index.php/FPCFR/ 19–20. Vancouver, BC: Aboriginal Committee article/view/25 (accessed January 17, 2020). Community Panel Family and Children’s 27. www.humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/ Services Legislation Review in British Columbia. child-intervention-info-stats-summary-2017 11. Lyons, Tom. “For more than 20 years, -18-q4.pdf (accessed January 17, 2020). Canada took native children from their homes 28. https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/ and placed them with white families. Now a lost sixties_scoop/ (accessed January 17, 2020).

Stepping Stones is a publication of the Alberta Teachers’ Association Walking Together Project intended to support certificated teachers on their learning journey to meet the First Nations, Métis and Inuit foundational knowledge competency in the Teaching Quality Standard. Walking Together would like to acknowledge the contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit community members within Alberta in developing these resources.

For additional resources and information on Walking Together, visit www.teachers.ab.ca. www.teachers.ab.ca walkingtogetherata @ATAindigenous

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