The Sixties Scoop
The Sixties Scoop refers to a period in Canadian history, roughly from the 1950s to the 1980s, during which thousands of Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families by child welfare services and placed into predominantly non-Indigenous foster homes or adopted by non-Indigenous families. This practice was part of a broader policy aimed at assimilating Indigenous people into mainstream Canadian society. The children, often taken without the consent of their families, lost their cultural identities and connections to their communities, facing significant emotional and psychological trauma. The term "Sixties Scoop" was coined by social worker Patrick Johnston in his 1983 report "Native Children and the Child Welfare System". The impact of the Sixties Scoop has been profound, leading to lasting repercussions on the affected individuals and their descendants. In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the injustices committed, prompting legal actions, settlements, and public apologies aimed at addressing the harms caused.
Timeline of Major Events
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1950s-1980s: Thousands of Indigenous children were removed from their families by child welfare authorities.
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1960s: The practice of placing Indigenous children in non-Indigenous homes becomes widespread.
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1983: Patrick Johnston publishes "Native Children and the Child Welfare System," coining the term "Sixties Scoop".
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1990: Survivors begin to speak out, raising awareness about their experiences.
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2008: Prime Minister Stephen Harper issues a formal apology for the residential school system, indirectly acknowledging the broader policies of assimilation, including the Sixties Scoop.
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2017: A national class-action settlement is announced, providing compensation to survivors of the Sixties Scoop.
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2018: Canadian government reaches a $750 million settlement with Sixties Scoop survivors, including a $50 million Indigenous Healing Foundation.
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2020: Manitoba becomes the first province to formally apologize to Sixties Scoop survivors.
Settlements, Agreements & Apoligies
The Canadian government and various provinces have taken steps to acknowledge and compensate for the harms caused by the Sixties Scoop. In 2017, a landmark national class-action settlement was reached, providing $750 million in compensation to survivors, with individual payouts ranging between $25,000 and $50,000. Additionally, the settlement included the establishment of a $50 million Indigenous Healing Foundation to support healing and reconciliation efforts. In 2018, the federal government formalized this settlement, marking a significant recognition of the injustices faced by the survivors. Various provinces have also issued formal apologies; Manitoba was the first to do so in 2020, acknowledging the province's role in the Sixties Scoop and committing to supporting reconciliation initiatives. Further apologies and settlements are expected as more survivors come forward and as public awareness continues to grow. These measures, while important, represent steps in a long journey towards healing and justice for the affected Indigenous communities.
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