Reflections on Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta: What Was Lost
On July 19th 2022, The Sixties Scoop Society of Alberta met with participants at Allendale Community League Hall for a full day workshop. The morning began with the group sharing what SSISA was about. It was explained that the entire board of directors are Sixties Scoop Survivors and that their mandate is to support, advocate and educate others for all sixties scoop survivors in Turtle Island.
They were the front runners for working with the NDP Leader, Rachel Notely and Richard Feehan (Indigenous Services Minister) to provide the official apology which took place on May 28, 2018 at the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton, Alberta. They concluded their information session speaking about the exhibition they created through a collaboration with “The Legacy of Hope Foundation” called Bi-Giwen: Coming Home-Truth Telling from the Sixties Scoop.
This exhibition recently was taken around much of British Columbia (BC). Many people came to view it and SSISA was able to make connections with several 60s scoop survivors in the province. SSISA has also been working with The British Columbia government in the creation of SSIBC which began this summer of 2022.
After a nutritious lunch, laughs and great conversation it was time for SSISA to revive their workshop, “What was Lost” which consisted of a floor map exercise of Turtle Island with various small towns, Indigenous communities and cities. Approximately, 10 participants were handed folders that they read aloud. Each one contained lived experiences from a 60s scoop survivor, some being confidential and others revealed their true identity. The idea stemming from this exercise was to put the participants into the shoes of the 60s scoop survivors and for them to understand and connect to how it felt to not have a stable home, security, protection from others wanting to do harm and the many precious things such as innocence that was forcibly taken from infants, and young children.
The participants were met with emotions, tears, some were shocked that this had taken place in a country that is made to be the place of freedom and a safe place to raise their children. Others were aware of what the 60s scoop were although did not realize the extent of what this era did to the people involved and how what was experienced will stay with the survivors for the rest of their lives. Some expressed that they were ashamed that this took place and could not imagine this happening to their own children.
Before, during and after this workshop the facilitators expressed that they were here for the participants, they handed out tissues, burned Sage and held a healing circle before the workshop concluded for the day.
To learn more about SSISA and the work they do, please visit: https://www.ssisa.ca
Reflections from the Participants:
“This was such an amazing day for me as both or my worlds were connecting and it was so wonderful to see. When I introduce myself as a 60s scoop survivor many people do not understand what that means and are taking the time to ask me questions. I wish that the Federal Government would allow an Inquiry to take place in order for the public to be informed about how 20,000+ Indigenous Children were kidnapped and adopted out to non-Indigenous families where they were molested, physically, emotionally and mentally abused. Safety, stability and security were not given to many of these children, as adults many are displaced from their culture, biological families and communities. It is important for SSISA to continue to advocate for myself and all of the other 60s scoopers and this was a first step to a long lasting partnership with JHC that I am honored to be a part of.”
“Learning about hard realities is never easy… it was a hard session. As a mother, I don’t want to think about my child being abducted by the government and being put up for adoption. That would devastate me, it would destroy my life and my children’s. No one in the world would be able to love my child and care for him as much as I do. That’s what happened to the victims of the Sixties Scoop, families were destroyed. This is something that could have happened to my mother, it could have happened to my husband. This issue is still happening today with the Child and Welfare System, they are still taking away children from their families…
I learned that more than 120,000 children were taken away from their families, only 20,000 of them survived. What happened to the rest of them? How is it possible that as child as young as 5 years old has suicidal thoughts and no one was responsible for them, they dindn’t get the help they needed.
When I think about how many people have been affected by the sixties scoop and how many life have been loss, I think about genocide; it didn’t stop with residential schools.
The session was delivered by people with lived experience and I felt that it was more powerful because of it.”
“Having SSISA come to do a session with the JHC and Righting Relations team was important to me because while I understand Canada is just starting to grapple with the history of Indian Residential Schools and while this is very critical, one concern is that it keeps the history of genocide in the past. When we start to look at the 60s scoop, as a new manifestation of genocide, and consider how it continues to manifest and happen today through child welfare, we need a strong group of people ready to educate and hold space for Canadians. This history gets harder and we are only beginning to unravel. Indian Hospitals are going to be another big hit.
SSISA did a fantastic job at building this workshop. It was impactful and emotional. The process was thoughtful and thorough. I did wonder how to activate the storytelling a bit more and use the map space more but it was effective regardless.
This was a great opportunity as well to build our relations with SSISA and understand them as an organization and how we can support them in providing that leadership needed to push the margins on this issue across the country. Having Michele from Ottawa come and be part gave her a sense of belonging and validation which I know is needed. It was heavy and hard but in debriefing with her, she was starting to understand how she numbs herself to the pain and disconnects. Our Board member Bill as well, I hope it gave him a sense of being seen and being an important part of our team. “
“The SSISA session that we had with our JHC team was very impactful. We were honored enough to have many 60’s scoop survivors present and engaged in the process with us which made the experience more wholesome and of course intense. The session, although uncomfortable at times, was set in a manner where the emotions and uncomfort was grounded and set appropriately so that it served to strengthen the dialogue and the intention of the session. The most emotional aspect for me, and I am sure many others, was the interactive activity that had us engage with what displacement of home and family looked like for 60’s scoop children as we read firsthand narrative accounts. As someone who is blessed to be expecting a child myself, this activity really was hard to grapple with emotionally. I am grateful to the facilitators, whom are survivors themselves, for offering the moments of healing and comfort when needed to move forward with the activity. It was humbling.
Regardless of your knowledge level and awareness of the 60’s scoop, there is learning to be found for everyone here and I am honoured to have been able to participate in it. It motivates me as both a settler here and a human being on this earth to do and know better. “
“This was one of the most amazing training experiences I’ve ever had. I had done Indigenous Awareness training in the past but this was not covered. My work with JHC has given me opportunities to learn more about Indigenous History and culture, but this day with SSISA brought new teachings and these were brought to life. Being taught by survivors of the Sixties Scoop gives it much more meaning and tangibility and I was also thankful it could be done in person, where you are face to face with Survivors rather than listening to someone over Zoom do a PowerPoint.
I appreciated the circle process of checking in, ensuring equality in voice and voicing our thoughts and intentions of the day, and also grateful to Michelle for leading us in song and thanks for a beautiful day to be blessed with to start the training. The setting was also beautiful, with lots of green space and chances to take breaks to walk and decompress from some of the heaviness throughout the day.
The first half of the training was incredibly informative and while I had some knowledge of the Sixties Scoop, I did not realise it had spanned nearly 4 decades. This was a much more in-depth and also the videos helped us hear the impacts for both Survivors and their family members who lost their children and grandchildren. Many have struggled to find and reconnect with lost siblings, lost parents, lost family members who they were torn away from. Many have suffered traumatic and psychological effects including PTSD, anxiety, depression caused by the emotional trauma of being torn away from everything and everyone they loved, and the emotional, physical and sexual abuse many experienced once in foster or adoptive homes. Most if not all were relocated to places far from home, with little or no contact with their loved ones for years, even decades.
During some of the discussions, it was interesting to hear some of the ongoing political and reparation challenges as well. For instance, I had no clue that almost 130,000 children were removed from their homes and families during this time. Much like the Residential schools, many died in care or died later as they struggled with the abuse, lack of love and security and trauma they had experienced. Only around 20,000 Survivors are left who have sought compensation. In the end, a lawsuit was won, and Survivors got about $25,000. However, this has been taxed by lawyers, and many were put through more emotional trauma by having to create their “case” and explain WHY they deserved the money?!?! And then a numerical value was placed on their trauma - “Oh, you were sexually abused - that amounts to this $ amount”. WHAT THE HELL - to me that is atrocious. To make Survivors relive their trauma just to be compensated monetarily. Is it not enough that we removed these children and destroyed homes and families? It sounds like an insurance claim - “Oh, you lost a leg, you are eligible to this much”. It just sounded so impartial and inhumane and detached. It does not do justice to them to put them through more trauma and does not help with healing and reconciliation.
Another important piece that I felt was important was the apology issued by former Premier, Rachel Notley in May 2018. It was a powerful apology and I was brought to tears. It seemed heartfelt and was a huge historical moment. I was pleased to hear that Survivors had been heavily involved in consultation and forming that apology and that their voices were heard. It was highlighted that Notley stated “I am sorry, We are Sorry” - it felt much more personal and was wording that specifically was designed by Indigenous voices. A historical moment and date all should know. I appreciated the conversation from Survivors after, from those that were there, and some reflections of that day - one thing that was pointed out was the applause. At the end the room applauded, and one Survivor did not feel it was right given the tone of the room. It would have been better to end with a minute of silence for all Survivors who were no longer there, or drumming. Would have made it more powerful - I agree. The other videos were also very powerful, even featuring one of the facilitators, and I appreciated him sharing part of his story with us. To be standing next to these people who are willing to share their stories, feelings and trauma to share and ensure Truths are told and healing can occur, I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
The afternoon was spent in circle recounting stories of Survivors who were kind enough and brave to share their stories with us. This was to help bring these experiences to life and deepen the teaching. I will admit, this scared me. I do not enjoy showing tears or getting emotional. But it is important to open your eyes and open your hearts and the facilitators encouraged us to be brave and to listen fully and embrace the experience to honour those Survivors who were brave as well to share their lives and words with us. The first story is one that is more publicly known - this Survivor eventually lost his will to live due to the trauma endured and ended his life - while powerful, there was some discussion that it was sad that his image continues to be put on display. I would hope that all Survivors who choose to share their words and stories are honored and that its intention is to help with healing, sharing truths and working towards reconciliation, and not dishonor them.
The stories are hard, and heavy. They talk of being taken from loving families, with no way to stay connected with them or their communities. Many of the stories talked about their parents being forced to give up their newborn as they were convinced they were unable to properly care for them or coerced that the children would be given good lives. Others were removed for issues in the home like alcoholism - often this kind of substance abuse was in the home because these family members were survivors of Residential Schools and were unable to process their trauma and turned to this for a coping method. It was not their fault. Rather than be provided help and healing, they suffered the same loss as their ancestors by losing their children, too. I’ve known white families who had alcoholism in the home, and their children continued to stay in the home. This was an assault on Indigenous communities with “authorities” finding a reason to continue to remove Indigenous children and attempting to assimilate them, continuing to destroy families and suppress the lives and culture of Indigenous Peoples. Losing their culture, their innocence, their sense of self, their sense of security, their language, and facing emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, slave labour, starvation, homelessness, and discrimination. Being unable to process their trauma or seek help, leading many to suicidal ideation or attempts, alcohol or drug abuse, and intergenerational trauma affecting their children. The cycle has continued.
It was hard to hear, but not as hard as living it, which I cannot imagine and would not wish on any person. Many were triggered as they themselves have children too, and could not imagine losing them in this way. I was the last to speak, and honestly was terrified. I am white, and have felt much shame and guilt for being so, for knowing that there were people capable of thinking this was a good thing, capable of such hate and wrongdoing. Capable of thinking this was acceptable, positive action and that they had any right to do this to others. I also have family members who are racist, continuing to keep their eyes and hearts closed, and I feel shame that I still love them despite the hate in their hearts. I was brought to tears many times. The Survivor whose story I shared was apprehended at just 8 months old. She experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and struggled to find her birth family and siblings. Many of her siblings struggled with homelessness and substance abuse. It was a powerful and heavy story, and I tried my best to honour her words. I greatly appreciated the smudge stick that was lit multiple times during our readings, as the scent of sage gave me strength and calming to continue. After hearing the stories, we reflected quietly outdoors in the sunshine and strove to let the words sink in. For me, I thought about how lucky I have been to experience such love and support of my family, of my community, and for how I have had a place to belong in Canada, when so many do not, simply because of their skin and culture. It is horrifying. It is sad. It is oppressive and wrong on so many levels. And I hope, sincerely, one day we can all stand equally, together, side by side as we are meant to. I felt both deep guilt, shame, sorrow, and felt I too, must say, I am sorry, for my own blindness to these events and to all who have suffered. But also so much gratitude for this day, and this experience.
Where there is darkness, there is light and strength as well. I’m proud of the Survivors, that despite all they have suffered, many have strove to reconnect with family members (which has been a huge challenge in itself), have tried to rebuild themselves, sought healing and ways to reconnect with their culture. Many feel like outsiders who can no longer quite fit into their own community, and yet also cannot be fully accepted into the White world. But in some ways, they see a strength of walking in both worlds, and hope that they can be Connectors as they have the insight and perspective of both. May they be recognized for this as I think it’s an important insight and very true. Many continue to help others, whether it be their fellow family members who were also taken, their communities, band members, or fellow Survivors. They continue to push for reconciliation, healing, justice and truth with the political parties and the White community.
SSISA has worked hard over the years to create a space for supporting Survivors and to push for reconciliation and a formal apology from the political leaders of Alberta. They are also supporting many others across Canada to pursue this journey of healing and justice. I was so proud to be able to be part of this day and receive these teachings and hear the words of Survivors. I am thankful to Michelle for her beautiful songs, for the strength of those Survivors who were present with us, and for the bravery of those who spoke their truths and experiences. Everyone, EVERYONE should experience this opportunity if they wish to truly understand the impacts of the Sixties Scoop. My sincere gratitude to SSISA for their continued work and for providing this opportunity to our group. It was incredibly powerful.”