Survivors of the Sixties Scoop adoption process will be gathering for the second time in North Battleford for a sharing circle.
Robert Doucette of the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Saskatchewan says the first event in Meadow Lake a success, as it allowed some survivors for the first time to share their experience of the adoption process.
“This sharing circle, this first one, was the first opportunity for Sixties Scoop survivors to show up, to tell their story, to have somebody listen and at some point act on what they are actually saying to the participants in the sharing circle,” Doucette said. “With a lot of the stories being shared they’re [survivors] not alone. The path that they have journeyed and the common experiences that they have are a lot of the same experiences that most of the other survivors have experienced in their lifetime.”
In the 1960’s and 70’s the province participated in the adoption process of removing Indigenous children from their homes and placing them in non-native families. Doucette says it was during this time that many Indigenous children were stripped of the language and culture.
“A lot have lost their language and culture, lost connection to their family. They were not accepted back to their own home community. They felt like they were betraying their foster family,” Doucette explained.
The Society has until the end of November to submit is final report of stories shared to the Premier’s office as information to assist an apology from the province. “We remain committed to providing a public apology, at an appropriate time and location, to those affected by the Sixties Scoop,” said Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs Warren Kaeding.
It is expected the apology could come in December or January. Further sharing circles will be taking place in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Fort Qu’Appelle and Regina.
(PHOTO: A group of Sixties Scoop survivors with Deputy Premier Gord Wyant and First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Warren Kaeding. Photo provided by Robert Doucette.)