Who are we?
We are a small group of Indigenous child welfare survivors based in Ottawa, ON, Canada who are dedicated to re-connecting to culture through ceremony, healing and building community with other survivors.
We also recognized the need to raise the national awareness through educational workshops, media about the 60’s Scoop providing historical context, lived experience and guided by cultural teachings.
Since our first gathering in 2014, the “Network” has been involved in a number of initiatives, focusing on issues related to Indigenous child removal policies both past and present.
Our first gathering began with the simple desire to gather with other 60’s scoop survivors here in Ottawa which grew into a national gathering of survivors coming from all over to collectively gather in Ottawa. That first gathering was the catalyst for the subsequent three gatherings that followed that included ceremonies, cultural workshops, entertainment evenings with local Indigenous artists and for many lasting friendships and a community of 60’s Scoop survivors who have stayed connected throughout the years. Since the first gathering there have been many other groups that have accomplished their own gatherings, provincial apologies and initiatives in their home territories!
We have raised awareness about the 60 Scoop at the national and International level through social media, television, radio and news interviews and will continue to create dialogue at every opportunity with partners and support such as Amnesty International, Dr. Raven Sinclairs Pekiwewin Project, KAIROS, and local unions Canadian Union of Public Employees, Public Service Alliance of Canada.
The Network advised in the creation of Bi-giwen - Truth-telling from the Sixties Scoop by the Legacy of Hope Foundation and helped find survivors who were willing to share their stories to be apart of the exhibition project.