Welcome to the Sixties Scoop Network

The 60s Scoop is a relatively unheard-of phenomenon that occurred in the late 1950’s to early 1980’s. It took place behind the closed doors of child welfare agencies following on the residential schools Indigenous child removal policies in Canada.

Over 22,500 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children were apprehended, solicited and trafficked across provinces, borders and overseas by social workers, churches, and adoption agencies. This was hailed as a benevolent practice by provincial and federal governments.

Thousands of Indigenous children grew up in non-Indigenous households losing their vital connection to language, ceremonies, kinships, identity and connection to their traditional land.

We are not the Sixties Scoop Foundation, please visit their page at:

https://www.sixtiesscoophealingfoundation.ca/

A series of interviews with

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. 


Sharing our stories, creating lasting friendships and building community globally for Sixties Scoop survivors.