The Sixties Scoop
a parallel program to the Indian residential school systems
Over 25,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children were apprehended and permanently displaced through child welfare systems (Children's Aid Society, AIM (Adopt and Indian/Métis) during what has become known as the "Sixties Scoop". This number is likely much higher because records of the infants and children were destroyed/edited and incomplete. Many children who are now adults still do not know their true identity. It is likely that the numbers equal those of Indian residential schools solely because it was more a easily hidden activity taking place in hospitals (Indian wards) at the time of birth.
The practice of forcedly (or coercively) removing infants and small children from their mothers and placing them in foster care was a program that aligned with the Indian residential schools. The program could increase the number of children captured as it included new born infants from hospitals and not just school-aged children. This elevated the number of Indian children who would be appropriated into mainstream white culture thus decreasing the population of the Indian race in north america (cultural genocide).
Although the name 'Sixties Scoop' references the 1960s, these removals continued into the 1980s and even today Indigenous children are over-represented in the child welfare system.
Survivors report their engagement with other adult survivors gatherings have told their stories of being purchased for child labour (farm and domestic workers), being removed at birth in hospitals, being adopted, entire childhoods moving from foster home to foster home, severe abuse, childhood abandonment and homelessness. In adulthood most face lifelong battles with identity resulting in substance abuse and disturbingly high suicide rates.
I am surviving.
The true story is that it took me 18 years to find my grandmother, mother and brothers, 18 more to find my auntie, uncle and cousins. They are all gone now. I try to belong to my community, but so much damage has been done there that trusting people who come home is not easy. But I show up anyway and I do the hard work to contribute in whatever capacity they allow. But I know my name is Iehstoseranon:nha and I am very lucky - so many of us never found our way home. So many were displaced, they lived from foster home to the next and survived many abuses including torture, human trafficking and slavery. So many still suffer from raging abandonment issues, depression and addiction. Many have taken their own lives and many of us are still dying.
I am lucky, I am Iehstoseranon:nha and I protect and keep the feathers.
The Sixties Scoop repercussions are vastly underestimated. Children were sold in newspaper ads (AIM Program) and purchased by families for a few dollars. Boys worked on farms and girls helped with domestic chores. The church and social services had native women wards in hospitals and they told women their children died or coerced them into signing adoption papers. In this time, many women were also sterilized against their will - leaving them unable to have children.
You can learn more and advocate for the sacredness of parent and childhood. Every Child Matters. We matter. You matter. They matter.
Some attention came to the Sixties Scoop from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. https://nctr.ca/60s-scoop-inquiry/
The Sixties Scoop Settlement is an $875-million agreement that compensated Status Indian and Inuit children who were removed from their homes and adopted by non-Indigenous families. The claims administration process has largely concluded, with approved claimants receiving a total one-time compensation of $25,000. There were 21,214 approved claimants (I am an approved claimant) and 13,600 denied claims.
Sixties Scoop Settlement
Total $875,000,000 was awarded in 2017.
$50,000,000 (fifty million $) For Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation. The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada is an independent, charitable organization created to support survivors and their descendants.
$75,000,000 (75 million $) in legal fees were paid. Wilson-Christen LLP (in parnership with Morris Cooper) received $37.5 million. Koskie Minsky LLP, Merchant Law Group, Klein Lawyers were paid $12.5 million each.
Survivors were capped at $25,000 each and our final $4000 came August 2022.
Do you need help?
If you hold an Indian Status Card, you are the recipient of Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program and have coverage for a range of medically necessary health benefits including counselling services.
To find a provider near you that accepts NIHB insurance, visit this link to Psychology Today and type in your location.
and type in your location. The results will link you to local resources.
If you do not have a status card, you can apply.
For more information, click this link: Status Indians in Canada
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis please refer to: Hope for Wellness https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ or call 1 855 242 3310
Alberta
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society (Edmonton) – Programs and services range from youth employment/social and comprehensive family services to supported referrals and soup and bannock lunches.
1-780-481-3451
Facebook
Native Counselling Services of Alberta – Native Counselling Services of Alberta’s mission is to promote the resilience of the Indigenous individual and family, through programs and services that are grounded in reclaiming our interconnectedness, reconciliation of relationships, and self-determination.
Open Alberta Guide to Indigenous Services – Comprehensive list of all services in Alberta. Includes specific contacts for each nation, educational, business, and community services.
British Columbia
KUU-US Crisis Line Society – Provides a First Nations and Indigenous-specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia. The KUU-US Crisis Line Society also provides a number of local services in the Port Alberni area including the Survivor of Suicide Peer Support Group, Housing Registry, and the A.H.O.P.E Program.
1-800-588-8717 (toll-free)
Youth Line: 250-723-2040
Adult Line: 250-723-4050
Native Youth Crisis Hotline – Answered by staff 24/7. Available throughout Canada and US.
1-877-209-1266
Métis Crisis Line – A service of Métis Nation British Columbia.
1-833-MétisBC (1-833-638-4722)
Greater Vancouver Native Cultural Society Two Spirit Group – A Two-Spirit support group on Facebook supported by the Vancouver Native Cultural Society.
Manitoba
Natawiwewak Medical Clinic – Serves Winnipeg residents from Bunibonibee, Chemawawin, God’s Lake, and Manto Sipi. Connect with the Mental Wellness Team.
204-417-8877
Keewatin Tribal Council – serves Barren Lands, Bunibonibee, Fox Lake, God’s Lake, Manto Sipi, Northlands, Sayisi Dene, Shamattawa, Tataskweyak, War Lake, and York Factory.
Crisis On-Call: 204-307-1905 or 204-307-0118
KTC Mental Wellness Team: 204-677-7410
Opaskwayak Health Authority (OHA) – The Mental Wellness Team consists of five counselors, including OHA counselors who are available via telephone to provide follow-up care with clients, and Opioid Replacement Therapy physician clinics who are available via Telehealth on the regularly scheduled dates.
204-627-7410
Crisis Line after hours: 204-623-0519
Additional Indigenous-Centered Healing Supports
New Brunswick
Pabineau First Nation – Mi’kmaq – mental health clinicians are available 3 days a week.
506-547-4204
Facebook
Ugpi’Ganjig – Eel River Bar First Nation
506-684-5002
Madawaska Maliseet First Nation
506-739-9765
Under One Sky Friendship Centre
506-458-9269
Newfoundland and Labrador
Shanawdithit, St. John’s Native Friendship Centre
709-726-5902
Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation (Social Health Department) – The Social Health Department is essentially responsible for the Mental Health and Addictions programming and service delivery, this includes referrals and counseling.
709-497-8522
social_health@sheshatshiu.ca
Nova Scotia
Eskasoni Mental Health Services/Crisis and Referral Center Main Office – Eskasoni Mental Health Services (EMHS) provides a wide range of services to the Mi’kmaq people of Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The Tui’kn Residential School Survivor Team provides services to all 5 Unama’ki (Cape Breton) communities.
Crisis: 1-855-379-2099 (Toll-Free)
Main Phone: 902-379-2099
Native Council of Nova Scotia (Native Social Counselling Agency) – Assists off-reserve Indigenous clients facing social problems and conditions, with confidential support referral services.
1-902-895-1738
Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq (Mental Wellness Team) – Provides case management and service navigation for First Nations persons of all ages seeking mental wellness services.
902-539-4107
Alsusuti Aboriginal Crisis & Counselling Services – (M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm) Offers mental health support and counseling services to aboriginals by aboriginals.
(844) 694-1382
Ontario
Talk4Healing – A culturally grounded, fully confidential helpline for Indigenous women available in 14 languages all across Ontario.
1-855-554-HEAL
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health – Crisis support available by appointment or walk-in for crisis support, 5 days per week.
613-748-0657
Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre
705-534-3724
Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services
807-271-0194
Native Child and Family Services Toronto
416-969-8510
You may also want to try this list from the Government of Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI –The Health program manages a wide range of programs and services designed to support the health and wellbeing of Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nation members living on-reserve, including Health Policy; Jordan’s Principle program; Indian Residential School program; and Health Promotion.
Director of Health, Roseanne Sark at rsark@mcpei.ca or 902-438-2117
Quebec
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Health Center
819-449-5593/4
Native Friendship Center of Montreal – The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal Inc. (NFCM) is collaborating with Indigenous Services Canada to continue providing emotional and cultural support services to former Indian Residential School (IRS) students and their families before, during, and after participation in Settlement Agreement (SA) processes, including Common Experience Payments (CEP) and the Independent Assessment Process (IAP), as well as those who participated in Truth and Reconciliation Commission events and Commemoration activities.
Emotional Support workers or Cultural Support Provider (traditional healer) – (514) 499-1854
Saskatchewan
Native Health Services (Native Health Centres at the Pasqua and Regina General Hospitals) – Responds to clients with an awareness of cultural and spiritual diversity, and is able to provide an alternative for clients seeking traditional First Nations and Métis approaches to health care.
Regina General Hospital: 306-766-4155
Pasqua Hospital: 306-766-2232
Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre (SIMFC) –Supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultural distinctiveness by providing community development services that holistically support all ages.
306-244-0174
The Circle Project – Lifestyles and Counselling Program
306-347-7515
Facebook
Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) – Grief and loss counseling.
306-975-9999
Yukon
The Shadhäla Äshèyi yè Kwädän (Champagne and Aishihik First Nations or CAFN), DÄN TSʼÄN NÄNNJI (Community Wellness Department) – A self-governing First Nation located in the Yukon Territory and northwest British Columbia, Canada. CAFN provides weekend on-call support from 5:00 pm on Friday – 8:30 pm on Monday.
Emergency Line: 867-333-4477
Not Specific to Provincial Location
Indian Residential School Crisis Line – A national service for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience.
1-866-925-4419 (Toll-free)
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line – The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counseling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Service is available in Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut, English and French. Callers may ask about the availability of services in the language of their choice. (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
1-855-242-3310
Healing in Color – A directory of therapy and support services to support the healing and liberation for BIPOC.
Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)
1-800-721-0066 (toll-free)