“I encourage all those impacted by the Scoop to complete our survey.” – Grand Chief Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2024
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — Today, following the completion of the Finding our Spirits Gathering for Sixties Scoop Survivors, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) launched a survey for First Nations citizens impacted by the Sixties Scoop.
“The Southern Chiefs’ Organization provides programming to support those who have survived the Sixties Scoop,” stated SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “As we acknowledge the systemic harm and generational trauma that was caused by the Sixties Scoop, SCO wants to hear from those who have been impacted about how we can provide the best possible support to Survivors and intergenerational Survivors.”
The Sixties Scoop, also known as “The Scoop,” was a period in which a series of federal and provincial policies were enacted in Canada that enabled child welfare authorities to take thousands of First Nation children from their families and Nations for placement in foster and adoptive homes. This was based on the racist ideology that First Nation families were not qualified to raise their own children. In many cases, the “scooped” children were adopted by non-Indigenous families. The removal of First Nations children during the Sixties Scoop took place mostly in the 1960s.
“This survey builds on SCO’s recent education and awareness campaign called ‘Stronger Than the Scoop,’ which focused on honouring and caring for Survivors of the Sixties Scoop and their families,” said Grand Chief Daniels. “We know that people are trying to recover and come to grips with the impacts of the Sixties Scoop. I want to thank all Survivors in advance for sharing their input and guidance with us by completing our survey.”
SCO’s survey has 10 to 15 questions and should take not more than 15 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary. SCO is not collecting identifying information as part of this survey and all responses are confidential.
Similar to the residential and day school systems, the Sixties Scoop was another method used by colonial governments intent on removing First Nation children from their families, and eradicating First Nations cultures and traditions. By forcing First Nation children to live with non-First Nation families, those cultural and ancestral ties were often destroyed.
SCO is continuing to focus efforts on Survivors from our member Nations. This includes co-hosting the Finding our Spirits Gathering in Winnipeg earlier this week, which brought together more than 300 Survivors from across Turtle Island, including the United Kingdom, United States, and across Canada. SCO’s current programs and services that are geared towards Survivors of The Scoop include our Pathways to Healing Program. Survivors can find further details about the Pathways Program and others, including our Traditional Healers Program, on our website.
“I am pleased to know Sixties Scoop Survivors and their family members, from across Turtle Island and the world, had the opportunity to come together in Treaty One Territory for the Finding our Spirits Gathering. These kinds of gatherings contribute to the healing that we need to do as individuals, families, communities, and Nations. Healing is essential to the progress we want to make as First Nations people. This new survey for those impacted by the Sixties Scoop will help provide direction to SCO on further healing efforts that are needed,” concluded Chief Cornell McLean of the Lake Manitoba First Nation.
For anyone who is experiencing difficult emotions due to completing the survey may contact the Hope for Wellness Hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or www.hopeforwellness.ca (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
The survey for those impacted by the Sixties Scoop is online until June 10, 2024. Those who wish to complete the survey can find it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SixtiesScoop
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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 87,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.
For media inquiries:
Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca