“We are committed to honouring Survivors of the Sixties Scoop.”
– Grand Chief Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2023
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — Today, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is launching a call for citizens to join our 60s Scoop Survivors Advisory Circle and announcing events for 60s Scoop Survivors.
“The Southern Chiefs’ Organization recognizes the need to provide responsive services and increased supports for 60s Scoop Survivors,” said SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “Like Survivors of residential and day schools, our 60s Scoop relatives and their families deserve to have their truths known and have access to effective healing services. Today, we are pleased to invite Survivors of the Scoop to attend both our upcoming coffee and bannock event and to become part of our 60s Scoop Survivors Advisory Circle.”
Survivors of the 60s Scoop are invited to attend our in-person meet and greet to enjoy coffee and bannock on Sunday, September 10, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place at 90 Sinclair Street in Winnipeg.
This time together will serve as a safe place for Survivors to be with others who understand their experiences. An Elder and emotional supports will be at the event, and bus tickets will be available for participants who may need them.
SCO will also hold a virtual 60s Scoop sharing circle on Thursday, September 21 from 6 to 8 pm. Survivors who would like to attend can email us at pathwayshealing@scoinc.mb.ca to receive a Zoom link to attend virtually.
Survivors of the 60s Scoop are also welcome to register for our upcoming beading workshop, where participants can learn to bead a moccasin pin. The workshop takes place on September 22, 2023, from 10 am to 2 pm at our SCO office at 105-1555 St. James Street in Winnipeg. To register, email pathwayshealing@scoinc.mb.ca or call (204) 946-1869, extension 106.
“As a Survivor of the 60s Scoop, I am pleased and proud to see SCO deliver events where Survivors can meet others who have gone through similar experiences,” stated Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon Bluesky. “Survivors need a place where we can connect. These events, along with the establishment of a 60s Scoop Survivors Advisory Circle, will create opportunities for our citizens to meet other Survivors, listen, learn, and share their experiences as well.”
The goal of the circle is to represent the voices of 60s Scoop Survivors from SCO member Nations. The circle will make recommendations and will give insight to help develop new healing activities and initiatives in SCO Nations and in urban areas as well.
The 60s Scoop refers to when the federal and provincial governments systematically apprehended and placed Indigenous children with non-Indigenous families. The children were placed in long-term foster care or were adopted, including some out of the country. This was largely due to the closing of residential schools as well as an amendment to the Indian Act in 1951 that gave jurisdiction of Indigenous child welfare to provinces. It was a country-wide phenomenon that continued the legacy of the residential school system—forced assimilation of the First Nations child.
Survivors of the 60s Scoop had a myriad of experiences in the homes in which they were placed. Some experienced psychological, physical, and/or sexual abuse, while the majority experienced the trauma of being separated from their families and loss of culture and language. Each experience is unique. While there have been attempts to rectify the damage done through reunification programs starting in the 1980s, not all 60s Scoop Survivors have made it home or have been able to reconnect with their families, Nations, and cultures.
“Due to the individualistic manner of the 60s Scoop, many of our Survivors feel isolated that that the experiences they have survived are not widely recognized,” added Grand Chief Daniels. “My sincere hope is that the creation of this special Advisory Circle will help shed more light on this dark time in Canadian history while helping SCO to create and deliver culturally appropriate supports for our Survivors, including traditional healing.”
SCO invites southern First Nation 60s Scoop Survivors to put their name forward for the Advisory Circle. The deadline to express interest is Friday, September 22, 2023, and a form can be found here: https://forms.gle/ZxkCQZgS9ARM9hcVA or call (204) 946-1869, extension 106.
For full details and to learn more the Pathways to Healing Program, visit https://scoinc.mb.ca/pathways-healing-program/
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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 85,500 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
