Kids & the Hidden Truth
The Nations 60’s Scoop: Kids and the Hidden Truth the Government Doesn’t Want You to Know About From the 1860’s to the mid 1950’s Indian Nations’ children across Canada and the United States were taken away from their families, Nations and Traditions forcibly put into residential schools with one intention: to get rid of the Indian in the child. However, there is yet another unspoken tragedy which has yet to be released to the public and world media: the 60’s and 70’s scoop kids of the Nations. When the governments of both the United States of America and Canada realized they couldn’t achieve what they wanted via the residential school system - to get rid of the Indian in the child - they came up with another solution. “ADOPTION” Many of the Nations' children were scooped up by The Children’s Aid Society which even today is a privately run institution funded by grants from the government. The exact figures are unknown but it is estimated that up to 85% of the Nations’ children during this period were scooped up and put into non-native homes under the guise of accusations or issues around poverty / alcoholism / broken family units / single parenthood. Many of these adoptions were illegal or in fact, black market babies. These adoptions went on well into the 1970’s and have progressed into fostering again into non-native homes. What was the result of these adoptions of the Nations’children into non-native homes? Some studies have been done, mostly by 60’s scoop kids returning…those whose non-native families told them where they came from. Stories abound of displacement, not knowing whom they belong to, wanting to re-unite with their Nations’ family and culture but not knowing where to start or whom to trust. Many of the 60’s & 70’s scoop kids live abroad throughout the world and have no idea what resources are available for help; they are like Ghost Children, wandering aimlessly, searching to find out who they are and who they belong to. In many provinces and states adoption records are closed. Many of the Nations when approached for help by these now adult children, don’t know how to help them. There are no counseling facilities available or in some cases, even cultural teachings. These 60’s and 70’s scoop kids are quickly reaching what would be in normal circumstances “Elder” or “Senior” status within their own respective Nations. They have a wealth of knowledge which could be passed on to the next 7 Generations. All this, is being lost. Indian Affairs in Ottawa, Canada, has a backlog of 2-4 years regarding opening adoption files before they will even conduct research to determine if an adopted 60’s or 70’s scoop kid is entitled to status. Many of these will be turned down due to the fact many of the adoptions in the 60’s and 70’s were recorded as being “White” or “French” or “Black.” The 60’s and 70’s scoop kids are helping each other, sharing their stories either on-line or face to face. They are also setting up their own resources with the realization that the respective governments on both sides of the border will take many years, if ever, to recognize or acknowledge this horrendous strike against the Nations’ children. It will shock many of you to know this is still happening today in the year 2010. Isn’t it way past time to stop it? If you know or are a Native Adoptee wanting to return but too scared, or want to know others like you, you are more than welcome to contact me and I will put you in touch with others like us. The same goes for the Nations’ foster kids out there!!!!! Or if you just want to help and are not an Adoptee you are also more than welcome to contact me. The majority of returnee adoptees do not want compensation, all they want is to be recognized for who they are and to come home, some from many thousands of miles away.
~ Linda Lou Flewin
Horrific details have been released over the past 10 years as to what happened in these residential schools: beatings, rape and murder, with mass hidden graves of children now being found. This has resulted in compensation to families, an official apology from the Canadian Government, plus a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (http://www.trc.ca).
For More Information:
http://archives.cbc.ca/society/education/topics/692/
http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/VoicesoftheCanadianHolocaust/tabid/57/Default.aspx
http://www.hiddenfromhistory.org/VoicesoftheCanadianHolocaust/tabid/57/Default.aspx
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