The Sixties Scoop shattered Indigenous families across Canada by taking children from their parents and placing them in the foster care system.
Through the legal settlement with the federal government, $50 million is being put towards the creation of a new foundation for survivors.
Conrad Prince is leading the engagement process with survivors across Canada.
“As Sixties Scoop survivors, we were displaced not only across Canada but across the world,” he said in a statement. “Our hope is that this online platform not only helps us reach survivors who are geographically diverse, but also those who may simply feel more comfortable participating in this way. Everyone is in a different place in their healing journey. As much as possible, we want to meet people where they are.”
Prince is referring to a new online survey for survivors to give feedback to help shape the foundation.
Prince is a Sixties Scoop survivor himself. Along with fellow survivor, Dr. Raven Sinclair, as well as Kenn Richard, the executive director of the Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, the three are leading engagement sessions with survivors across the country.
Both the survey and in-person sessions focus on five questions:
- What should the foundation do?
- What values should guide the foundation?
- What are the most important skills, qualities or experiences a foundation board member should have?
- How do we ensure the foundation lasts into the future?
- How should the foundation’s identity be expressed?
There will be an engagement session coming to Yellowknife on February 8 next year. The location is still to be determined.
The web survey is available here.
Infographic on the history of the foundation. (Courtesy of the Sixties Scoop foundation).
