Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about the Sixties Scoop
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Q: What was the Sixties Scoop?
A: The Sixties Scoop refers to a period from the 1950s to the 1980s when thousands of Indigenous children in Canada were taken from their families and communities by child welfare agencies and placed into non-Indigenous foster homes or adopted by non-Indigenous families.
Q: Why is it called the Sixties Scoop?
A: The term "Sixties Scoop" was coined by researcher Patrick Johnston in his 1983 report "Native Children and the Child Welfare System." The term "scoop" refers to how social workers would "scoop" children from their homes and communities without proper consent.
Q: What were the impacts of the Sixties Scoop on Indigenous children and families?
A: The impacts included loss of cultural identity, language, and connection to family and community. Many children faced emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and struggled with identity and belonging issues throughout their lives.
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Q: How did the Canadian government address the Sixties Scoop?
A: The Canadian government has made efforts to address the Sixties Scoop through public apologies, financial compensation, and support programs for survivors. In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally apologized to the survivors of the Sixties Scoop.
Q: What legal actions have been taken regarding the Sixties Scoop?
A: There have been several class-action lawsuits against the Canadian government. In 2017, the government reached a settlement agreement to compensate survivors of the Sixties Scoop, offering $750 million in compensation.
Q: How can survivors of the Sixties Scoop seek support and resources?
A: Survivors can access support through various organizations such as the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation, Indigenous Friendship Centres, and other community and mental health services that provide culturally appropriate care.
Questions about the Canadian Residential Schools Program
Q: What were the Canadian residential schools?
A: The Canadian residential school system was a network of boarding schools for Indigenous children, funded by the Canadian government and operated primarily by Christian churches. The schools were intended to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.
Q: When did the residential schools operate?
A: The residential school system operated from the 1880s to the 1990s, with the last school closing in 1996.
Q: What was the purpose of the residential schools?
A: The primary purpose was to assimilate Indigenous children by removing them from their families and communities, eradicating their culture, languages, and traditions, and educating them in the ways of Western society.
Q: What were the conditions like in residential schools?
A: Conditions in residential schools were often harsh and abusive. Many children faced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, malnutrition, and neglect. The schools were also sites of cultural and spiritual suppression.
Q: How many children attended residential schools?
A: It is estimated that over 150,000 Indigenous children attended residential schools during their operation.
Q: What were the long-term impacts of residential schools on Indigenous communities?
A: The long-term impacts include intergenerational trauma, loss of cultural identity and language, mental health issues, and socio-economic challenges. The legacy of residential schools continues to affect Indigenous communities today.
Q: What has the Canadian government done to address the legacy of residential schools?
A: The government has issued formal apologies, including a notable apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2008. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established to document the history and impacts of the residential school system and to make recommendations for reconciliation.
Q: What is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)?
A: The TRC was a commission established in 2008 to investigate the residential school system and its legacy. The commission gathered testimonies from survivors, issued a comprehensive report, and made 94 Calls to Action to address the harms caused by residential schools and promote reconciliation.
Q: How can residential school survivors access support and resources?
A: Survivors can access support through the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line, and various Indigenous organizations that provide mental health and cultural support services.
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