The legacy of the Sixties Scoop

Summary

The discussion features Cindy Blackstock, an advocate for Indigenous youth, and Raven Sinclair, a professor and survivor of the '60s Scoop, exploring the historical and ongoing trauma of Indigenous child removal in Canada. Blackstock highlights three phases of state removal of Indigenous children, from residential schools to today's underfunded child welfare system, while Sinclair shares her mixed experiences and emphasizes the need for healing from emotional and psychological trauma. Both advocate for systemic reform, increased public awareness, and prevention of further harm to Indigenous children.

Takeaways

• 👥 Cindy Blackstock and Raven Sinclair share their unique perspectives on indigenous child welfare in Canada.
• 🕰️ The state removal of indigenous children in Canada occurred in three phases: residential schools, the 60s Scoop, and current child welfare policies.
• 📚 Raven Sinclair, who was taken from her community, shares her mixed experiences, highlighting both positive aspects like travel and negative ones like racism and isolation.
• 🗣️ Cindy Blackstock discusses the systemic issues leading to the removal of indigenous children, including inadequate social worker training and underfunded services on reserves.
• ⚖️ A recent ruling found that the federal government's underfunding of child welfare has contributed to ongoing mass removals of First Nations children.
• 💔 Raven mentions that despite some benefits, the loss of family, community, and culture is irreplaceable and can't be compensated fully.
• 💰 Raven hopes that the lawsuit will lead to proper support for survivors to deal with trauma and that financial compensation may alleviate some challenges.
• 🔄 Cindy emphasizes the need for public awareness that the removal of indigenous children is not just a historical issue but a continuing one today.
• 🏫 Improvements in social work education include mandatory Native Studies classes, but biases and prejudices still impact decisions regarding indigenous children.
• 🔄 Both Cindy and Raven advocate for preventing future harm to indigenous children by learning from past mistakes and reforming the child welfare system.

Q & A

Who are the two guests mentioned in the interview?

The two guests are Cindy Blackstock, an advocate for Canadian Indigenous youth and families, and Raven Sinclair, a professor of social work at the University of Regina.

What personal experience does Raven Sinclair bring to the discussion?

Raven Sinclair shares her personal experience of being taken from her community as a child, providing insights into both the positive and negative aspects of that experience.

What challenges did Raven Sinclair face growing up after being removed from her community?

Raven Sinclair faced racism, ostracism, bullying, and the absence of her family, community, and culture, which left her unprotected from these negative experiences.

What historical context does Cindy Blackstock provide regarding Indigenous child removals in Canada?

Cindy Blackstock explains that the removal of Indigenous children happened in three phases: the residential school system, the 60s Scoop, and ongoing underfunding of child welfare services, leading to mass removals of Indigenous children.

What was the role of the residential school system in Indigenous child removals?

The residential school system, acknowledged as cultural genocide, was the first phase of child removals. These schools also acted as child welfare placements before being replaced by provincial child welfare systems.

How does Cindy Blackstock describe the impact of inequitable services on reserves?

Cindy Blackstock highlights that the inequitable services on reserves, combined with untrained social workers and multigenerational trauma, led to mass removals of Indigenous children that could have been prevented.

What does Raven Sinclair hope to see as a result of the current lawsuit?

Raven Sinclair hopes that the lawsuit will lead to emotional and psychological support for those affected and reforms in the Child Welfare system, ensuring that Indigenous children are better protected.

What does Cindy Blackstock believe is crucial for moving forward in Indigenous child welfare?

Cindy Blackstock believes that public awareness about the ongoing state removals of Indigenous children and learning from 60s Scoop survivors are crucial to preventing further harm.

Has the training of social workers improved since the 1960s and 1970s, according to Raven Sinclair?

Yes, Raven Sinclair notes that social workers are now more knowledgeable about Indigenous history due to mandatory Native Studies classes, but there is still work to be done in addressing biases and prejudices.

What is the significance of the January ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, as mentioned by Cindy Blackstock?

The January ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal stated that the federal government's underfunding of child welfare services for Indigenous children was a significant factor in the mass removals, reinforcing the need for systemic reform.