Adoptees of Sixties Scoop tell their stories

Toronto Star

15 Oct 201904:55

Summary

TLDRThe speaker, a 60s Scoop survivor, shares their journey of self-discovery and healing from the trauma of being taken away from their indigenous roots and adopted by a white family. They recount the struggle with identity and the long path to embracing their heritage, overcoming mental health challenges, and finding strength in First Nations traditions. The narrative emphasizes the importance of education and reconciliation, advocating for the acknowledgment and implementation of treaties to honor indigenous ways of life.

Takeaways

🌪️ The speaker's early perception of their indigenous heritage was shaped negatively by their white adoptive parents and societal environment.
👥 Feeling of isolation as an adoptee, not fitting in with either biological or adoptive families due to cultural and worldview differences.
🌱 A belief that ancestral voices on the wind provided strength and resilience during times of personal struggle and adversity.
📚 Acknowledgment of the '60s Scoop as a global issue, not just an indigenous one, highlighting the need for its story to be told widely.
🏥 The speaker's journey of healing included overcoming multiple mental health diagnoses and a long process of self-discovery and acceptance.
💬 The importance of sharing personal stories to combat fear and raise awareness about the experiences of indigenous adoptees.
🌳 Embracing First Nations traditions and finding roots again as part of the healing process and moving forward in life.
🤝 A call for more education about indigenous history, treaties, and the impact of past policies like the residential schools and the '60s Scoop.
🌐 The speaker's newfound understanding and desire to educate others, particularly Aboriginal women, on strength and overcoming suffering.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The positive influence of the speaker's adoptive mother, who encouraged understanding and respect for the birth mother's decision.
🤝 A sense of community and belonging found in gatherings with other adoptees, highlighting the shared experience and mutual understanding.

Q & A

What was the initial perception of the narrator's heritage from their white adopted parents?
-The initial perception of the narrator's heritage was not positive, as it was portrayed negatively through the eyes of their white adopted parents.
How does the narrator describe the unique sound of the wind in their town?
-The narrator believes the unique sound of the wind carries the voices of their ancestors, who they feel gave them the strength to survive abuse and ridicule.
What is the '60 scoop' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to the narrator's story?
-The '60 scoop' refers to a period in history when indigenous children were taken away from their families and given to non-indigenous adoptive families. The narrator is one of the 60 scoop survivors, and their story is a reflection of this historical event.
How does the narrator describe their struggle with identity and fitting in?
-The narrator struggles with identity, feeling they don't fit in with either their biological or adoptive family due to being raised with a white worldview, which is very different from their indigenous heritage.
What was the narrator's realization about their indigenous identity?
-The narrator realized that even though they looked native, they often forgot they were native because they grew up identifying as white.
How long did it take for the narrator to resolve their past traumas?
-It took the narrator about 15 years to completely resolve what had happened to them, including being diagnosed with various mental health disorders.
What role did the narrator's psychiatrist play in their healing process?
-The narrator's psychiatrist played a crucial role by allowing them to talk through their experiences, which helped them find their strength again.
How has the narrator integrated First Nations traditions into their life?
-The narrator has adopted First Nations traditions into their life as part of their healing journey, helping them find their roots again.
What is the narrator's motivation for sharing their story?
-The narrator shares their story to help others, particularly Aboriginal women, learn how to be strong and overcome the suffering they have experienced.
What misconceptions did the narrator have about Native people growing up?
-The narrator grew up with misconceptions that Native people were lazy, on welfare, and drunks, which they later realized were false after learning more about their history and the impact of events like residential schools and the 60 scoop.
What does the narrator believe is the most important step towards reconciliation and understanding?
-The narrator believes that education is the most important step, including educating the government, Canadians, and their own communities about the history and current issues faced by indigenous people, as well as honoring and implementing treaties and agreements.
How did the narrator's perspective on adoption change over time?
-The narrator's perspective on adoption changed from a negative view influenced by their adoptive parents to a more understanding and respectful one, recognizing the love and difficult decisions made by their birth mother.
What was the significance of the gathering mentioned in the script?
-The gathering was significant because it was the first time the narrator met other adoptees, creating a sense of community and understanding without the need for words, as they all shared similar experiences.

Outlines

00:00

🌬️ Embracing Heritage and Overcoming Adversity

The speaker reflects on their childhood and the negative image of their indigenous heritage as perceived by their white adoptive parents. They describe a unique sound of the wind in their town, which they now believe to be the voices of their ancestors, providing strength to endure abuse and ridicule. The narrative extends to the broader issue of '60s scoop survivors, children taken away from indigenous families, highlighting the universality of this struggle. The speaker grapples with identity, feeling out of place in both biological and adoptive families due to their upbringing and worldview. They recount a healing journey, overcoming various mental health diagnoses, and eventually embracing First Nations traditions to reconnect with their roots. The speaker's mission is to educate and empower other indigenous women, sharing their story to confront fear and promote understanding and reconciliation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Heritage

Heritage refers to the traditions, customs, and beliefs that are passed down through generations within a culture or family. In the video, the speaker's understanding of their heritage was initially shaped by their white adoptive parents, which did not provide a positive image. This concept is central to the theme of identity and self-discovery, as the speaker later seeks to reconnect with their indigenous roots.

💡60s Scoop

The '60s Scoop refers to a period in Canadian history when indigenous children were apprehended from their families by child welfare authorities and placed in non-indigenous homes. The speaker identifies as a survivor of this policy, indicating a significant part of their life story and the broader theme of historical injustice and its impact on indigenous communities.

💡Ancestors

Ancestors are one's forebears or predecessors in a family line. The speaker feels a spiritual connection with their ancestors, suggesting that they believe their ancestors' spirits were speaking to them through the wind, providing strength and guidance. This concept ties into the theme of cultural and spiritual resilience.

💡Abuse and Ridicule

Abuse and ridicule are forms of mistreatment and mockery, respectively. The speaker mentions surviving abuse and ridicule, which likely refers to the hardships they faced due to their indigenous background and adoption. These terms highlight the personal struggles and societal challenges that are part of the narrative.

💡Worldview

A worldview is a person's overall perspective on life and the universe. The speaker mentions having a worldview that was shaped by growing up in a predominantly white environment, which differed from their biological family's perspective. This concept is key to understanding the speaker's internal conflict and search for identity.

💡Healing Journey

A healing journey refers to the process of recovery and self-discovery, often after experiencing trauma or loss. The speaker describes a long healing journey, which involved confronting and overcoming past traumas, including a diagnosis of various mental health disorders. This journey is central to the theme of personal growth and resilience.

💡First Nations

First Nations is a term used in Canada to describe various aboriginal peoples who are neither Inuit nor Métis. The speaker mentions adopting First Nations traditions as part of their healing process, which underscores the theme of cultural reconnection and the importance of embracing one's heritage.

💡Mental Health Disorders

Mental health disorders are conditions that affect a person's thinking, mood, and behavior. The speaker was diagnosed with several disorders, including borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. These diagnoses are part of the speaker's personal narrative and highlight the impact of trauma on mental health.

💡Reconciliation

Reconciliation is the process of restoring friendly relations, often after a conflict or disagreement. In the context of the video, reconciliation refers to the broader societal effort to address historical injustices against indigenous peoples and work towards a more harmonious coexistence. The speaker expresses a desire for reconciliation, emphasizing the need for education and understanding.

💡Treaties

Treaties are formal agreements between parties. In the video, the speaker mentions treaties in the context of indigenous rights and the need to honor and implement them. Treaties are a significant aspect of the historical relationship between indigenous peoples and the Canadian government, and they represent a path towards justice and reconciliation.

💡Fear

Fear is an emotion induced by perceived threats or dangers. The speaker talks about overcoming fear to share their story, which is a key element in the process of healing and advocacy. The concept of fear is relevant to the theme of personal empowerment and the courage required to confront and share difficult experiences.

Highlights

The speaker's perception of their heritage was negatively influenced by their white adoptive parents and the town's unique wind sound, which they now believe carried the strength of their ancestors.

The speaker's story is part of a larger narrative of the '60s scoop survivors, highlighting a global issue of children being taken away from their families.

The feeling of isolation experienced by adoptees who do not fit in with either their biological or adoptive families due to cultural differences.

The internal struggle of the speaker, who grew up white but is native, and the journey to embrace their identity as an adoptee.

The speaker's healing journey, which took 15 years and involved overcoming various mental health diagnoses.

The importance of sharing one's story to overcome fear and contribute to the collective understanding of the adoptee experience.

The speaker's adoption of First Nations traditions as a means to reconnect with their roots and find strength.

The speaker's mission to educate others, particularly Aboriginal women, on resilience and overcoming suffering.

The significance of the speaker's realization about the stereotypes they held towards Native people and the importance of education in changing perceptions.

The need for increased education about the history of residential schools and the '60s scoop to foster reconciliation.

The speaker's call for the implementation of treaties and agreements to allow indigenous people to return to their traditional ways of life.

The speaker's positive childhood experience with their adoptive mother, who encouraged their understanding and respect for adoption.

The emotional impact of meeting other adoptees for the first time and the immediate sense of understanding and connection.

The speaker's belief in the importance of sharing personal stories to break the silence around the adoptee experience.

The speaker's commitment to reconciliation and the desire to work together to improve the situation for indigenous people.

The transformative power of education and understanding in overcoming past traumas and moving towards a more inclusive society.