(Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Sixties Scoop

‘Canadians have a responsibility to listen’: Sixties Scoop stories shared in P.A.

Oct 4, 2021 | 4:00 PM

The truth behind the injustices Indigenous children faced at residential schools is starting to be more well known, however, another dark period many endured remains unknown to many.

During a multi-decade period, which ended up being called the ‘Sixties Scoop,’ children were taken from their families and adopted to non-Indigenous homes.

Many were treated as second-class citizens and experienced atrocities some would only expect to see in horror movies.

A national exhibit that highlighted multiple stories from survivors, ‘Bi-Giwen: Coming Home—Truth-Telling from the Sixties Scoop,’ was put on display on Monday at the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library (JMCPL) in Prince Albert.

“Loss, strength, resilience, and hope; that’s what these stories are about,” said Adam North Peigan, board president of the Legacy of Hope Foundation which created the exhibit.

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Peigan, a survivor himself, states the Sixties Scoop was just as damaging as residential schools.

In both circumstances, children were forced away from their families and taught that their Indigenous culture was wrong.

For some Sixties Scoop victims, they were given to families outside of Canada and have yet to return.

While these stories are very hard to hear, Peigan believes the first step in the healing process for survivors is having non-Indigenous people choose to learn and listen.

“We need to be able to start sharing those stories and Canadians have a responsibility to listen with an open mind.”

For Alex Juorio, JMCPL director, the exhibit taught him some things he didn’t know, mainly, just how many people are left in the dark about one of the country’s darkest periods.

“One of the first things they asked me was ‘do you know what the Sixties Scoop is’ and I answered yes, doesn’t everyone, and they said almost no one knows. Sometimes Sixties Scoop survivors don’t know they are because their adopted parents haven’t told them.”

He’s heard stories from survivors in the past. One he remembers well as the individual shared that their birth parents had passed away before getting the chance to see them again.

Despite being uncomfortable to listen to, Juorio hopes many take the time to do so as he believes it will help move towards reconciliation.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow