The Sixties Scoop

Policy of Assimilation “A deliberate policy to separate and forcibly assimilate Aboriginal First Nations children into the mainstream has pervaded every era of Aboriginal history in Canada. Each era saw a new reason to take Aboriginal children away from their homes, placing them in residential schools, foster care, or non-Aboriginal adoptive families.” – Suzanne Fournier

New Methods, Same Means The 60s Scoop refers to the adoption of First Nation children in Canada between the years of 1960 and the mid 1980’s. In many instances, children were literally scooped from their homes and communities without the knowledge or consent of families and bands.

Changing Ideas of Assimilation In the early 1960’s, social service agencies and government departments at both the provincial and federal levels began shifting their focus on the assimilation process of Aboriginal children, similar to residential schools

http://globalnews.ca/news/2898190/what-was-the-60s-scoop-aboriginal- children-taken-from-homes-a-dark-chapter-in-canadas-history/

Basis for Removal Agencies deemed Aboriginal parents as ‘neglectful’ and this was the main basis for removal. ‘Neglect’ covered a wide spectrum within the Child Welfare system, alcoholism, drug abuse, being a single parent and living in poverty were all grounds for removal.

The Numbers Statistics from the Department of Indian Affairs estimate that more than 20,000 Indian children were adopted between the years of 1960 and 1990. Of these children who were adopted, 70% were adopted into non-native homes. Currently, there are more Aboriginal children in the Child Welfare system than at the height of the Residential School era or during the Sixties Scoop.

http://globalnews.ca/news/3247983/sixties-scoop-ruling-could-cost-federal-government-over-1-billion/

Use this for article on the 60’s scoop http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en /article/sixties-scoop/

THE WHITE PAPER, 1969

The White Paper, 1969 The 1969 White Paper (formally known as the “Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy, 1969”) was a Canadian government policy paper that attempted to abolish previous legal documents pertaining to Indigenous peoples in Canada, including the Indian Act and treaties, and assimilate all “Indian” peoples under the Canadian state. 

Proposed by Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jean Chrétien and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to widespread criticism, the policy proposed to: eliminate “Indian status”

The act would also include … incorporate First Nations under provincial government responsibilities; Impose land decisions, notions of private property and economic agendas on Aboriginal communities.  Abolish any previous legal rights and documents

The backlash to the 1969 White Paper was monumental, leading not only to its withdrawal in 1970, but to a wave of activism, academic work and court decisions in favour of Aboriginal rights Trudeau angrily stated: “We’ll keep them in the ghetto as long as they want.” 

How did Pierre Trudeau support the need for the White Paper? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIaIPDJa_SE Questions: How did Pierre Trudeau support the need for the White Paper? How did the opposition, Joe Clark, say this would negatively impact all Canadians? 10 minutes