GRSJ224/SixtiesScoop

Background and Effects

The “Sixties Scoop” refer to the time period between late 1950s to early 1980s when a large number of Aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their homes and placed with non-Aboriginal families in Canada and around the globe. The 1951 revision of the Indian Act included Section 88 which gave each province the authority to govern its own child welfare both on and off reserves. Compulsory enrollment in the Residential Schools ended during the same time as the Sixties Scoop when the government began to recognize the devastating effect it had on the children, both physically and emotionally. . Residential School remained open until 1996 and functioned as a boarding school for children whose families could not care for them.

In British Columbia in the early 1950s, approximately 30 Aboriginal children were under provincial care But the number of Aboriginal children-in-care increased drastically as a result of the discriminatory provincial legislations based on European standards of family structures and values that continued to neglect and attempt to erase the unique cultural traditions and practices of the many Indigenous communities. Social workers and related child welfare professionals reproduced the nation-building narratives embedded in Canadian policies, apprehending Aboriginal children from their birth families who may be struggling due to the abuse and trauma of existing colonial practices. Neglecting to take into account the implications of colonization, social service workers "mistook symptoms of systemic discrimination as parental neglect". The realities of the children placed in non-Indigenous homes mirrored the experiences of those who were forced to enroll in Residential Schools. Survivors of the "Sixties Scoop" report frequent emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect by their foster and adoptive parents and feelings of disconnect with their heritage. The effects of forced apprehension continue to impact the life chances in areas of "education, employment, parents and mental and physical health" of the survivors, their birth families, and future generations.

In Blackstock's 2011 report, she writes that nationally, there are "estimated 27,000 First Nations children in child welfare, (accounting) for 30% - 40% of all children in care even though they represent less than 5% in child population". The 2015 Statistics Canada reports that nearly "half of children in foster care are Aboriginal". Although efforts have been made since the Sixties Scoop to include First Nations agencies to deliver culturally-informed child welfare services. However, these agencies are often underfunded and must work within the perimeters of existing provincial legislation. Despite obstacles imposed by the system, Frist Nations agencies have had positive impact on the lives of indigenous children, reconnecting the child to his/her "cultural identity and kinship ties to extended families", and challenging the policies to break down barriers prevention comprehensive and fair services for aboriginal children both on and off reserves.

Kimelman Report

Justice Edwin Kimelman, who served as a judge for the Provincial Court of Manitoba, authored a report titled No Quiet Place: Review Committee on the Indian and Metis Adoptions and Placements, now known as the Kilman Report. The 1985 report highlighted the oral testimonies of lived experiences of the aboriginal children-in-care and provided 109 recommendation for policy change. Justice Kimelman concluded that "cultural genocide has taken place in a systemic, routine manner". The report was instrumental to the amendment of a failed system, acknowledging for the first time that the forcible scooping of aboriginal children from their homes was a form of cultural genocide that equated to the same severity as Canada's history of residential schools. The amendment adoption placement policies now focused on placing children with their extended families first, then by other aboriginal families, and lastly by non-aboriginal families.

Current Indigenous Approach to Social Work Practice

The current social work practice with regards to Indigenous population places heavy emphasis on the historical context and ongoing effects of colonialism. Social workers are tasked to examine the multitude of challenges facing Indigenous people through an intersectional lens that acknowledge the many unique cultures, traditions, communities and experiences that a person may come from. Current social work practice also stresses the importance for social service providers to familiarize themselves with traditional teachings such as the medicine wheel used to summarize one form of Aboriginal approach to healing and helping. When working with Aboriginal individuals or groups, the social workers should continuously reflect and evaluate their own biases and position of power as to not impose their values onto their clients, thus further creating unequal helping relationship. When working with clients on an individual, or micro or mezze level, social workers should be mindful of the historical context and larger institutional and systemic influences in place.