Sixties Scoop

The sixties scoop was when many indigenous children were taken away from their families and placed into foster care or adopted by non-indigenous families during the 1960s.

Think of it this way - imagine your family is made up of birds, and they live in a nest up in a tree. One day, some other birds come along, and they take you away from your nest and bring you to their nest on the ground. You don't know these birds, and they don't know your family. You might feel scared and confused because you don't know what is happening, and you miss your family and your familiar surroundings.

This is what happened to many indigenous children during the sixties scoop. Many children were taken away from their families by government officials or social workers, and they were placed in foster care or adopted by non-indigenous families. This meant that many children grew up without knowing their culture, language, or traditions. They might have felt like they didn't belong anywhere and felt disconnected from their heritage.

The sixties scoop was a traumatic experience for many indigenous communities. It's important to learn about the sixties scoop and the harm it caused, so we can work towards healing and reconciliation. It's also important to support indigenous people in their efforts to reconnect with their communities and reclaim their identity.