'Our voices are finally being heard': 60s Scoop survivors share experiences with Alberta government
Survivors' stories will help inform an official apology from Premier Rachel Notley in near future
Alberta's Minister of Children's Services is travelling the province hearing stories from survivors of what's known as the sixties scoop.
During the 1960s an unknown number of Indigenous children were taken from their parents and placed with non-Indigenous families.
It's stories like Terrence Crow Shoe's that will help the Alberta government form a meaningful apology in the near future.
"Homeless for most of my life. Getting shoved from home to home to home. Being physically abused," he said.
Adam North Peigan heads up the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta.
He said the impacts of the program are still being felt today.
"There's a loss of culture, loss of tradition, loss of family, a loss of a sense of a community," he said.
North Peigan said it's difficult to speak to his mother — who had 12 children removed from her home — about the day she went to court to fight for them.
"My mom tells me that that was the day for her where her life fell apart, and it was devastating for her to be able to go to court and hear she was never going to see her kids again," he said. "So I know my parents were very much impacted and today my mother still carries that burden on her shoulders and she's been packing that around probably for the last 50 years."
But, North Peigan's hopeful these sessions are the path toward reconciliation.
"We're very very honoured that our voices are finally being heard and Alberta government is finally starting to listen to us," he said.
Alberta's minister of children's services, Danielle Larivee, is hosting the gatherings across the province.
She acknowledges that sharing their stories can be emotionally traumatic for survivors.
"I'm very grateful for the courage of those individuals who are willing to share their stories," she said.
Another engagement session is being held in Calgary next week.
Those who cannot attend the engagement sessions can also give input online here.
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