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After the Saskatchewan government’s decades of silence, Premier Scott Moe apologized Monday morning for its role in the Sixties Scoop.
“We failed the survivors we heard from in the sharing circles, and so many others. We failed their families. We failed their communities. We failed,” Moe told the crowd of a couple hundred people at the legislature.
“On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, on behalf of the people of Saskatchewan, I stand before you today to apologize — to say sorry.”
It’s standing room only in the #Sask. Legisture’s rotunda as Premier Scott Moe delivers the #SixtiesScoopApology. #yqr pic.twitter.com/5KXG2Eomp1
— Jessie Anton (@jessieanton_) January 7, 2019
The Sixties Scoop took place between the 1950s and 1980s. Across Canada, an estimated 20,000 Indigenous children were taken from their families and placed in non-Indigenous homes. In addition to losing their family ties, kids were stripped of their language and culture.
Robert Doucette was one of those children. He now co-chairs the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Saskatchewan (SSIS), an association of those who were caught up in the practice.
“I heard the words I wanted to hear today: ‘I’m sorry,'” Doucette said. “I look forward to the hard work that now lies ahead of us.”
From stories told at sharing circles across the province over recent months, a report was compiled for the government. It includes recommendations — like holding more sharing circles, releasing child welfare records and adding the Sixties Scoop to school curriculum.
Doucette noted a major issue right now is the number of Indigenous children in the foster care system — something many involved in the Sixties Scoop feel the province needs to address.
“We need to sit down with the communities and the families and engage with them — actually ask them, ‘How do we deal with these issues?'” he said.
“I think the province needs to continue working with SSIS, working with the communities, and get the answers that they need to see and hear.”
Saskatchewan is the third province to apologize about its government’s role in the Sixties Scoop, after Alberta and Manitoba.
.@PremierScottMoe, opposition NDP leader @ryanmeili and @MayorFougere come together in a jig to wrap up the #SixtiesScoopApology ceremony at the #Sask. Legislature. #yqr pic.twitter.com/vHUC51je8q
— Jessie Anton (@jessieanton_) January 7, 2019