The Sixties Scoop refers to the period from the late 1950s to the 1980s in Canada when a large number of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit children were taken from their families by child welfare services and placed in non-Indigenous homes. The goal was often to assimilate these children into Euro-Canadian culture, leading to significant loss of identity, culture, and connection to their communities.
In the video you mentioned, the three stages of harm to First Nation, Métis, and Inuit children during the Sixties Scoop might include:
-
Separation from Families and Culture: Children were removed from their families, leading to a disconnection from their cultural identities and community support.
-
Placement in Non-Indigenous Homes: Many of these children were adopted or fostered by non-Indigenous families, which often resulted in a lack of understanding of their cultural background and experiences.
-
Intergenerational Impact: The trauma experienced by the children has lasting effects, not just on them but also on their descendants, affecting mental health, relationships, and cultural continuity.
Multigenerational trauma refers to the long-lasting emotional and psychological effects that trauma can have on multiple generations. For example, the trauma experienced by Indigenous people due to events like the Sixties Scoop and the Residential Schools can affect not only those who experienced it directly but also their children and grandchildren, leading to ongoing challenges within families and communities.