Voices From Here

The Sixties Scoop had far-reaching consequences for Indigenous people across Canada. Not everyone experienced these events the same way; adoptions and removals played out differently for different communities. Have students watch Adam North Peigan’s interview and read the Sixties Scoop article on The Canadian Encyclopedia , then fill out the Legacy of the Sixties Scoop: Cause and Consequence Worksheet . Students should examine the causes of the Sixties Scoop; have them think about root causes (what long-term policies, ideas, or practices led to this?) as well as immediate causes (what immediately precipitated this policy?). Similarly, examine the consequences of the Sixties Scoop. How did it affect different people: individuals, families, communities, Indigenous Nations, and other Canadians? Consider relationships, identity, social structures, community structures, politics, economic outcomes, education, etc. What does this tell us about how detrimental the policy was for Indigenous people? Once students have completed the worksheet, have the class consider what forms of support and resources would be helpful for healing at the individual, family, community, and national level. Students can refer to apologies and activities mentioned in the interview and the article. Using the circle discussion strategy, open a discussion about Adam North Peigan’s interview. While teachers are encouraged to create and select questions that are appropriate for their classroom, possible questions include: 1. Does anything require clarification? 2. What does Adam North Peigan share about the loss of language and identity he experienced? 3. Why was returning home as a teenager difficult? How did his experiences contribute to his reliance on harmful coping strategies? What does his story about returning home as a teenager reveal about social supports in his community? 4. How did understanding his mother’s experiences help him reconcile his own experiences? 5. How has his advocacy contributed to truth and reconciliation in Alberta? 6. What does Adam share about the importance of home and belonging for himself and other Sixties Scoop Survivors? 7. What else stood out to you about his experiences? PART II: CIRCLE DISCUSSION PART III: THE LEGACY OF THE SIXTIES SCOOP — CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE ACTIVITY 3 ADAM NORTH PEIGAN INTERVIEW PART I: WATCH THE INTERVIEW As a class, watch Adam North Peigan’s interview and ask students to pay close attention to his experiences as a permanent ward of the Crown, his healing journey, and his advocacy work. As a class, read aloud the transcript of the apology from the Alberta Government mentioned in Adam North Peigan’s interview. Who supplied the content of the apology? What did the government acknowledge it did wrong? What did the government not bring up? What promises were made? How do you think changes in government can influence the fulfillment of promises? EXTENSION ACTIVITY: THE APOLOGY ILLUSTRATION BY NATASHA DONOVAN. STILL FROM ADAM NORTH PEIGAN VIDEO (HISTORICA CANADA). STILL FROM ADAM NORTH PEIGAN VIDEO (HISTORICA CANADA). 11