Sask. gov announces Sixties Scoop survivor sharing circles across province

Saskatchewan survivors of the Sixties Scoop will have a chance to tell their stories in sharing circles — another step toward the province delivering a public apology. 

The term Sixties Scoop refers to the period from the 1950s through the 1980s where thousands of Indigenous children across Canada were placed in the care of non-Indigenous families by provincial child welfare services.

The government says the sharing circles, announced Monday, will be facilitated by The Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society (SSIS) comprised of First Nation, Métis and non-status people affected by the event. Survivors' stories will be used to create a report the government will use in formulating its apology.

"Anything that happens with Sixties Scoop survivors has to be based on what survivors say," SSIS member Robert Doucette said Monday.

"It is more powerful for the government to hear actual voices and stories from individuals that were actual survivors of this ... sad part of Saskatchewan's history. It really is."

The Saskatchewan government is working directly with the SSIS on the apology. Premier Scott Moe promised in March to deliver it personally. 

Sessions will form 'meaningful apology'

Former Premier Brad Wall made a promise to apologize, but by summer 2017 he said that hinged upon First Nations leadership.

The government said Monday the sharing circles will help inform "a meaningful apology."

It reiterated it would deliver an apology "at an appropriate time and location."

Doucette said the government typically works with Indigenous leaders on certain issues, but working directly with survivors and those affected is less common.

"This is a historic moment for the province of Saskatchewan," he said. 

Mental health workers, elders to be present

The series of circles is scheduled to start October 13 in Meadow Lake and end November 24 and 25 in Regina. 

Sessions will begin with a pipe ceremony. Supports like mental health workers and elders will be on site to assist those who attend. 

The events will be closed to the media. 

Doucette said there will be no recording, but notes will be kept of what is said in the circles and passed along to the government in a report. 

Ministers and even Premier Scott Moe could attend, he added, saying politicians and government officials of all stripes are welcome to come and listen. 

"Every part has a hand in this."

On Monday, Moe said he hasn't decided if he'll be attending but said some people from the government will be present.

"We are looking forward to moving forward with this dialogue with those members of the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Saskatchewan," he said.

"We're looking forward to hearing their stories and working with them on opportunities that come from those stories."

Anyone who is unable to attend is invited to submit their stories on the government's website 

As of May, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) was not a part of talks with the government about an apology.

It did, however, recently help the SSIS host meetings for people with questions about the federal government's $875 million settlement with Sixties Scoop survivors. 

Sharing circles locations

• Meadow Lake at the Senior Citizen Activity Centre, 406 Fifth Avenue West, Saturday Oct. 13.
• North Battleford at the  Western Development Museum near Highways 16 and 40, Saturday Oct. 20.
• Prince Albert at the Senator Allen Bird Gym at 851-23rd Street West, Saturday Oct.27.
• Saskatoon at the Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre 168 Wall Street, November 3 and 4.
• Fort Qu'Appelle at the Treaty Four Governance Centre, 740 Sioux Avenue South, Saturday Nov. 17.
• Regina at the Mamaweyatitan Centre at 3355 Sixth Avenue, November 24 and 25.