The 60s Scoop

What Was the Sixties Scoop?

The Sixties (60s) Scoop refers to a period from the 1960s through the 1980s when thousands of Indigenous children across Canada were taken from their families and communities by child welfare systems. Many were placed in non-Indigenous foster homes or adopted by non-Indigenous families, often far away from their home territories.

These removals often happened without the consent of parents, extended family, or community. For many, it meant losing their language, culture, identity, and connection to home. The effects of this era are still deeply felt today.

How the Sixties Scoop Continues to Affect People Today

Direct Impacts

Many survivors of the Sixties Scoop are still living with the lasting effects of being separated from their families, including:

• Loss of identity and cultural connection
• Difficulty accessing birth records or learning about family histories
• Feelings of grief, isolation, and displacement
• Challenges with belonging, trust, and relationships
• Navigating two worlds without feeling fully at home in either

Survivors often describe a lifelong journey of reconnecting — with family, community, culture, and themselves.

Intergenerational Impacts

The Sixties Scoop didn’t just affect those who were taken. The trauma carried forward into future generations, shaping family relationships and community wellbeing.

These impacts can include:

• Disconnection from cultural teachings and traditions
• Gaps in language transmission
• Grief and loss carried across generations
• Challenges rebuilding cultural identity after years of separation
• Ongoing emotional, mental, and spiritual impacts within families

Intergenerational trauma is the result of systems that disrupted Indigenous family structures and cultural continuity.

Honouring Survivors and Their Journeys

At First Light, we honour those who continue to feel the effects of the Sixties Scoop: survivors, their children, and their families. We recognize the strength it takes to reclaim identity, reconnect with community, and heal from the harms caused during this era.

We also recognize that these stories are personal, emotional, and often painful. Our goal is to provide a safe, culturally grounded space for connection, support, and healing.

How First Light Supports Community Members

We offer culturally based programs and supports for individuals who were directly or indirectly impacted by the Sixties Scoop, including:

• Opportunities to reconnect with culture and community
• Access to Elders and Knowledge Keepers
• Programs that support healing, wellness, and belonging
• A welcoming space where stories and experiences are respected

For more information about the supports available, please visit our Cultural Supports page.