60’s Scoop update from a grassroots survivor

Submitted by John Fox

As a grassroots survivor taken from my reserve in the 70’s, I find many confusing statements arising from our victory as Ontario Aboriginal 60’s Scoop survivors.

Since then, our one billion dollar court victory has been trimmed from that amount to $750 million and to include a National-wide settlement with a much less anticipated compensation. These negotiations do not involve our grassroots 60’s Scoop families and we have no input, but are negotiated by a certain few people such as several law firms, Government officials and the plaintiff.  Furthermore, the Government is taking no ownership of the genocidal past of its destruction of the North American families involved in the 60’s Scoop.  That to me in unforgivable, unacceptable and unjust.

In addition to this, the criteria for compensation hasn’t been determined so we don’t know what that looks like. Who will be entitled? Who will be responsible for assessing damages, the payouts? And by when?  As survivors, we are totally in the dark about any of this.

To this end, a National Grassroots movement calling itself the National Indigenous Survivors of Child Welfare Network are organizing peaceful events to highlight the issue. These actions will be across Turtle Island and I should be attending the National 60’s Scoop Survivor Solidarity Rally in Ottawa event on March 16 on Parliament Hill, Ottawa.

In my mind, we have to give the above noted organization ‘pause’ as we have been ignored, our inquiries fruitless, excluded from giving input to any settlement. To myself, the negotiations seem unfair and secretive and many survivors are calling it a ‘flawed process’ and I am sure a second round of civil litigation for the 60’s Scoop who bow out of the final offer will occur.

John Fox

60’s Scoop Survivor, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve