Sixties Scoop survivors asked to weigh in on apology

The Alberta government wants to hear from Sixties Scoop survivors as it grapples with how to best craft a meaningful apology.

To help the process along, it’s pairing with the Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta (SSISA) to hold engagement sessions in six communities across the province.

The process begins in Peace River on Jan. 18, then heads to St. Paul on Feb. 1, Fort McMurray Feb. 7, Lethbridge Feb. 14, Calgary Feb. 21 and Edmonton March 1.

“This is a dark chapter in Alberta history,” Adam North Peigan, SSISA president, said in an interview.

When the government of the day implemented policies to remove Indigenous children from their homes and place them with nonIndigenous families, he said, communities and individuals experienced losses of culture, language and family bonds.

“Those issues have followed us into our adult life and we have had to cope with it the best way we can, so to be able to hear an apology from the Alberta government means a lot to us,” he said.

“Reconciliation starts with ‘I’m sorry.’ ”

North Peigan said it’s not just the apology that’s important, but what’s in it. That’s why he wants to hear from the people who were affected about what they feel should go into crafting an apology.

“Ultimately, it was us who experienced the cultural genocide, so it’s giving a voice to Sixties Scoop survivors in Alberta,” he said.

North Peigan is hoping for an apology this summer.

The engagement sessions will focus on learning from survivors about how the Sixties Scoop impacted them.

All sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and are open to the public. Those who can’t attend in person can submit input online.

Children’s Services Minister Danielle Larivee said in a statement healing can only begin when people understand the historical injustice.

“That’s why we need to listen to survivors and families about what a meaningful apology should look like,” she said.