Equity & Inclusion
An Apology to the Indigenous Community
We as the non-Indigenous ChildrenÔÇÖs Aid Societies of Ontario┬áapologize to Indigenous families, children, and communities┬áfor our role in the Sixties Scoop and our continued role in the┬ápresent day over-representation of Indigenous children in our┬ásystem.
We acknowledge that we, as the ChildrenÔÇÖs Aid Societies, were┬áaware of or should have been aware of the damage and trauma┬ácreated first by residential schools, then carried forward by┬áour participation in the Sixties Scoop. We saw the broken and┬ádevastated communities and were complacent in the belief that┬áthe fault was all yours. It was not. The actions we participated┬áin clearly led you to this point.
We apologize to the children, mothers, and fathers who┬áhave been hurt by the Sixties Scoop, and who currently find┬áthemselves caught up in the child welfare system. During the┬áSixties Scoop child welfare agencies removed thousands of┬áIndigenous children from their homes, families, and communities┬áacross Canada. Many of these children were placed in non-Indigenous homes across Canada, the United States, and┬áeven overseas. While some adoptive families did their best to┬álove and care for the Indigenous children, the Sixties Scoop is┬ánow recognized as a practice of forced assimilationÔÇöone that┬áextended well beyond the 1960s and into the 1980s.
Justice Edwin Kimmelman, the author of the 1985 report┬áNo Quiet Place┬áon the child welfare system and how it affected┬áIndigenous people, described the practice of the Sixties Scoop┬áas ÔÇ£cultural genocide.ÔÇØ This is the same description used by┬áChief Justice Beverley McLachlin and Commissioner Murray┬áSinclair to describe the residential school system. While we are┬áworking to change this trajectory, we must recognize that today┬áthings are worse. Indigenous children continue to be over-represented┬áin our system. They continue to be placed in homes┬áand institutions far from their families and communities. Even in┬á2017, these placements are not culturally safe. The children tell┬áus this in their words and through their actions of suicide and┬áself-harm.
We have not adequately addressed the need for healing from trauma that is essential for Indigenous communities to move forward. We do not have the proper distribution of resources such that Indigenous organizations are providing the child welfare services to their children and such that treatment opportunities are readily available so that healing can happen closer to home.
It is important that we acknowledge and appreciate the impact and meaning of cultural genocide to the Indigenous people of Ontario. The Sixties Scoop has been a continuation of the inter-generational traumas and cultural loss inflicted on the Indigenous peoples of Ontario. There continues to be a lack of Indigenous culture-based services for children and families, and there continues to be resistance to Indigenous self-determination with respect to the care of their children and families.
These are historic and current day injustices for which we, as┬áOntarioÔÇÖs non-Indigenous ChildrenÔÇÖs Aid Societies, must take┬áresponsibility. These are difficult truths, but they are truths┬áwe must speak in order to begin the journey towards healing,┬áchange, and reconciliation.
It is time that we do more than offer words. Today we commit to Indigenous communities that we will continue to seek and implement your guidance as we undertake active measures to ensure that we are serving Indigenous children and families in a manner that empowers children, families, and communities.
The Ontario non-Indigenous ChildrenÔÇÖs Aid Societies have┬áunanimously agreed to prioritize Reconciliation with Indigenous┬ácommunities through the┬áfollowing key commitments:
- Reduce the number of Indigenous children in care.
- Reduce the number of legal files involving Indigenous children and families.
- Increase the use of formal customary care agreements.
- Ensure Indigenous representation and involvement at the local Boards of Directors.
- Implement mandatory, regular Indigenous training for staff.
- Embed JordanÔÇÖs Principle in service practice and the inter-agency┬áprotocol.
- In consultation with Indigenous communities, develop a unique agency-based plan to better address the needs of the children and families from those communities.
- Continue to develop relationships between the local agency and the local Indigenous communities.
- Assist those individuals wanting to see their historical files by accessing and providing the information they request.
- Reduce the number of Indigenous children in care.
- Reduce the number of legal files involving Indigenous children and families.
- Increase the use of formal customary care agreements.
- Ensure Indigenous representation and involvement at the local Boards of Directors.
- Implement mandatory, regular Indigenous training for staff.
- Embed JordanÔÇÖs Principle in service practice and the inter-agency┬áprotocol.
- In consultation with Indigenous communities, develop a unique agency-based plan to better address the needs of the children and families from those communities.
- Continue to develop relationships between the local agency and the local Indigenous communities.
- Assist those individuals wanting to see their historical files by accessing and providing the information they request.
The measuring and tracking of each of these commitments is being undertaken at a local and provincial level. Agencies are committed to reporting on outcomes in each of these areas.
The Board of Directors of the Ontario Association of ChildrenÔÇÖs Aid Societies has made the following four key commitments:
- Shift resources to Indigenous organizations so that they are better able to provide services for and advocate on behalf of Indigenous children, families, and communities.
- Support Indigenous leadership in their quest for self-governance and legislation regarding the care of children within their local communities.
- Support Indigenous autonomy in the development of specific Indigenous services and the child welfare system.
- Support and encourage non-Indigenous agencies to work with local Indigenous communities to ensure that children and families are served in a way that leads to Reconciliation.
- Shift resources to Indigenous organizations so that they are better able to provide services for and advocate on behalf of Indigenous children, families, and communities.
- Support Indigenous leadership in their quest for self-governance and legislation regarding the care of children within their local communities.
- Support Indigenous autonomy in the development of specific Indigenous services and the child welfare system.
- Support and encourage non-Indigenous agencies to work with local Indigenous communities to ensure that children and families are served in a way that leads to Reconciliation.
The commitments made by the Ontario child welfare sector represent an acknowledgement that it must do better, be held accountable for results, and work in a framework that recognizes and supports Reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
The Sixties Scoop and many current practices have resulted in immeasurable damage to the Indigenous people of Ontario. These words of apology and regret are only an acknowledgement that we must do better. We have a long path towards reconciliation and healing of these historic injustices. The OACAS and the local ChildrenÔÇÖs Aid Societies are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure we are moving towards a healthier future.
Mary Ballantyne
Chief Executive Officer
Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies