March 24, 2014
Healing our Hidden Hurt, a two-day roundtable discussion to help start the healing for up to 20 Aboriginal adults and their families who were affected by the ‘60s scoop is being hosted by Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson today and tomorrow.
Attendees at the private roundtable are some of the thousands of Manitoba children that were taken from their families and home communities and put up for adoption in other provinces and countries during the 1960s and 1970s.
“It is important that those here today and other adoptees know that they are not alone. Through talking and sharing their very own personal and heartbreaking stories, some of which have never been told, together we can start the healing process and begin a journey of understanding and hope,” said Minister Robinson.
It is estimated over 20,000 children from Aboriginal families across Canada and 3,000 from Manitoba were taken from their homes in the 1960s, ‘70s and even into the early 1980s and were adopted throughout Canada, the United States and as far away as Europe. Many of the adoptees were left struggling with a profound culture shock that affected their ability to cope as successful adults, the minister said.
“We have seen the negative repercussions of the ‘60s scoop on the adoptee’s lives. Many were completely devastated by losing their families and cultural identity. As a result, many of the adoptees faced difficult social issues, such as turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with their pain,” said Minister Robinson.
He noted the two-day roundtable’s primary goal is to foster discussion and generate new ideas and directions to help adoptees and their families deal with the past and present hurt and suffering caused to the ‘60s scoop victims. Traditional healers and counselors will also be on site to help participants with grief and hurt they still suffer.
TWO-DAY ROUNDTABLE WILL HELP START HEALING FOR ADOPTEES, FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE '60S SCOOP GENERATION: MINISTER ROBINSON
Healing our Hidden Hurt, a two-day roundtable discussion to help start the healing for up to 20 Aboriginal adults and their families who were affected by the ‘60s scoop is being hosted by Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson today and tomorrow.
Attendees at the private roundtable are some of the thousands of Manitoba children that were taken from their families and home communities and put up for adoption in other provinces and countries during the 1960s and 1970s.
“It is important that those here today and other adoptees know that they are not alone. Through talking and sharing their very own personal and heartbreaking stories, some of which have never been told, together we can start the healing process and begin a journey of understanding and hope,” said Minister Robinson.
It is estimated over 20,000 children from Aboriginal families across Canada and 3,000 from Manitoba were taken from their homes in the 1960s, ‘70s and even into the early 1980s and were adopted throughout Canada, the United States and as far away as Europe. Many of the adoptees were left struggling with a profound culture shock that affected their ability to cope as successful adults, the minister said.
“We have seen the negative repercussions of the ‘60s scoop on the adoptee’s lives. Many were completely devastated by losing their families and cultural identity. As a result, many of the adoptees faced difficult social issues, such as turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with their pain,” said Minister Robinson.
He noted the two-day roundtable’s primary goal is to foster discussion and generate new ideas and directions to help adoptees and their families deal with the past and present hurt and suffering caused to the ‘60s scoop victims. Traditional healers and counselors will also be on site to help participants with grief and hurt they still suffer.
- 30 -
No comments:
Post a Comment