Children of the Sixties Scoop tell their stories

Real Talk on Raceis CBC Montreal's special series exploring personal conversations and experiences around race in the city.

Share yours with usonFacebook,Twitteror emailwebquebec@cbc.ca.

This week, CBC Montreal launched its seriesReal Talk on Race.

Part of the series has focusedonthe Sixties Scoop thegovernment-imposed initiative that allowed First Nationschildren and youth to be adopted by families across Canada.

• Real Talk on Race: 'We need to keep having these conversations,' saysEmilieNicolas
• Real Talk on Race: Life after the Sixties Scoop
• Indigenous Sixties Scoop adoptees want meeting with Canada's new government

For decades, thousands of aboriginal children were taken from their parents, often without their consent or even their knowledge, and grew up never knowing theirown culture.

Between the1960sand 1985, the federal government estimates that just over 11,000 children were removed from their families and adopted out butthe real number is estimated to be much higher.

NinaSegalowitz: Taken from the hospital

Nina Segalowitz on being stolen from her birth mother

9 years ago

Duration 1:48

Nina Segalowitz's birth mother had all her seven children taken away from her. Nina was taken away as a baby after she was sick and her parents dropped her off at the hospital

Nina Segalowitz grew up in Montreal, the daughter of a white Jewish father and a Filipino mother. But she was born Anne-Marie Thrasher, in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.

• Real Talk on Race: 60s Scoop still not well-recognized

Shewas taken from her birth parentswhen they brought her to the hospital for treatment as an infant.

"They said, 'Come back tomorrow morning. We'll have medication for your baby,'" said Segalowitz.

"My mother came back the next day and I was gone."

Read the full article.

In Nakuset'sown words

It was really difficult growing up in a culture that didn't match your own. I was almost threeyears old when I was adopted.

Old enough to know that this was not my home.Cautiously waiting to see if I would be moved again.

• 'Don't tell her she's native': The ripples of the 60s Scoop

"Change her name. Don't tell her she's native. Immerse her into Jewish culture"

So, my parents, trying to be helpful, said, "When people ask why you look different, tell them you are Israeli".

Read the full article.

'Why did you get rid of me?'

Many adoptees grew up never knowing that their parents hadn't consented to give them up, like Lionel Kalisky.

Lionel Kalisky on being robbed of his indigenous identity

9 years ago

Duration 1:04

Lionel Kalisky says being a Sixties Scoop adoptee robbed him of his indigenous identity and left him broken.

Kalisky was removed from his parents of Dog Creek, Lake Manitoba First Nation and adopted by a Montreal-area family.

Daybreak Montreal20:36Real Talk on Race: Life after the Sixties Scoop

Daybreak speaks with two survivors of the Sixties Scoop, Nina Segalowitz and Lionel Kalisky, about what it was like to be among the 20-thousand First Nations, Inuit and Metis children who were taken from their homes and put up for adoption.

He says he was angry when he confronted his birth parents, asking them why they put him up for adoption.

"I wasn'tready for the answer that came. I wasn't ready for them to say, 'You were taken from us.'"

Read the full article.

Why was the government scooping children?

Why indigenous families were seen as unfit parents

9 years ago

Duration 1:03

Raven Sinclair, associate professor of social work at the University of Regina and a Sixties Scoop adoptee, says indigenous families' ability to raise children was decided on by social workers who were primarily young, white and middle-class.

According toRavenSinclair, anassociate professor at the University of Regina and herself aSixties Scoop adoptee,the government only consideredan upper-middle classCaucasian home as appropriate for a child.

How you reacted

These stories generated a lot of conversation on social media.

• 5 'Real Talk on Race' stories that got you talking on Facebook

The post on Nakusetprompted similarly candid stories of identity.

"I am searching for my Cree Father from Saskatchewan [...] I was born Dec 28, 1963. I have no information on my father but would love to know my roots. I love my parents that made me their own and nothing will ever replace that love but KNOWING where you came from and learning your heritage is everyone's right."Sandy Hutchison

"I too am from the 60s scoop at 5 years old I went across the ocean to meet Opa and Oma in Germany I was taken custody from my kindergarten teacher it has been a lonely life but an amazing one but yes identity is important so important."Mila Semple-Morris

On CBC Montreal'sFacebook page, people appreciated Nina Segalowitzhaving the strength to share her story.

"Much love to this brave woman for sharing her story. :((("Anna Chilli

"This is very heartbreaking. My heart goes out to her. Unfortunately there are many stories like this."MariannaLapp