Today’s guest blogger is Emma Lofgren.
The article titled: Aboriginal adoptees suing Ottawa, was an article from The Canadian Press dated February 9th, 2015. The article discusses a class action suit against the federal government for damages of emotional trauma and loss of culture due to what is called the “60’s Scoop.” The 1960’s marked the beginning of a twenty-year period in which aboriginal children were taken from their families by child welfare services and placed into the homes of non-aboriginal families. The article goes on to discuss the belief that this movement occurred as a continuation of the atrocities that occurred to aboriginal people during which the federal government removed aboriginal children from their homes and placed them in residential schools in order to assimilate them; specifically to “take the Indian out of the child.”
The article further highlights an individual’s experience in his adoptive home, in which he was treated like a servant and “punching bag.” The article also discusses individuals who were physically and sexually abused in their adoptive homes; however the majority of individuals who have filed suit did so due to their loss of identity and culture from being taken from their home. Although Ottawa has offered a formal apology to those individuals who participated in the residential schools, no such apology has been made to the individuals who were adopted out; and approximately 1,200 individuals are seeking compensation for their experiences.
There are two strengths that can be identified within the article, which includes the narration and experience of an individual that was part of the “60’s Scoop” adoptions. Further, the article also provides the general public with a solid foundation to raise awareness to some of the issues that occur with permanency and adoption and also some of the traumatic events that have occurred historically. One particular weakness that was identified in the article was that there was some discussion about emotional trauma but there wasn’t much depth as to what specifically that entails. Individuals of the general public, without Social Work knowledge most likely won’t have an understanding of what emotional trauma is and the difficulties that adoptees went through. The article could have been stronger if it discussed this idea more thoroughly.
One way this article dispels myths about adoption is the idea that children can be saved; and further once they are adopted the adoptee is in a better place and won’t have any negative repercussions. Adoptee’s may feel like they are incomplete and describe feelings of deficiency and a lack of well being; and further often lack information relating to their medical and historical information (Silverstein & Kaplan, 1982)