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Confronting the Past is an in-depth, three-part series examining the history of the "sixties scoop" -- aboriginal adoption in Canada.
Synopsis: The impacts of adoption are explored through the eyes of adoptees and their families. We meet the people who worked in Child Welfare Agencies in the 1960's and explore why so many children were placed outside of Canada.
The series is the first up-to-date history of the 'sixties scoop', including the current debates surrounding the adoption of aboriginal children to non-aboriginal parents. We look at the struggle to open adoption records and the dozens of pending lawsuits by adoptees who were placed in the United States. We also explore different experiences, different stories, of how several adoptees have adjusted to meeting their birth families.
Quote from an interview with an adoptee, sent to the Southern United States in the early 1980's:
"I knew I was little (4 years old) but I remember the day I was taken away. I knew my life wasn't going to be the same... getting in the back seat and not really understanding....
"I will always remember that day. I always feel lost or I feel like... I can see everyone else's family and how they connect and I know how I don't have that".
A family member, after meeting an adoptee for the first time:
"I'm not handling the situation well... I want to be there for you but I don't know how".
APTN Air Dates!APTN will be airing the three-part series Confronting the Past twice in Cree and once in English. Mark your calendars!
It's been a long journey, but well worth it. The series explores who made the decisions to adopt out thousands of aboriginal children to the United States and beyond. We see the long-term consequences and meet some of the adoptees who bear the scars of being sent away from their families....
We've travelled to several U.S. locations to interview the people who ran the private agencies that adopted out hundreds of children to American parents. In many cases, these adoptions did not work out.
To watch the trailer, click here.