Project Opikihiwawin and the Sixties Scoop

For decades Indigenous children in Canada were taken from their families and placed in foster care or adopted into non-Indigenous homes-a practice most well-known as the Sixties Scoop but one that began years before and continues long after. Many of these children grew up disconnected from their cultures languages and communities. In response a group of adoptive parents in Manitoba founded Project Opikihiwawin a groundbreaking initiative to help their children reconnect with their Indigenous heritage.<br /><br />Through parent support groups children's programs cultural gatherings and partnerships with Indigenous Elders and communities Project Opikihiwawin became a resource for connection and cultural learning. Written from the perspective of an adoptive parent Project Opikihiwawin and the Sixties Scoop shares the history challenges and triumphs of the project offering a deeply personal look at the impact of cross-cultural adoption and the resilience of Indigenous identity.<br /><br />Jamie McKay describes her experiences with Project Opikihiwawin from her perspective as one of the Indigenous adoptees.