By Owen Charters

In a previous role, I helped craft the Order of Canada nomination for my organization’s board chair, Patrick Johnston. In pulling together the nomination, I did a lot of research about the Sixties Scoop, as Patrick had been a social worker and researcher who among many other accomplishments wrote a significant paper on the Scoop and brought the issue to prominence in the Canadian media.

Many of us have heard of residential schools and their travesty and tragedy—as well as the ongoing impact of these institutions—on generations of Indigenous children and families. But fewer of us may be aware of the ongoing removal of Indigenous children from their families and placing them “in care,” which is often foster care with other families.

In the 1960s, it was common practise to remove almost all newborn children on reserve from their mothers and place them into the child welfare system—to ‘scoop’ them. Patrick named this period the Sixties Scoop, and it is yet another indignity and abomination that this country has perpetuated on Indigenous families and communities. And the Scoop has not stopped. Today, Indigenous mothers often still have their babies taken from them by child welfare agencies and the battles to retain custody are frequent and many.

The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (FNCFCS) was established in the 1990s to connect Indigenous families and resources, and to ensure that Indigenous children can grow up supported at home, with their families. Executive Director (and former BGC Canada board member) Cindy Blackstock is a vocal advocate, speaking frequently about the needs of Indigenous families and children and exposing the ongoing disparities and failures of policy.

In the fall of 2021, FNCFCS won a significant legal victory. The Federal Court upheld a ruling to award compensation in response to ongoing underfunding of child welfare programs, for the unnecessary removal of Indigenous children from homes and families, and failing to uphold Jordan’s principle, which is a policy to ensure that funding flows to First Nations children no matter if various levels of government cannot agree on responsibility. This ruling will result in billions of dollars in compensation to more than 50,000 people.

Today, we honour and participate in Have A Heart Day, a campaign from FNCFCS to recognize and support Indigenous families and children and to continue to advocate for fair funding and supports. Our official statement in support of Have a Heart Day can be found here.

Have A Heart Day, Spirit Bear, and working with FNCFCS is one of many steps we can each take on the path of Reconciliation, a journey of lifting up all children and families and undoing the terrible legacy of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and dismantling families.

Today and every day, show your support, learn and reflect, and join us in taking action.

Along with other organizations and people across the country, BGC Canada is commemorating the tenth year of Have a Heart Day. Created by our friends at the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, Have a Heart Day brings together all people in Canada to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are.

Have a Heart Day reminds everyone that First Nations children on reserve receive less funding from the federal government for education, child welfare, and health services than other children receive from the provinces and territories.

As a leading provider of quality child and youth programming, BGC Canada continues to support efforts to ensure First Nations children and youth do not encounter any barriers in accessing publicly funded health, social, and education programs, services, and supports. We demand that funding inequities be eliminated in alignment with Jordan’s Principle to ensure that First Nations children can access all public services in a way that is reflective of their distinct cultural needs, takes full account of the historical disadvantages linked to colonization, and without experiencing any service denials, delays, or disruptions because they are First Nations.

BGC Canada encourages all Canadians to send a Valentine’s Day card or letter to your elected official voicing your support of First Nations children, hosting an in-person or virtual Have A Heart Day event to raise awareness, or celebrating with any of the other activities developed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.

Find resources here: https://fncaringsociety.com/have-a-heart.

Bozhoo (Hi)! My name is Ode’ and my pronouns are they/them. I am Anishinaabe and I speak Anishinaabemowin and English. I am 7 years old now, I’m in Grade 2, and I’m also a Club kid! I can’t believe my classes are all online now! I miss going to school in person—it’s been a tough year, but virtual programs at my Club have definitely made it better. Seeing my Club friends online is the best part of my day. I think my favourite program so far has been Kid Food Nation! One time, we made blueberry yogurt parfaits—my favourite!

I still live with my Nookomis (grandmother) and I worry about her as she is the keeper of many of our traditions, our language, and stories about our relationships with the land.

These days, I spend most of my time in Tkaronto (Toronto—the place where there are trees

standing in the water). It is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. Toronto is now home to not just Indigenous Peoples, but also so many amazing Peoples from around the world!

I love spending time outdoors and watching the world around me, especially in the spring time. Some of my favourite things to do include fishing and gathering berries. I have learned lots of lessons from the land, like how important it is to respect everything and everyone around us no matter how big or small.

I have many friends at BGC Clubs from coast to coast to coast. My friends are my family and it’s important for me to talk to them about Truth and Reconciliation because we all have a part to play.

I’m curious to know if there are other Reconciliation Ambearristers in BGC Clubs? If there are, maybe you could introduce yourself on social media—I’d love to meet you! When you do, tag @BGCCAN in your post because they always love to see what Clubs are up to.

If you can’t post on social media, that’s okay! You can introduce yourself to Dominique at drobinson@bgcccan.com and she can pass it along to me!

Ode’ is part of the Reconciliation Ambearrister program, created by our friends at the First Nations Children & Family Caring Society. And a big thank you to BGC Canada’s National Youth Council for working with Ode’!

Stay tuned for more Ode’ blog posts as they guide BGC in our Truth & Reconciliation work over the next year.