A Sixties Scoop survivor from Saskatchewan is taking the province and federal government to court over the exclusion of the Metis in the Sixties Scoop settlement.
In October, the Liberal government promised an $800 million settlement in principle for survivors of the Sixties Scoop, however, to the disappointment of many, this settlement did not include Metis.
Several survivors of the Sixties Scoop were of Metis heritage.
The court challenge is being led by former Metis Nation-Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette, who recently helped found an organization devoted to Sixties Scoop survivors from Saskatchewan.
Doucette also filed a human rights complaint over the issue, but he says so far that has gone nowhere, despite several letters and phone calls.
“It seems to me that the only time that the federal and provincial governments ever listen to Indigenous people is when we are suing them, and that is a sad statement on their behalf,” he said.
Doucette, along with his legal counsel, filed a statement of claim at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon on Monday morning.
They are seeking a declaration that both levels of government have breached their fiduciary duty and common law duties of care owed to him and other survivors. Doucette says it is a matter of healing.
“If they don’t want to do it willingly and in a good way, we will do it in the means available to us, and that is through the courts, unfortunately,” he said.
During a press conference in front of the courthouse, Doucette spoke about a baby sweater that his mother kept after he was taken during the Sixties Scoop.
“In essence, this sweater is a symbol of all the First Nations, Metis and Inuit children taken from their families during the tragic Sixties Scoop,” he said. “Further, it is a reminder of the failed, damaging, and tragic attempts by both levels of government to further their goal of assimilating Aboriginal people at whatever cost.”
Doucette says he is leaving it up to the courts to determine the damages owed.
(PHOTO: Robert Doucette pictured in 2010. Photo courtesy Metis Nation – Saskatchewan, Facebook.)