Scooped from my Home at 4 Years Old by the Government with Robin Linn EP8

Melanie Wakelin speaks with Robin Linn about the Sixties Scoop, a tragic chapter in Canadian history where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families. Robin shares her personal experiences, the impact of the residential school system, and the ongoing trauma faced by Indigenous communities. They discuss the importance of healing, cultural identity, and the journey of writing a book that focuses on recovery and self-love. The conversation emphasizes the need for understanding, compassion, and the interconnectedness of all people.

Guest Bio:

Robin Linn is a member of the Mohawk nation, Bear Clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River. She is also a Sixties Scoop survivor, having been taken from her family by the child welfare agency when she was 4 years old. The term Sixties Scoop was coined by Patrick Johnston, author of the 1983 report Native Children and the Child Welfare System. It refers to the Canada wide practice of mass removal of Indigenous children from their homes and families on reserves across Canada, into the child welfare system, in most cases without the consent of their families or bands. The drastic overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system accelerated in the 1960s, when First Nations children were seized from their homes and placed, in most cases, into middle-class Euro-Canadian families.  This overrepresentation continues today.

Robin has spent the past 30+ years on her “Healing Journey” which in fact, has also been a spiritual journey. She has learned how the removal of herself and her siblings impacted her psychically, emotionally, and socially. She has also learned about the history of her people, her traditions, customs, ceremonies and ancestors and her goal is to share the knowledge she has amassed with anyone who has an interest in this information.

Robin believes what her ancestors have known since time immemorial, that we are all connected, and it is our task on earth to remember that connection and to live our lives from a place of love, joy and gratitude.

Key Takeaways:

• The Sixties Scoop involved the removal of Indigenous children from their families.
• Robin Lin shares her personal journey of trauma and healing.
• The residential school system has long-lasting effects on Indigenous communities.
• Healing is an ongoing process that requires connection to culture.
• Misconceptions about Indigenous peoples persist in society.
• Forgiveness plays a crucial role in the healing journey.
• Cultural practices and community support are vital for recovery.
• The importance of sharing personal stories to foster understanding.
• The narrative of Indigenous history needs to be told from their perspective.
• We are all connected and must remember to love one another.

Connect with Robin:

Email: [email protected] (Use Subject Line: Activate & Illuminate with Melanie)

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