Indigenous Children remain overrepresented within Canada’s foster care system. According to a StatCan Report released in 2024, the number of Indigenous children in foster care has continued to increase over the past decade — despite making up a small fraction of Canada’s population.

<aside> 💡

47.8% of foster children were Indigenous in 2011.

In 2016, this increased to 51.7%.

In 2021, Indigenous children accounted for 53.8% of all foster children in Canada, despite making up just 7.7% of the child population.

</aside>

This overrepresentation points to systemic inequalities and reflects the ongoing effects of colonialism, intergenerational trauma, and social determinants of health such as poverty, inadequate housing, and limited access to services in Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Adoption

Adoptions involving Indigenous children in Canada are guided by principles that prioritize cultural preservation and the child’s connection to their community. The Indigenous-specific provisions include:

• Customary Adoption: Recognizing Indigenous traditions as a legal pathway, particularly in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
• Cultural Plans: Ensuring that Indigenous children placed in non-Indigenous homes maintain their heritage through cultural education and community involvement.

This approach aims to address historical injustices, such as the Sixties Scoop, by ensuring Indigenous children retain their cultural identity.

Historical Context and Ongoing Issues

The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996) recommended reforms to the child welfare system to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in foster care. However, many of the commission’s recommendations were not fully implemented, and Indigenous children continue to be disproportionately represented in foster care today.

Residential schools and the Sixties Scoop have also left lasting scars on Indigenous families and communities.

<aside> 💡

The Sixties Scoop refers to the mass removal of Aboriginal children from their families into the child welfare system, in most cases without the consent of their families or bands.

</aside>

Today, Indigenous children remain disproportionately placed in foster care due to poverty and intergenerational trauma, which is exacerbated by the lack of culturally appropriate social services and resources in both urban and rural Indigenous communities.

Provinces and Territories that have Apologized for the Sixties Scoop

1. Ontario (2016)

The apology, delivered by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, acknowledged the harm caused to Indigenous children and families and recognized the long-lasting trauma resulting from the practice.

2. Manitoba (2015)