A Metis woman says she鈥檚 angry after the federal government left Metis and non-status Indians out of a settlement for Indigenous people who were taken from their parents in the 1960s and adopted out to white families.
Constance Calderwood, who is Metis, says that people like her suffered just as much from the 鈥�60s Scoop as First Nations and Inuit, who are expected to get at least $25,000 each.
鈥淚t just angers me,鈥� Calderwood told CTV Winnipeg. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like it鈥檚 all focused on status and the Metis (are) just thrown under the rug like we don鈥檛 exist.鈥�
Calderwood was taken from her birth mother more than 50 years ago. 鈥淒ays like this,鈥� she said on Thanksgiving Monday, 鈥淚 wish I had a mom and a dad and siblings to all sit around a table with that I don鈥檛 have.鈥�
that it has set aside $750 million for an estimated 20,000 victims of the 鈥�60s Scoop, in part to make amends for the linguistic and cultural connections that were severed. Another $50 million has been set aside for a foundation aimed at helping Indigenous families heal and $75 million has been allocated for legal fees.
Regina lawyer Tony Merchant said Friday鈥檚 announcement was a good start, but that his firm plans to sue several provinces and the federal government on behalf of non-status and Metis individuals who he says also deserve compensation.
鈥淚t was the provinces that picked up the children,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey were more responsible than the federal government.鈥�
Calderwood says that, for her, it鈥檚 not about the money. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to keep fighting,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 for recognition,鈥� she added. 鈥淲e deserve that.鈥�
Calderwood is hosting a rally for the cause on Oct. 27 at Thunderbird House in Winnipeg.
With a report from CTV Winnipeg鈥檚 Sarah Plowman
