Raven Sinclair facts for kids
Raven Sinclair (whose traditional name is Ótiskewápíwskew) is a very important person from the Cree, Assiniboine, and Saulteaux Indigenous groups. She is a member of the Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Raven is a leader in social work and is currently the Dean of Social Work at University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills. She is also an expert on a difficult time in history called the Sixties Scoop. This was when many Indigenous children were taken from their families and placed with non-Indigenous families or in foster care. Raven works to help people understand this history and improve how child welfare works for Indigenous communities today. She is a professor, filmmaker, writer, and speaker.
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Raven Sinclair's Education Journey
Raven Sinclair started her university studies at the University of Toronto in 1981. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan. After that, she continued her education at First Nations University of Canada. There, she joined the Bachelor of Indian Social Work program. At that time, this program was special because it was the only one that taught social work from an Indigenous perspective. Raven also holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She completed her highest degree, a PhD, at the University of Calgary.
Raven Sinclair's Career and Work
Raven Sinclair is currently the Dean of Social Work at University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills. This is a university owned and run by First Nations people in St. Paul, Alberta. Before this, she was a full professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina. She retired from that role in 2022.
Understanding the Sixties Scoop
Raven Sinclair has written many important articles and books about the "Sixties Scoop." Her work is often mentioned by other experts and publications, like The Canadian Encyclopedia. She has also appeared on television shows, such as CBC's "The National," to share her knowledge. The Sixties Scoop was a time in Canadian history when Indigenous children were removed from their homes. They were often placed in foster care or adopted by non-Indigenous families. This caused a lot of harm to Indigenous families and communities. Raven Sinclair is a strong voice for those affected by this practice. She also speaks out about how the current child welfare system in Canada affects Indigenous peoples.
Raven Sinclair's Film Projects
Raven Sinclair has also used film to share important stories. In 2016, she was an Executive Producer for the film A Truth to be Told: The 60's Scoop in the Splatsin Community. This movie looks at the idea of "child saving" and how it impacted Indigenous peoples. It focuses on the experiences of the Splatsin band (Shuswap people) and how their children were removed in the 1960s and 1970s.
She was also an executive producer for the 2018 drama film Trouble in the Garden.
More recently, Raven worked as a writer and consultant for the award-winning 2023 Crave TV Series Little Bird. This series also explores themes related to the Sixties Scoop. She is currently working on a new feature drama/comedy film project.
