National SIXTIES SCOOP HEALING FOUNDATION of Canada's ELDERS CIRCLE
Elder Philomene Sanderson, born in the mid-1940s, is an Indigenous Day-School survivor and had her child taken away without cause except for the fact that she was Indigenous. Elder Sanderson is the Mother of a Sixties Scoop survivor, Elder Sanderson is a member of the Moosomin First Nation and was able to obtain reunification with her scooped child some 21 years later. Elder Sanderson's first language is Plains Cree. She is a respected female elder in her community who is invited to attend and preside as Elder at various Indigenous and non-Indigenous functions, meetings, and events. Elder Sanderson has 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. She is an active member of her community and plays a central role in her family.
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Elder Leone Neville
Elder Leone Neville, a resident of North Battleford Saskatchewan is a Métis elder recognized at the provincial level in the Métis Government of Saskatchewan. Elder Neville, had her baby stolen by the state under the 60’s Scoop in Saskatchewan. Elder Neville with her husband subsequently raised a daughter who assisted in locating Elder Neville’s long-lost son in April of 2025.
In August 2025, the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada was able to arrange and film the first reconnection between herself and her long-lost son in over 50 years. Elder Neville, a retired social worker, has been a foster parent to 32 teenagers who still regard Leone and her husband as family. In 1991 she received a special commendation from the federal department of Indian and Northern Affairs for being an outstanding Métis foster mother for so many children that needed stability, love and place to call home. Since 2021 Elder Neville has been and still is an active elder on the board of elders for Métis Nation of Saskatchewan meetings as well as Métis National Legislative Assembly Government meetings in Saskatchewan. In 2024 Elder Neville was honoured to be recognized as the Edler of the Battleford’s Indian & Métis Friendship Centre. In 2025 both Elder Neville and her husband were awarded the highest honour for the Métis in Saskatchewan, they were both awarded the title of “Elders of Batoche” during the 2025 Back to Batoche Métis cultural celebration
FIRST PERMANENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS – UPDATE
Throughout 2020, based on the recommendations in the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation Survivor Engagement Report, we recruited the first permanent Survivor-led Board of Directors for the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation. Our first official Board of Directors represent compassion, strength, unity and healing.
Official Launch of the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation and Board of Directors Announcement. Captions in French and English will be provided in the future, but for now, the video is available for viewing in its entirety.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Minister Bennett shares remarks on the new permanent Board Members of the Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation and their vital work to address the legacy of the Sixties Scoop.