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Nakuset (b. 1970) is a Cree Indigenous activist, living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[1] Nakuset is a survivor of the "Sixties Scoop," when Canadian government policy lead to many Indigenous children being forcibly and purposefully adopted into non-Indigenous families.[2] Nakuset reclaimed her Indigenous identity and status as a young adult.[2] She earned a Bachelors of Applied Science from Concordia University in Montreal.[3] Nakuset has worked for the Native Friendship Network of Montreal, and as the Executive Director for the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal.[4][5] She has earned a number of recognitions and awards for her work, advocacy and activism, and has been the subject of a number of media reports and documentaries.[6][7][8]
Nakuset was born in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada in 1970.[1] Her Cree community is located in La Ronge, Saskatchewan.[9] Nakuset was taken from her Cree parents and siblings at age three, was put up for adoption, and was legally adopted and raised by a Jewish family in Montreal, Quebec.[10] Her adoptive parents adopted her through Jewish Family Services [9] out of a catalogue of First Nations Children created by the Government of Canada to place First Nations children from "problematic homes" into non-Indigenous families.[2] Nakuset's adoption occureed during a period in the 1960s and 70s in Canada known as the Sixties Scoop. As part of the Sixties Scoop, she was one of the 20,000 Indigenous children and youth who faced forced adoption.[11] Nakuset's adoptive parents changed her name to "Marci." Nakuset's adoptive family already had an adopted son who was nine months older than her. After her adoption, her adoptive parents had their first biological child, a girl.[9]
In her teenage years, Nakuset struggled with her Indigenous identity and with accepting herself.[10] Her grandmother whom she lovingly calls "Bubby" played a very important role in her life. In a documentary on her life created by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, she mentioned that her grandmother "was like the anchor, the only person that I could talk to and feel comfortable with."[2] When no one believed in her, including herself, it was her "Bubby" who gave her motivation to live life. It was her grandmother who helped her to connect with her biological family (her biological mother and sister).[2] In her late teens, with the help of her Bubby, Nakuset contacted and eventually visited her biological family. She later got her Indian status and changed her name to Nakuset.[2]
Nakuset was a consultant for the TV Series "Little Bird," and much of the story in that series was based on her life and experiences.[8]
Nakuset is now a mother of three boys.[9]
Nakuset began her career as a support worker with the Native Friendship Network of Montreal.[5] Soon after, Nakuset enrolled in Concordia University and graduated with a Bachelors of Applied Science (BAsc) and a degree in Human Relations.[3] While a student, she joined the Native Women's Shelter, an Indigenous organization that provides support, shelter, and empowerment exclusively to Indigenous women and their children.[12] Her initial role was as a front line worker and after years of service, she became the Executive Director of the Native woman's shelter in 2004.[12][13]
One of the projects Nakuset spear-headed early in her career was a cultural manual for non-Indigenous families who adopted or fostered Indigenous children, to encourage a strengthening of the adoption process and provide adequate support to Indigenous children.[5][14]
She is also the co-founder of Resilience Montreal, a community-led outreach project created in 2019 to support homeless people in the Cabot Square area of Montreal.[15]
- Woman of the Year 2014, nominated by the Montreal Council of Women[6]
- Recipient of Paul-Gérin-Lajoie Award for Diversity, 2021[7]
- Recipient of the Women of Distinction 2022: Inspiration Award, 2022[6]
- Appointed to the Human Rights Walkaway, and inducted into the city of Côte Saint-Luc, 2023[7][16]
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