Little Bird

Watch some great storytelling in the Sixties Scoop drama, Little Bird, on Crave and APTN, in Canada. If you are adopted and have searched for your biological family, this story will ring true for you, no matter what your cultural background is. Darla Contois plays the lead character, Bezhig Little Bird, a.k.a. Esther Rosenblumd, serving up an emotional vulnerability that is relatable and really connects. Co-director Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, is a young, upcoming talent to watch for. Check out the article by Debra Yeo, Toronto Star, who provides a synopsis of the show and tidbits about those involved in the production. The music is amazing, too - especially the tracks by Buffy Sainte-Marie. Watch on Crave and APTN.

S1, Episode 6, Bineshi Kwe, we learn about the practice of birth alerts used by Children’s Aid Societies in Canada. In this situation, a social worker from Child Protective Services is alerted by hospital staff when they believe that a child born to a mother in their hospital is perceived as putting their child at risk. This practice occurs mostly to Indigenous and Black mothers who have just given birth in a hospital setting, and continues today in some provinces. The Ontario and BC provincial governments have recently revoked the law, thankfully, but there is much more work to be done. Supporting pregnant women in crisis, providing compassionate aftercare, and giving new mothers the support that keeps mother and baby together are vital to individuals, their family, and their community. Check out these links to find out more about the provinces who are doing the right thing with regards to this inhumane law: Ontario Ends Birth Alerts, Birth Alerts Continue in Ottawa Hospital After 2020.