When you read Beyond the Sixties Scoop by Deborah Ironstand you'll be taken on a journey of brokenness, healing, and resiliency. Deborah writes about childhood memories of living off the land with her mother, grandma, and grandpa in a traditional Anishinaabe and Ojibway household. Then came the foster care system. With her mother experiencing the Residential School System and Deborah being from what has been called the Sixties Scoop generation, life was hard.
Although she had fond memories of her early years, Deborah started to battle with nightmares and depression. As she grew a bit older, she accepted Jesus into her heart as Lord and Savior and felt the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. She moved frequently due to uncomfortable situations that kept arising. Her frequent moves were symbolic of her emotions, all over the place. Not because she was a bad person, but because life kept throwing her curve balls.
Although Deborah stayed in touch with the church and fellow Christians, many people never truly understood what she went through. An abusive marriage led her to women's shelters and communications with the courts and the police.
Struggling as a single mother was a challenge for her. All of this brought home the Bible passage that says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Through regular contact with fellow believers, but more importantly the word of God, she always felt the strength to go on. Deborah is definitely a survivor who, as the title of the book states, has gone Beyond the Sixties Scoop.
-Parry Stelter, wordofhopeministries.ca
