"It's been a long time coming."

That's from Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches referring to the federal government's announcement yesterday of an $800-million dollar compensation package for survivors of the Sixties Scoop.

"My sister was involved in the class action here in Manitoba along with Stewart Garnett a nephew of mine," explains Meeches. "They're in Ottawa right now as part of the announcement. They met with House Minister Carolyn Bennett."

Meeches says it's news that's welcome for many survivors and their families. He notes for some it may not be enough, but at least the government is taking a position to do something nation-wide. He explains his brother and sister were directly part of the ordeal, along with quite a few relatives including others siblings. Meeches says it'll bring some closure.

He adds when relatives came home years after their removal, they were so alienated from their communities that it was a tremendous struggle for them to readjust. Meeches says he wondered where his sister was for the longest time during his years as a child, and finally learned she was an hour or so away in the Winkler area. He notes his mother wanted to locate her before she passed, and was thankfully able to do that.

Meeches adds he spoke to his cousin this morning about the settlement and notes his story was a powerful one. When he and his older brother were taken away on their journey to a new foster home, the older brother wrote a letter and mapped out where they went. He was able to send the letter months later to his father, and his father set out and retrieved the boys.

Meeches notes he gives credit to Former Long Plain Chief Ernie Daniels who highlighted the issue and helped put a stop to the removal of the children.

Dakota Tipi first nation Chief Keith Pashe adds no amount of money can really compensate them for the horrors they experienced.

He notes it affected all First Nations people.

"My mom and dad took us out to the hills and hid us when they came to pick us up -- when our time came back in the day," says Pashe. "We had a large family. We had 12 kids. They hid us. They wouldn't let them take us away, even when the Child and Family Services got involved. They wouldn't' let us be a part of that system."

Pashe explains his mother and father were both in a residential school and when lawyers first spoke of compensation years later, she couldn't talk about it but would break down and cry. He notes his father was severely affected as well. Pashe adds after-affects included alcoholism among many survivors for not being able to deal with what they experienced. He says he couldn't imagine what it was like for them having experienced the sexual abuse that was part of it as well.

After he returned to Dakota Tipi from hiding away while the government representatives arrived to remove the children, Pashe epxlains he recalls seeing no children throughout the community. They had no one to play with for what seemed to be an incredibly long time. Pashe says no one can say it has not affected them all. To be torn apart from your community regardless of age cannot be compensated. He adds no amount of money can fix that.

Pashe notes he understands efforts are trying to be made about the tragedy, but far more is owed than just the money. He acknowledges he doesn't know what can be done. He says the government needs to look at better ways to take care of the First Nations people. He explains First Nations people took care of the white man when he arrived, and helped them survive. He says they didn't scoop away white children from their families when they came across. Pashe says he thinks they're perhaps trying to be fair and make things up to the First Nations, and at least they're trying.