Sixties Scoop survivor held in U.S. jail after attempted return to adoptive family

James Mast, a Cree Sixties Scoop survivor, found himself in a troubling situation as he attempted to make his way to Oklahoma to care for his ailing adoptive father. Mast, 60, was arrested by tribal police on the U.S. side of the Akwesasne reservation and turned over to U.S. Border Patrol. He has been held at the Clinton County jail in Plattsburgh, N.Y. for six weeks as U.S. immigration authorities determine whether to deport him to Canada.

Mast, who was born James Cardinal in Fort McMurray, Alberta, was taken from his family at a young age and adopted by a Mennonite family from Oklahoma. Despite being raised in the United States, Mast has faced challenges related to his status as a Cree individual. His legal troubles began when he was convicted of assaulting a police officer in the mid-1990s and spent 17 years in prison. After his release, he was deported to Canada in 2010 due to his lack of U.S. citizenship.

Mast’s adoptive parents never made him a U.S. citizen, which contributed to his deportation. His adoptive mother, Sadie Mast, passed away before he could return to the United States, leaving Mast feeling frustrated and angry. Despite his troubled past, Mast has expressed a desire to return to Oklahoma to care for his adoptive father, who is in his late 80s and suffering from dementia.

While in custody in Plattsburgh, Mast’s appointed federal public defender, Gabrielle DiBella, has been working to navigate the legal complexities of his case. Under the 1794 Jay Treaty, individuals with at least 50 percent First Nations parentage have certain rights to cross freely between Canada and the U.S. DiBella has emphasized Mast’s Native American heritage as a key factor in his case.

Mast’s cousin, Bonnie Bellah, who is currently caring for his adoptive father in Oklahoma, has expressed the family’s desire for Mast to return home. Despite the challenges and obstacles Mast has faced, his family remains supportive and eager for his safe return.

As Mast awaits the decision of U.S. immigration authorities, he remains hopeful that he will be able to reunite with his adoptive father and provide him with the care he needs in his final years. The journey has been long and difficult for Mast, but his determination to fulfill his responsibilities as a son and caregiver has not wavered.