It's the 60's Baby! Keys 1960 - 1969

Once I started making keys numbering in the 1900’s the meaning changed…suddenly the numbers had a weight or significance to them that wasn’t there before. If I were really clever I would have linked each key in the 1900 block to historic events in the 20th Century (like a crashing 1929 or a liberated 1945 or a cold 1950…or even things closer to home like the birth of my parents in 1939 or my husband in 1951).

I have been thinking about the 1960 keys for quite some time. My older brother was born in ‘63, I was born in ‘64, and my younger brothers were born in ‘66 and ‘69. We grew up together in a white business class family, lacking for nothing material, and being rather spoilt even by the most-white-Canadians-had-it-pretty-good 60’s and 70’s standards.

As I get older and learn more about Canada and what it means to be a Treaty person I have a different understanding of the Sixties Scoop and how my life growing up in Saskatchewan was really a life of take it for granted privilege.

I don’t remember when I first learned about the Sixties Scoop or what I thought initially about it. It is quite something to comprehend - that babies were taken from their families - babies born the same time I was. What would it have been like if I or one of my brothers were just gone and my family had no knowledge about what happened to their child or how to find them?

The numbers on most of these keys come from a circa 1903 adding machine that I took apart. The two keys with metal numbers are ACRO Hold-Tite window markers (numbered tacks with sharp barbs used to keep track of screens, storm windows, drawers, lockers, etc.) made in the U.S.A. in 1948.

My older brother was born in 1963. The rings at the top of this key are from some curtains that my mom sewed with my paternal grandmother when she was pregnant with my older brother. The shaft of this key is from a display case from a store my brother had (that was managed by his son).

I was born in 1964. For this key I choose things that were sparkly (because I like that) and purple and pink (because I like that too). I wouldn’t describe myself as particularly girly - although this key does look that way. I don’t think the ballerina on this key is mine (but it might be); I did have one just like it on a jewelry box.

My middle brother was born in 1966. He is the tallest in the family. The large top of this key is from a necklace my mom used to wear in the 70’s (and maybe the 60’s - I’m not sure). He’s pretty close to her so it’s fitting that something of hers ended up on his key.

My youngest brother was born in 1969. I choose a gold pen case (also likely from the 60’s) for this key (he writes proposals as part of his living) and a gold star for the bottom of the key (he was everyone in the family’s much loved little star when he was born).