Nakuset

Na'kuset (born 1970) is a Cree Indigenous activist, living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Na'kuset is a survivor of the "Sixties Scoop," when Canadian government policy lead to many Indigenous children being forcibly and purposefully adopted into non-Indigenous families. and Becoming Nakuset.

Early life Na'kuset was born in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada in 1970. Na'kuset was taken from her Cree mother and siblings at age three, was put up for adoption, and was legally adopted and raised by a Jewish family in Montreal, Quebec. Her adoptive parents adopted her through Jewish Family Services Na'kuset's adoption occurred during a period in the 1960s and 70s in Canada known as the Sixties Scoop. As part of the Sixties Scoop, she was one of the 20,000 Indigenous children and youth who faced forced adoption. Na'kuset's adoptive parents changed her name to "Marci." Na'kuset's adoptive family already had an adopted son who was nine months older than she.

In her teenage years, Na'kuset struggled with her Indigenous identity and with accepting herself. Soon after, Na'kuset enrolled in Concordia University and graduated with a Bachelors of Applied Science (BAsc) and a degree in Human Relations. While a student, she joined the Native Women's Shelter, an Indigenous organization that provides support, shelter, and empowerment exclusively to Indigenous women and their children.

One of the projects Na'kuset spear-headed early in her career was a cultural manual for non-Indigenous families who adopted or fostered Indigenous children, to encourage a strengthening of the adoption process and provide adequate support to Indigenous children.

She is also the co-founder of Resilience Montreal, a community-led outreach project created in 2019 to support homeless people in the Cabot Square area of Montreal.

Distinctions Woman of the Year 2014, nominated by the Montreal Council of Women Recipient of Paul-Gérin-Lajoie Award for Diversity, 2021