Manitoba men switched at birth

Two men from Manitoba, Canada, are investigating the circumstances surrounding them being given to the wrong families after being born at a federal hospital.

Luke Monias and Norman Barkman were born June 19, 1975 in the twin northern Manitoba communities known as Norway House, and grew up on the Garden Hill reserve, which now has a population of about 2,800 and is accessible only by airplane and ice roads. The two boys grew up as close friends in the remote fly-in First Nation community and many people noticed as they grew older that they resembled each other’s family members more than their own, the minister said.

The men said that while they often questioned whether they were in the right family, neither suspected it of being anything more than a rumor until recently. We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about.

“The lives of Luke, Norman and their families have been irreversibly torn apart by this error, an error that can not simply be overturned at this late time”.

“I just want to know what happened 40 years ago”.

Barkman told reporters that one of his brothers said that looking at Luke Monias was “like looking into the mirror”.

Parents, siblings, children and other relatives are now learning that the person they thought was related to them is, in fact, not.

Robinson said “the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of both men has been deeply affected by the loss of their proper identity”. “I just want to know what happened”. “I would like a few answers for me and my family”. Barkman’s true biological mother is deceased.