Finding Cleo·Photos

Saskatchewan's Adopt Indian Métis program

The controversial adoption program out of Saskatchewan lead to the separation of thousands of Indigenous children from their families.

Examples of newspaper ads from the late 1960's and early 1970's, showing children who were part of Saskatchewan's Adopt Indian Métis (AIM) program.

(Regina Leader Post)
(Regina Leader Post and Saskatoon Star Pheonix)

In an internal memo from September 25, 1973, the director of Saskatchewan's Adopt Indian Metis suggests a supervisor in North Battleford be named "Salesperson of the Year" in recognition of the number of children made wards of the province, eligible for adoption.

(Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan)

Florence and Otto Driedger were both social workers in Saskatchewan during the period now called the "Sixties Scoop." Otto, who went on to become Director of Child Welfare for the province, started the Adopt Indian Métis program.

(Jennifer Fowler/CBC)

Adopt Indian and Métis news reports

CBC News report by Craig Oliver about the Adopt Indian and Métis program in 1968.

5 years ago
Duration 1:44
A CBC News report from May 5, 1968 about the Adopt Indian Métis program, presented by CBC reporter Craig Oliver.

CBC News report from 1971 by John Warren about the Adopt Indian and Métis program

5 years ago
Duration 1:52
CBC News report from 1971 by John Warren about the Adopt Indian and Métis program

Johnny shares a document from his ward file, in which a social worker describes one of his last encounters with Cleo in 1974, while they were living in separate foster homes.

(Johnny Semaganis/Facebook)

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