Board of Directors
From Left to right: Herb Lehr - Director, Adam North Peigan - President, Sharon Gladue-Paskimin - Vice President, Kathy Hamelin - Secretary, Sandra Relling - Treasurer, Orlando Alexis - Director
Adam North Peigan
Adam North Peigan is from the Piikani First Nation in Treaty 7 and currently resides in Edmonton. Adam has spent his career advocating for the need of Aboriginal Programs and Services in Health, Child and Family, Employment and Training, Education, Housing, Justice and Reconciliation. Adam has numerous years of experience in Governance as a member of Boards and Committees in the Indigenous communities in BC and Alberta. He has served in leadership in his community of Piikani as a member of Chief and Council. Adam has held Public Office being appointed by the Minister of Health in British Columbia in 1998 as a Governor to one of the largest Health Authorities in BC, the South Fraser Health Region.
Adam has held positions in leadership as the Senior Administrator for the Tsawwassen First Nation in BC, the Chief Executive Officer for the Wesley First Nation in Morley and the Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Native Friendship Center in Edmonton.
Adam’s rich culture and tradition as an Indigenous man enriches his life to the fullest. Adam is a Pow Wow dancer in the Men’s Traditional dance category and he has travelled all across Canada and into the US participating in Pow Wow celbrations.
Currently Adam is the Chief Executive Officer of the Edmonton Indigenous Seniors Center. He is also the President of the “Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta”. Under Adam’s leadership the Society is working closely with the Alberta Government and the Government of Canada to bring about reconciliation for all Sixties Scoop Survivors in Alberta and across Canada. Adam was recently appointed to the National Board of the Legacy of Hope Foundation in January 2018.
Sharon Gladue-Paskimin
Vice- President and Co-founder of Sixties Scoop Indigenous Society of Alberta and I am a Cree First Nation born in Turtleford Saskatchewan as Sharon Joan Paskimin. Born to Edith Paskimin (Thunderchild FN) and late David Baptiste (Little Pine FN). Apprehended during the early part of my years and eventually a final apprehension at the age of 5. Adopted out in 1975 at the age of 7 to a half German and half Scottish family on the outskirts of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Growing up in an all Caucasian community I knew I was displaced and I did not belong there. Growing up with abandonment issues I had no knowledge that what I was going through as a Sixties Scoopie was the result of the loss of my identity, family, culture, language, community and to the land that I was once a part of. I left Saskatchewan and went west to Edmonton, Alberta in 1989 and started a family (1 daughter and 4 sons) as well as pursued an education in Aboriginal Child and Family Services as well as numerous educational workshops certificates and diplomas that I now understand lead me to the path I am today.
I have gone through Grief and Trauma training and finally understood some of the reasons why I had abandonment issues as well I understood that I was grieving for the loss of my childhood, family, culture, language and land. I strongly believe that I walk on Mother Earth to assist others who have went through the Sixties Scoop as well as mentor those families who are impacted by Children Services. My life my work is dedicated to my children, my grand children and to those who are affected by the Child Welfare System
