“Offensive” adoption poster irks Inuit leader

The president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Okalik Eegeesiak, said in a statement March 29 that her organization is “greatly disturbed” by a poster that seeks an Inuit family to adopt a young Inuit infant.

“Given the sensitivities involved with adopting Inuit children, it is offensive the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa would choose this method. They should have known better,” Eegeesiak said in a news release.

The poster, distributed by the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa, said they’re looking for a “strong Inuit family” to adopt the child, who is only a few months old.

“He loves being cuddled and he is a happy little boy. When born he needed some help to learn to eat well, but is stronger every day. He is a beautiful, calm and loving baby,” the poster reads.

Eegeesiak, however, said she was “deeply offended” when she read those words.

“There is a correct way to go about trying to find a loving home for a child in need of adoption and advertising him on a poster is not it,” Eegeesiak said.

She said QIA has “been in touch” with the children’s aid society about the poster.

Children’s aid societies in southern Canada often use advertising to find families willing to adopt orphaned children. Is this poster offensive? QIA president Okalik Eegeesiak, in a statement issued March 29, said she is “greatly disturbed” by it.