Podcast Interviews
Historical Videos
The Dark Secrets of Alaska in the 70’s
Crooked Pictures LLC
In this interview, I sit down in Anchorage, Alaska — the city where so much of my story unfolds. We talk straight about the wild culture of Anchorage during the 70s oil boom — a time of excess, chaos, and transformation. I share insights into the themes of my memoir, which reflect my experiences growing up in that unpredictable world.
As an adoptee and abuse survivor, I open up about the lasting impact of those formative years. From rebellion and self-discovery to the deeper threads of identity, family, and survival, our conversation pulls back the curtain on a past that still shapes me today. It’s a raw, honest look at the forces that forged my path as both a memoirist and a woman reclaiming her story.
Adoption Reunions TV Series, 1980
At 23, I decided it was time to search for my birth family. With the help of ALMA (Adoptees Liberty Movement Association), I finally connected with my birth father, Harvey Gilbert Letendre — a handsome Métis Cree from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Our reunion took place at the airport, and it was filmed by the local Sacramento news station. Cameras captured the moment as I laid eyes on him for the first time. Later, a camera crew came to my home to interview us, giving us a chance to share our story with the world.
Interview with Daughter, 1994
The Shirley Pickens Show
Three years after our initial reunion, my daughter Mary and I sat side by side for an interview on a cable show in Sacramento. It was a surreal moment — two people once separated by a closed adoption now sharing our story together. As an adoptee myself, I understood the profound ache of disconnection. At just 15 years old, I had relinquished Mary in 1973, never knowing I’d see her again. But here we were, reunited and telling our story — a full circle moment that felt both tender and triumphant.
Personal Archive, 2006
My children meeting my birth father’s family in Canada
Video Title: Pilgrimage to Lac Ste. Anne
In this video, I return to Alberta, Canada, to visit my birth father, Chaps, along with countless relatives at the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage — a sacred gathering place known for its healing waters. This journey was especially meaningful because I was joined by all three of my children, including my daughter, whom I relinquished for adoption in 1973, and her daughter — my first grandchild.
The pilgrimage site sits right next to my birth father's land, a place where my Cree ancestors first settled in the late 1800s. Every July, thousands of Indigenous people from across Alberta, Western Canada, and North America come here for prayer, reflection, healing from the lake's waters, and connection. For me, it was a chance to honor my roots, walk on the land of my ancestors, and share it with my children, grandchild, and extended family — a powerful moment of reclamation and belonging.
Personal Archive, 2006
Visit to my aboriginal roots in Alberta
I return to the land of my ancestors in Gunn, Alberta, Canada — the old, dilapidated farm that once belonged to my Kohkom and Mosom (Cree for grandmother and grandfather). This sacred place, situated on Lac Ste. Anne, just 40 minutes outside of Edmonton, holds deep significance for me. It’s where my roots run deepest and where my story as an adoptee began. I was relinquished for adoption here in 1957, but now I return, not alone, but with my family by my side.
Joining me on this journey are all four of my children: Mary Claire, the daughter I relinquished for adoption in 1973; her daughter, my first grandchild; my son, Quin; and my daughter, Becca. Together, we walk the land that once nurtured my ancestors, standing in the shadow of the farmhouse that still holds their spirit. For me, it’s more than a homecoming — it’s a reclamation of identity, family, and belonging.
Reunion At The Airport, 1991
I was adopted at four months old from a crowded foster home. Growing up, I lived in a house with no mirrors—none of my family members looked like me. At 15, I became pregnant. My Catholic parents forced me to relinquish my baby girl, my only known blood relative, for adoption.For 18 long years, I held onto the hope of meeting her. This is our reunion.
In reunion she discovered her heritage is tied to native people of North America and that her instinct to search was well-timed because her passionate drive was matched by someone else very important to Monica who was looking for her too.