Showing posts with label Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare. Show all posts
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Nat'l Adoption Month - Sign Petition for Equal Protection for Indian Kids
Friends!
We have 30 days to get 25,000 signatures in order for our petition to be reviewed by the White House.
November is National Adoption Month - Let's do this Petition as our part in helping children this month. We need 6250 signatures a week to meet that goal. Let's pray for God's help and get started.
On Nov 19, Nat'l Adoption Day, families, adoption advocates, policymakers, judges and volunteers will come together and celebrate adoption in communities across the nation. We are setting a goal of 10,000 signatures by that date.
Please Sign the Petition and Use every method you have to share this link - http://wh.gov/bvZ - If everyone could get just 10 people to sign the petition and share it with at least 3 of their friends, we'll have it made!
Thank you friends!
TEXT OF PETITION:
Across America, children who had never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs have been taken from homes they know and love and placed with strangers chosen by tribal social services. This includes MULTI-racial children with minimal heritage.
Because of poorly thought out law called the 'Indian Child Welfare Act';
1) Kids have been removed from safe, loving homes and placed in dangerous ones.
2) Some families, Indian and non-Indian, have felt threatened by tribal gov't and have had no money to get legal help.
3) Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not always allowed to children of all heritages.
4) Constitutional right of parents to make choices for their families is being interfered with. Some tribal families don't want to be on the reservation.
SIGN AT http://wh.gov/bvZ
,
We have 30 days to get 25,000 signatures in order for our petition to be reviewed by the White House.
November is National Adoption Month - Let's do this Petition as our part in helping children this month. We need 6250 signatures a week to meet that goal. Let's pray for God's help and get started.
On Nov 19, Nat'l Adoption Day, families, adoption advocates, policymakers, judges and volunteers will come together and celebrate adoption in communities across the nation. We are setting a goal of 10,000 signatures by that date.
Please Sign the Petition and Use every method you have to share this link - http://wh.gov/bvZ - If everyone could get just 10 people to sign the petition and share it with at least 3 of their friends, we'll have it made!
Thank you friends!
TEXT OF PETITION:
We petition the Obama Administration to:
Ensure that Children of tribal heritage are guaranteed protection equal to that of any other child in the United States
Across America, children who had never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs have been taken from homes they know and love and placed with strangers chosen by tribal social services. This includes MULTI-racial children with minimal heritage.
Because of poorly thought out law called the 'Indian Child Welfare Act';
1) Kids have been removed from safe, loving homes and placed in dangerous ones.
2) Some families, Indian and non-Indian, have felt threatened by tribal gov't and have had no money to get legal help.
3) Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not always allowed to children of all heritages.
4) Constitutional right of parents to make choices for their families is being interfered with. Some tribal families don't want to be on the reservation.
SIGN AT http://wh.gov/bvZ
,
Friday, October 21, 2011
Indian Children: Citizens, not Cultural Artifacts
Are Children’s Lives Destroyed by ICWA?
Attend the Indian Child Welfare Act “Teach-In”
Friday, October 28, 2011, 9am - 1pm
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing Room, Dirksen Bldg, Wash, DC
Keynote speaker: Dr. William B. Allen
Across America, children who had never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs - including multi-racial children with extremely minimal blood quantum - have been removed from homes they know and love and placed with strangers chosen by tribal social services.
The Indian Child Welfare Act was passed in 1978 in effort to help prevent Native-American tribes and families from losing children to non-Native homes through foster care and adoption. Though well-intentioned, the Act is now harming children all across the country as courts and tribes place culture and tribal sovereignty above children’s basic needs for permanency and stability.
Come hear real stories of children whose lives have been impacted by the Indian Child Welfare Act. Listen to legal experts and scholars discuss the constitutionality of an Act that limits placement options and delays permanency for many of our nation’s most vulnerable children.
1) Some Children have been removed from safe, loving homes and placed into dangerous situations.2) Some families, Indian and non-Indian, have felt threatened by tribal government. Some have had to mortgage homes and endure lengthy legal processes to protect their children.3) Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not always available to children of all heritages.4) The constitutional right of parents to make life choices for their children including political associations has been interfered with.5) The constitutional right for children of Indian heritage to enjoy Equal Protection has in some cases been denied.
Letters from tribal and non-tribal birth parents, extended family, foster parents and pre-adoptive families can be read at http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
In the words of Dr. William Allen, Emeritus Professor, Political Science, MSU and former Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1989),
“... we are talking about our brothers and our sisters. We’re talking about what happens to people who share with us an extremely important identity. And that identity is the identity of free citizens in a Republic…"
The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) is the only national organization advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). We well understand the original purpose of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Although ICWA has safeguards to prevent misuse, stories affecting multi-racial families abound across America. It is important that we come together as a community to talk about them.
Monday, October 3, 2011
We Won!!!
It’s been a long and difficult two years, but God is good and faithful. Thank you for your prayers and support. Also thank you for telling us about [the attorney]. We will forever be indebted.
Where do I start? As you probably remember our story started with a baby girl born out of wedlock to an Indian father and Caucasian mother. The mother chose us to adopt (non-native) and the father agreed at the time. Now to bring you up to speed since our last letter Nov ’09. We waited until the bio-father was out of jail in hopes to meet with him and his family about the adoption. It was our understanding that the only reason the tribe intervened in November ’09 was because they believed the paternal family wanted to adopt her and that the father changed his mind. We felt that waiting was our only option because our attorney at the time was not supportive of us. He felt that we would never win regardless of what we did. We wanted our attorney at the time to co-counsel with [the attorney], but our attorney was very negative, made it sound like it was going to cost us thousands and it would all be a waste of time anyways. We didn’t believe that so like I said we waited. Eight months later we met with the father and family. They all agreed to the adoption. After that conversation we believed we would be able to adopt without the tribe interfering (they had originally released us to adopt). So we hired a new attorney to handle the adoption. We were talking with the father and hoping to finalize in Feb 2011. In Dec ’09 we had asked the father to come for a Christmas visit. He accepted. But the day arrived and he didn’t show up, no call or anything. The next thing we know our attorney receives a letter from the tribe that stated that the father came into the tribal attorney’s office refusing to agree to the adoption and the tribe was intervening. Unfortunately, our case was one of our attorney’s last cases because he was retiring. So needless to say we had to find a new attorney to take our now contested case. We were blessed to find ------------. She was willing to co-counsel with [the attorney] and they made an awesome team. Both of them fight for the child’s rights with honesty and dignity. They made our case bullet proof and we won... The tribe still has 42 days to appeal the decision, but ----- talked to the tribal attorney and he said that he is recommending that the tribe DOES NOT intervene. Like I said our attorneys made our case bullet proof so it would be unlikely for the tribe to win even in the Supreme Court. We will wait out the 42 days and finalize the adoption after [in] October…[We] are still in a state of shock or disbelief. Maybe it will hit us when we sign the final papers.
Again, thank you for all of your support and prayers. We truly believe that we would not be holding our precious forever daughter without your guidance to the right attorney, your encouragement and your website to educate us. We have directed others to your website and have been able to educate others because of it. We were surprised how many people including Natives that are not aware of ICWA.
As I have promised in the past I will do what I can to help support you and the people you help as soon as this is over.
Many blessings,
Thursday, September 29, 2011
CONGRATULATIONS for Successful Adoptions!!
TO FIVE WONDERFUL FAMILIES –
Who in the last two months have either successfully completed their adoptions or will be completing them shortly –
To the three awesome families in Texas, one in California, and the beautiful family in Idaho – CONGRATULATIONS!
Please also give a very special thanks to a wonderful attorney who ministered for most of these children in very wise and beneficial ways – as well as to Johnston Moore and Andy Reum, two board members who were willing and available to speak to and encourage a couple of the families.
AND a VERY SPECIAL THANKS – To all those who have been praying faithfully for these families as well as the many others who contact us!! God Bless all you awesome prayer warriors!
Who in the last two months have either successfully completed their adoptions or will be completing them shortly –To the three awesome families in Texas, one in California, and the beautiful family in Idaho – CONGRATULATIONS!
Please also give a very special thanks to a wonderful attorney who ministered for most of these children in very wise and beneficial ways – as well as to Johnston Moore and Andy Reum, two board members who were willing and available to speak to and encourage a couple of the families.
AND a VERY SPECIAL THANKS – To all those who have been praying faithfully for these families as well as the many others who contact us!! God Bless all you awesome prayer warriors!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Holding an ICWA 'Teach In', Friday, Oct 28 in Washington, DC!
Thank you for your continued support and prayers!!
We received final confirmation from Senator Hoeven’s office today: The ICWA "Teach-in" will be held FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th, 9am to 1pm in the Senate Committee for Indian Affairs hearing room in Washington DC.
Dr. William B. Allen will be our main speaker and we expect the information and material offered to be exceptional. Dr. Allen is a Professor in Political Science, the former Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights under Ronald Reagan, and a strong opponent of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Dr. William B. Allen will be our main speaker and we expect the information and material offered to be exceptional. Dr. Allen is a Professor in Political Science, the former Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights under Ronald Reagan, and a strong opponent of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Remember – the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) is the ONLY national organization advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and has been advocating for families since 2004.
Feb 26, 2011— “We need help! This child will be dead in this woman's hands. We feel the good fight to do what's right but fear this child will be severely marred.”
April 7, 2011— “I have no were else to turn. My girls and i are in desperate need of help. If there is anyway you can help us please contact me as soon possible day or night…”
May 18, 2011—”our kids were taken yesterday. The pain is difficult to bear. We love these kids so much. This will be there third family placement since coming into foster care almost 2 years ago.”
ALL are welcome to come join and support us there. Come on Wednesday prior and spend a couple days visiting with the offices of your Senators and Representatives - and invite their staff to come attend the Teach-in!
Please share this note with friends and relatives that might be interested!
Also - We still have SAMARITAN Discount cards available for sale to help with expenses ;)
Contact me if you would like one or would like a few to share some with friends!
Lisa - writeus@caicw.org
Website http://caicw.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CAICW ( @CAICW )
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
DONATIONS NEEDED for Teach-in expenses! Thanks!!! :) - Click this Link for direct donations to CAICW, a 501c3 non-profit
.
.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
We are in Desperate Need of Help -
Hey wonderful peoples – with school out, does anyone have extra time?
We could really use your help – prayer wise as well as hands on.
I am the administrator of CAICW – but only a volunteer in a one man office - and have to work as an RN to support my family. So I am doing the best I can, but it ends up being slow – much too slow. It breaks my heart that I can’t move any faster than I am.
Right now:
1) An attorney in the Twin Cities is working on draft legislation to present to Congress
2) We are setting up a seminar for Congressmen, teaching reality of ICWA.
3) We NEED help fundraising
4) We NEED website work on caicw.org
5) We NEED help monitoring this facebook page
6) We NEED another newsletter out
– I appreciate anything you can do – Thanks so much for your prayers -
I am Elizabeth (Lisa) Morris, Administrator
Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW)
PO Box 253, Hillsboro ND 58045
administrator@caicw.org
http://caicw.org/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CAICW
To Donate:
https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1004119&code=Email+Solicitation
Monday, April 11, 2011
WASHINGTON DC—JANUARY 2011
 |
| Dr. William B. Allen |
We can’t allow Congress to do that. We, as families, have been helpless before this law. Many families have had little opportunity to protect themselves or their children. This is about Constitutional rights – our Equal Protection.
We next met with the Chief of Staff for Senator Hoeven (R-ND), Don Larson, and his assistant, Kaitland. Senator Hoeven has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. (SCIA). Mr. Larson felt this issue was something the Senator could "move forward" with.
We also met with Katherine Haley, Assistant to Policy for Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH). She said that the speaker holds great importance to protecting families and that the Speaker can get behind this. She told us to push for committee hearings and reminded us that federal policy and oversight is a touchy subject.
While some of us were visiting the Speaker’s office, others visited with Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), who is also a member of the SCIA. Those who visited his office were not confident that he would be helpful, and aides to Senator Kohl (D-WI): kept referring us back to the tribes, saying everything is up to them.
Aide to Rep Berg (R-ND), Patrick Buell, was very interested and said he would talk to a staffer friend of his on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs - and he did. The friend called on Wednesday, February 3rd and was encouraging. He thought new hearings might be possible - if the new Chairman agreed.
Some of us began Tuesday, January 25th, with a meeting with Gary Bauer, of American Values.org. He urged us to find one person in the House and one in the Senate who will make this issue their cause – who will see it as an opportunity to become a real reformer. He also encouraged us to find a new Governor who isn’t afraid to make this issue a priority.
We next met with Clay Lightfoot, aide to Senator Coburn (R-Ok). Senator Coburn had been a long standing member of the SCIA up until this year when he was moved from the committee. Still, his office has had an interest in this issue over the years. Their interest continues despite having been moved from the committee.
Fern Goodhart, aide to Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), also on the SCIA, was less encouraging. She said there was little that can be done as the issue is up to the tribes and the Committee.
Rep. Kristi Noem’s office, (R-SD), was very welcoming and interested. We met with her aide, Renee Latterell. Brand new to Congress, Rep. Noem is a Teaparty conservative who has been assigned to House Committee on Resources and its subcommittee on Indian Affairs. Renee was VERY encouraging and said they would like to help.
Rep Michelle Bachmann’s aide, (R-MN), Reneee Doyle was also very kind and helpful. We told her that my children and grandchildren are all enrollable with the Minnesota Chippewas Tribe, and that the State of Minnesota had made it much more difficult for families such as ours when they passed a law three years ago forbidding judges to even consider whether or not a child or family is connected with the tribal community. She said she would do her best to talk to Rep. Bachmann, who is also a foster mom, about it.
On Wednesday, we met with Lea Stueve, aide to Senator Johnanns (R-NE)(SCIA): She wasn’t as encouraging and said that the issue is up to the committee.
John Fetzer, aide to Senator Conrad (D-ND)(SCIA), was very warm and interested. He said that new hearings are worth taking a look at "especially when it affects kids this directly." He told us to keep in touch with him "if it's not moving along as fast as you would like."
Remember - As one Senate Aide told us: we need to get on the phone and preach this: ~ The welfare of children shouldn’t be political; it MUST be about the best interest of the child. We must remove “preference” for tribes and give strength to family. ~
UPDATE – Renee Doyle, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, aide, called two weeks ago and said that she has spent nights thinking about our meeting with her on January 25th. The story that she had heard from one of the mother's with us had "broken her heart." She wanted the mother to know that her story had not fallen on deaf ears, and that she was meeting with Don Young's aide to talk about it. I gave her Dr. William Allen's contact phone number to get some additional questions answered.
Letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, pre-adoptive families, tribal members and non-members can be read at: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
SIGN THE PETITION: "She Wanted Us to Save Her..."
.
An adoptive mother made her first contact with CAICW on Facebook about 1am Saturday morning, Nov. 20, 2010, only hours after she had lost her little girl:
Advocates of ICWA point to the devastation suffered by children of tribal heritage when, years ago, they were forcefully removed from homes they loved and forced to stay at boarding schools. The trauma those children experienced was, indeed, horrible and devastating.
However, in the implementation of the ICWA, the exact same thing has been happening to children in reverse.
What has to be acknowledged is that we live in a transient, multi-racial society. This means that many children who fall under the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act have more than one heritage, and many times are predominantly of another heritage, and/or have family who not only aren’t connected to the Reservation, but have specifically LEFT it—having chosen not to participate in the reservation system. Their reasons include the high alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, child neglect, corruption, and suicide rates.
Though some argue ICWA has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children are negatively affected by its application. Letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, and adoptive families concerning their children hurt by application of ICWA can be read at ~ http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
YOUR PRAYERS are a Powerful Blessing for these families!
Due to ICWA, dozens of adoptions are held up every year. Even simple adoptions can be expensive and many families aren’t prepared for this additional expense. Time and again families have contacted the CAICW to ask for help because they don’t have the funds needed to hire attorney’s to defend their children.
A Firefighter in Texas, with his wife, stopped an abortion by offering to take the baby. They received the little boy immediately after birth and began adoption proceedings. The baby had been with them for a few weeks when they were informed a tribe was laying claim to the child - who had less than 2% heritage. The family, already loving the baby, fought back. Five years and thousands of dollars later, the little boy has still not been adopted.
Had the birth mother chosen abortion, no one would have stopped her.
Birth families have been hurt as well. After mortgaging homes and having nothing else to use, some have been forced to give up the fight for their children.
One grandfather with nothing left to fight with signed his final letter to us as "former grandfather of..."
A mother, responding to a tribal court summons for what was supposed to be a simple hearing, had her little girl ripped from her arms, not to be returned again.
Latino grandparents were raising their three grandchildren in California until social services decided that the children, 50% Ute, belonged on the reservation. They took the children from their paternal grandparents and placed them with their maternal grandmother on the Ute reservation,
where she proceeded to beat the boys for speaking Spanish. Three weeks later, one was near dead. His younger brother presented at the hospital with raccoon eyes.
The maternal grandmother is now in prison and the children are again with their paternal grandparents. The oldest is permanently brain damaged.
A mother, having sent her children to visit their father for two weeks for a county ordered visitation, received a sudden tribal court summons. Believing that she was required to respond, she showed up for the hearing, where she was told the children were now in the custody of the father, and she is not allowed to step foot on the reservation again. When she went back to the county court to fight it, she was told that because she responded to the tribal court summons, she had voluntarily given them jurisdiction.
How was she to know?
A non-Indian father in Oklahoma was told that because he was "white," he had no rights to his child.
Of course that wasn't true. But unless a person has money to fight back with, whether it is true or not makes no difference.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. These families can not fight this alone.
An adoptive mother made her first contact with CAICW on Facebook about 1am Saturday morning, Nov. 20, 2010, only hours after she had lost her little girl:"They just took my baby after 3 years...her sobbing is forever etched in my soul. She wanted us to save her and we couldn't…devastated."
"..the despair on her face ... She didn't want to go and was looking for us to protect her and we couldn't...I can't remember ever feeling so worthless."Saturday, Nov. 20th, was National Adoption Day. On this day, a small girl, denied the right to be adopted by the only mother she'd ever known, spent the first day in her memory in foster care, frightened and alone. She was denied the right to be adopted by her “mom” solely because of heritage. In America, having even a small amount of Indian heritage can mean not having the same rights & opportunities for adoption that other children have.
SIGN THE PETITION
- Petition closes Jan. 21, 2011 - to be presented to Congressmen in DC Jan. 24-26.
Advocates of ICWA point to the devastation suffered by children of tribal heritage when, years ago, they were forcefully removed from homes they loved and forced to stay at boarding schools. The trauma those children experienced was, indeed, horrible and devastating.
However, in the implementation of the ICWA, the exact same thing has been happening to children in reverse.
What has to be acknowledged is that we live in a transient, multi-racial society. This means that many children who fall under the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act have more than one heritage, and many times are predominantly of another heritage, and/or have family who not only aren’t connected to the Reservation, but have specifically LEFT it—having chosen not to participate in the reservation system. Their reasons include the high alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, child neglect, corruption, and suicide rates.
Though some argue ICWA has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children are negatively affected by its application. Letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, and adoptive families concerning their children hurt by application of ICWA can be read at ~ http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
YOUR PRAYERS are a Powerful Blessing for these families!
Due to ICWA, dozens of adoptions are held up every year. Even simple adoptions can be expensive and many families aren’t prepared for this additional expense. Time and again families have contacted the CAICW to ask for help because they don’t have the funds needed to hire attorney’s to defend their children.
A Firefighter in Texas, with his wife, stopped an abortion by offering to take the baby. They received the little boy immediately after birth and began adoption proceedings. The baby had been with them for a few weeks when they were informed a tribe was laying claim to the child - who had less than 2% heritage. The family, already loving the baby, fought back. Five years and thousands of dollars later, the little boy has still not been adopted.
Had the birth mother chosen abortion, no one would have stopped her.
Birth families have been hurt as well. After mortgaging homes and having nothing else to use, some have been forced to give up the fight for their children.
One grandfather with nothing left to fight with signed his final letter to us as "former grandfather of..."
A mother, responding to a tribal court summons for what was supposed to be a simple hearing, had her little girl ripped from her arms, not to be returned again.
Latino grandparents were raising their three grandchildren in California until social services decided that the children, 50% Ute, belonged on the reservation. They took the children from their paternal grandparents and placed them with their maternal grandmother on the Ute reservation,
where she proceeded to beat the boys for speaking Spanish. Three weeks later, one was near dead. His younger brother presented at the hospital with raccoon eyes. The maternal grandmother is now in prison and the children are again with their paternal grandparents. The oldest is permanently brain damaged.
A mother, having sent her children to visit their father for two weeks for a county ordered visitation, received a sudden tribal court summons. Believing that she was required to respond, she showed up for the hearing, where she was told the children were now in the custody of the father, and she is not allowed to step foot on the reservation again. When she went back to the county court to fight it, she was told that because she responded to the tribal court summons, she had voluntarily given them jurisdiction.
How was she to know?
A non-Indian father in Oklahoma was told that because he was "white," he had no rights to his child.
Of course that wasn't true. But unless a person has money to fight back with, whether it is true or not makes no difference.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. These families can not fight this alone.
SIGN THE PETITION
- Petition closes Jan. 21, 2011 - to be presented to Congressmen in DC Jan. 24-26.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Letters from Families Hurt by the Indian Child Welfare Act -
.
I am giving you the link to letters families have written us so that you can see what the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) sees, read what CAICW reads, and understand what is happening to children and families right here in the US.
People tend to ignore the Indian Child Welfare Act, believing that it doesn't affect them and that the children really do belong... to the tribes.
But..that includes my children and grandchildren as well as the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of all the people that have written to CAICW, begging for help.
The fact is that in some cases, a child needs only a small amount of heritage for tribal gov'ts, who get more funding per head, to reach out and insert themselves into a child's life. Many families have told us that they never expected to ever have to deal with something like this.
And remember, CAICW is a very smal org with very little public presence. If all thse people have found them - how many more are out there that haven't? ~
http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
.
People tend to ignore the Indian Child Welfare Act, believing that it doesn't affect them and that the children really do belong... to the tribes.
But..that includes my children and grandchildren as well as the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of all the people that have written to CAICW, begging for help.
The fact is that in some cases, a child needs only a small amount of heritage for tribal gov'ts, who get more funding per head, to reach out and insert themselves into a child's life. Many families have told us that they never expected to ever have to deal with something like this.
And remember, CAICW is a very smal org with very little public presence. If all thse people have found them - how many more are out there that haven't? ~
http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
.
Encouraging letter from Adoptive Mom:
.
This letter below came on Friday. All identyfiying information has been removed -
It is great encouragement, especially since I keep kicking myself about the website (www.caicw.org) not being good enough!
Praise God for the Work He is doing! - and thanks to all our friends for helping us keep going -
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:56:10 -0500 (EST)
To: administrator@caicw.org
Dearest Lisa,
I wanted to drop you a note the let you know we won our court case against the tribe .... We went to court in Aug. 2009 and in Sept. the judge ruled that the kids should stay with us. But, of course the tribe appealed his decision the day before the deadline... The State Court of Appeals heard the case... this year and ..they affirmed the judges decision. ... It cost us $10,000.00 and a lot of worry but we are finally proceeding with the adoption. Our family would like to thank you so very much for your organization and all the help it provides families like ours, without the information on your web site I don't know if our lawyer could have made such a good case using other state case law. You provide an invaluable service to children hurt by ICWA and God will lead you to do even better things. I received your newsletter yesterday and vow to get as many signatures as I can to sent back to you. I wish I could do more but I will pray for you everyday. If you want to know more or if there is anything I can do from here... please contact me. Our family is forever in your debt. Again, thank you for all you do, and have a Happy Holiday, WE WILL.
Sincerely,
- a very happy MOM
This letter below came on Friday. All identyfiying information has been removed -
It is great encouragement, especially since I keep kicking myself about the website (www.caicw.org) not being good enough!
Praise God for the Work He is doing! - and thanks to all our friends for helping us keep going -
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:56:10 -0500 (EST)
To: administrator@caicw.org
Dearest Lisa,
I wanted to drop you a note the let you know we won our court case against the tribe .... We went to court in Aug. 2009 and in Sept. the judge ruled that the kids should stay with us. But, of course the tribe appealed his decision the day before the deadline... The State Court of Appeals heard the case... this year and ..they affirmed the judges decision. ... It cost us $10,000.00 and a lot of worry but we are finally proceeding with the adoption. Our family would like to thank you so very much for your organization and all the help it provides families like ours, without the information on your web site I don't know if our lawyer could have made such a good case using other state case law. You provide an invaluable service to children hurt by ICWA and God will lead you to do even better things. I received your newsletter yesterday and vow to get as many signatures as I can to sent back to you. I wish I could do more but I will pray for you everyday. If you want to know more or if there is anything I can do from here... please contact me. Our family is forever in your debt. Again, thank you for all you do, and have a Happy Holiday, WE WILL.
Sincerely,
- a very happy MOM
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Meeting with Sen. Elect John Hoeven's Chief of Staff
.
At 7 am, Wednesday Dec. 15th, my 18-year-old son, Timothy, and I headed out to Bismarck to meet with Sen. Elect Hoeven’s Chief of Staff, Don Larson at 11 am. Although the sky was cloudy, the roads were clear. About half way into the trip, I became a little concerned as light flurries began. But the weather report indicated things should get better, so we kept going. From there, the roads varied between light snow-pack and wet. About an hour later, as I topped a slight hill, the bright red brake lights of a semi truck confronted me. Stepping on my brakes, our car began to slide on slick black ice. Pumping and counter turning, it began to fishtail. Not wanting to go into a spin, I avoided the semi and let us skid into the ditch.
Timothy says he’s just glad he wasn’t the one that was driving.
About a half mile ahead of us, a mini-van had spun out of control and flipped. To avoid hitting it, a semi jack-knifed and blocked the road. A second semi managed to stop, and that’s the one we came up behind.
I got out of our tiny Saturn, which was deep in snow and now pointing back east, and went to the road to wave the cars coming up the hill to slow down. Several drivers, seeing the wreck ahead of them, thought traffic would be stuck there for a couple hours. I have to admire North Dakota response. The police and a sanding dump truck took only minutes to arrive. The dump truck immediately assisted in moving the semi and managed to get it off the road. A path was cleared for traffic to move in less than fifteen minutes. It was amazing.
Unfortunately, we, the only car in the ditch, weren’t among the vehicles leaving.
By the time we were pulled out, it was too late to make the meeting. But I had called by quarter to and made arrangements for a conference call the next day.
So what of all the prayers people were praying for us concerning the meeting that day? Timothy and I are fine. The car is fine. Considering we could have ended up a fixture on the rear of a semi, that’s answer to prayer.
And – prior to the call the next day, I had a chance to relax and go over in my mind what I wanted to say… what I wanted Senator Hoeven to gain from this meeting.
I began by introducing myself and giving him my background as the wife and mother of enrolled members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
I stated the issue concerning us, and then said, “While the Indian Child Welfare Act is embraced by tribal government, it has hurt many multi-racial children and families across the United States.”
I then quoted from a parent letter, told him a couple stories, and went on from there. I had talking points in front of me, and was able to go point by point quickly and easily. No stuttering, no flusters. Mr. Larson was attentive and kind. The call went very well. I followed up with an email to him, thanking him for the call and attaching additional information for him, including our legislative draft.
Hmmm… Maybe I should do all our meetings by conference call…
Thanks so much for your support!
To help spread the word - Please also share these important links:
Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
Home Website: http://www.caicw.org
Cause page: http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org
.
At 7 am, Wednesday Dec. 15th, my 18-year-old son, Timothy, and I headed out to Bismarck to meet with Sen. Elect Hoeven’s Chief of Staff, Don Larson at 11 am. Although the sky was cloudy, the roads were clear. About half way into the trip, I became a little concerned as light flurries began. But the weather report indicated things should get better, so we kept going. From there, the roads varied between light snow-pack and wet. About an hour later, as I topped a slight hill, the bright red brake lights of a semi truck confronted me. Stepping on my brakes, our car began to slide on slick black ice. Pumping and counter turning, it began to fishtail. Not wanting to go into a spin, I avoided the semi and let us skid into the ditch.
Timothy says he’s just glad he wasn’t the one that was driving.
About a half mile ahead of us, a mini-van had spun out of control and flipped. To avoid hitting it, a semi jack-knifed and blocked the road. A second semi managed to stop, and that’s the one we came up behind.
I got out of our tiny Saturn, which was deep in snow and now pointing back east, and went to the road to wave the cars coming up the hill to slow down. Several drivers, seeing the wreck ahead of them, thought traffic would be stuck there for a couple hours. I have to admire North Dakota response. The police and a sanding dump truck took only minutes to arrive. The dump truck immediately assisted in moving the semi and managed to get it off the road. A path was cleared for traffic to move in less than fifteen minutes. It was amazing.
Unfortunately, we, the only car in the ditch, weren’t among the vehicles leaving.
By the time we were pulled out, it was too late to make the meeting. But I had called by quarter to and made arrangements for a conference call the next day.
So what of all the prayers people were praying for us concerning the meeting that day? Timothy and I are fine. The car is fine. Considering we could have ended up a fixture on the rear of a semi, that’s answer to prayer.
And – prior to the call the next day, I had a chance to relax and go over in my mind what I wanted to say… what I wanted Senator Hoeven to gain from this meeting.
I began by introducing myself and giving him my background as the wife and mother of enrolled members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
I stated the issue concerning us, and then said, “While the Indian Child Welfare Act is embraced by tribal government, it has hurt many multi-racial children and families across the United States.”
I then quoted from a parent letter, told him a couple stories, and went on from there. I had talking points in front of me, and was able to go point by point quickly and easily. No stuttering, no flusters. Mr. Larson was attentive and kind. The call went very well. I followed up with an email to him, thanking him for the call and attaching additional information for him, including our legislative draft.
Hmmm… Maybe I should do all our meetings by conference call…
Thanks so much for your support!
To help spread the word - Please also share these important links:
Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
Home Website: http://www.caicw.org
Cause page: http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org
.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Beautiful Michelle hanged herself in a closet
.
I respond: “You are right - the memories pain me, but even so, I do thank God for my life with Roland. He actually asked me before he died how I felt about our life together. And I actually had an answer ready—because I'd been thinking about it for awhile.
I told him that we had traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific. We’ve lived in Canada and helped out at a Children’s home in Mexico. We’ve owned businesses and we’ve been on welfare. At times we had little or no food - and other times we ate at some of the finest restaurants. We have slept on dirty floors with dirty blankets in tribal housing, and we have stayed in upscale hotels on Capitol Hill in Washington DC and in Windsor, BC. I told him our life had been full. He seemed to relax into his pillow upon hearing me say it.
We felt just as comfortable talking to a drunk on Franklin Ave. as we did talking to a US Senator. I've called a US Senator looking for my husband, who was in his office at the time. The Senator made a real joke of it, as he handed Roland the phone, about how I can track him down anywhere. And...I've had an impossible time finding my husband on the reservation just after our son was born. No one would hand the phone to him then, as they were drinking with him.
A law professor and a state legislator both helped carry Roland’s casket. A retired US Navy Submarine officer carried Roland's body back to the reservation in the back of his pickup.
Who would I have been without all those experiences?
It's the truth, isn't it? Who would I have been if I had married an average man and lived with two cars and 2.5 kids in the suburbs? Really - would I even be a Christian right now? Because it was Roland that essentially led me to Christ.
And ...as I correspond with the various families that write to CAICW...how would I even begin to understand them and their fears if I hadn't been there myself? I am able to write two simple words that mean the world to them... "I understand."
And it is with that background: the birth mother to five members, the adoptive mother of one, the legal custodian of three, the step mother to four, and aunt to innumerable members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe - and as a former licensed Day care provider, foster care provider, as well as registered nurse - I am able to ‘withstand the barbs of the enemy’ and stand tall whenever anyone tries to call me a racist for speaking up on this issue.
I can unashamedly stand up and say what many others can't bring themselves to say - because I don't care what names they call me. And I can speak loudly. And I can help that no more children be treated as chattel for the benefit of a corrupt tribal government.
The idea some have that children "belong" on the reservation is racism at its core. It ignores who the child might factually be, who the child is connected to, what the child really wants and, importantly, what the child’s best interests are. It’s well known to everyone that the high school drop out rate, drug abuse, crime, fetal alcohol rate, child abuse, corruption, child neglect, sexual abuse, violence and suicide, etc. is so high on many reservations that no Congressman would ever willingly send their own child to live there...yet everyone is supposed to just go along with the lie that children of heritage must live with it because tribal and federal government say so. It’s not only insane but criminal.
I'm not going to diplomatically dance around so as not to step on toes. Kids are dying. Beautiful Michelle hanged herself in a simple closet, where all she had to do was stand up to save herself.
Others have died of overdose, accident, and violence.
So you are right. I have a job to do, and it is because of my life with Roland that I am able to do it.
- to be the loud-mouthed, angry witch that I am.
Bless you My Friends, you’ve been so good to hang in there with us through all these tough years.
Merry Christmas!
Read "Dying in Indian Country"
Letters from Families, asking for Help - Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare
“Lisa you can and are free. Free to go on, free to thank God for your life with Roland...free to learn from the craziness and free to take what you can and to leave the rest in God's hands.”How beautiful, wonderful, comforting those words are.
I respond: “You are right - the memories pain me, but even so, I do thank God for my life with Roland. He actually asked me before he died how I felt about our life together. And I actually had an answer ready—because I'd been thinking about it for awhile.
I told him that we had traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific. We’ve lived in Canada and helped out at a Children’s home in Mexico. We’ve owned businesses and we’ve been on welfare. At times we had little or no food - and other times we ate at some of the finest restaurants. We have slept on dirty floors with dirty blankets in tribal housing, and we have stayed in upscale hotels on Capitol Hill in Washington DC and in Windsor, BC. I told him our life had been full. He seemed to relax into his pillow upon hearing me say it.
We felt just as comfortable talking to a drunk on Franklin Ave. as we did talking to a US Senator. I've called a US Senator looking for my husband, who was in his office at the time. The Senator made a real joke of it, as he handed Roland the phone, about how I can track him down anywhere. And...I've had an impossible time finding my husband on the reservation just after our son was born. No one would hand the phone to him then, as they were drinking with him.
A law professor and a state legislator both helped carry Roland’s casket. A retired US Navy Submarine officer carried Roland's body back to the reservation in the back of his pickup.
Who would I have been without all those experiences?
It's the truth, isn't it? Who would I have been if I had married an average man and lived with two cars and 2.5 kids in the suburbs? Really - would I even be a Christian right now? Because it was Roland that essentially led me to Christ.
And ...as I correspond with the various families that write to CAICW...how would I even begin to understand them and their fears if I hadn't been there myself? I am able to write two simple words that mean the world to them... "I understand."
And it is with that background: the birth mother to five members, the adoptive mother of one, the legal custodian of three, the step mother to four, and aunt to innumerable members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe - and as a former licensed Day care provider, foster care provider, as well as registered nurse - I am able to ‘withstand the barbs of the enemy’ and stand tall whenever anyone tries to call me a racist for speaking up on this issue.
I can unashamedly stand up and say what many others can't bring themselves to say - because I don't care what names they call me. And I can speak loudly. And I can help that no more children be treated as chattel for the benefit of a corrupt tribal government.
The idea some have that children "belong" on the reservation is racism at its core. It ignores who the child might factually be, who the child is connected to, what the child really wants and, importantly, what the child’s best interests are. It’s well known to everyone that the high school drop out rate, drug abuse, crime, fetal alcohol rate, child abuse, corruption, child neglect, sexual abuse, violence and suicide, etc. is so high on many reservations that no Congressman would ever willingly send their own child to live there...yet everyone is supposed to just go along with the lie that children of heritage must live with it because tribal and federal government say so. It’s not only insane but criminal.
I'm not going to diplomatically dance around so as not to step on toes. Kids are dying. Beautiful Michelle hanged herself in a simple closet, where all she had to do was stand up to save herself.
Others have died of overdose, accident, and violence.
So you are right. I have a job to do, and it is because of my life with Roland that I am able to do it.
- to be the loud-mouthed, angry witch that I am.
Bless you My Friends, you’ve been so good to hang in there with us through all these tough years.
Merry Christmas!
Read "Dying in Indian Country"
Letters from Families, asking for Help - Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A Mom Wrote: "They just took my baby after 3 years...her sobbing is forever etched in my soul."
.
From Lisa Morris
Administrator
Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW)
CAICW Friends;
An adoptive mother made her first contact with CAICW on Facebook about 1am Saturday morning, November 20, only hours after she had lost her little girl...
She then wrote to friends:
Saturday, November 20th, was National Adoption Day. On this day, a small girl, denied the right to be adopted by the only mother she'd ever known, spent the first day in her memory in foster care, frightened and alone amongst strangers. She was denied the right to be adopted solely because of her heritage. In America, having even a small bit of Indian heritage can mean not having the same rights and opportunities for adoption that other children receive.
Saturday, November 20th, was also her adoptive mother's birthday. Her mother wrote on Facebook, thanking her friends for their love and prayers, and said that the best gift was people signing the petition.
We will be taking the petition with us when visiting Congress in DC at the end of January. The purpose of the Petition is to show Congressmen that people are concerned about this law and want it changed to reflect the best interest of children, not government expediency. We want to the rights of parents and children respected. We encourage families that have been affected by ICWA to join us.
If you aren't able to join us in DC, I urge everyone to obtain the legislative drafts we have available and talk to as many of your US Senators and Representatives and you can, as well as you legislators on the State level. We need to be pushing our representatives on both the federal and state levels to pass protective legislation for these children. No more pretending that what they have decided to do with children of heritage is acceptable or even constitutionally legal.
Finally - CAICW needs financial support. Please help us to:
All Children need to feel safe. Help CAICW to Advocate, Educate, Assist, & Defend.
http://www.caicw.org/pleasedonate.html
- Please see these sites for more information, and please share these important links:
Sign the Petition: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/559?m=1a237008
Read Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
How You Can Help: http://www.caicw.org/HowYouHelp.html
CAICW Facebook 'Cause' page: (Advocacy, Petition, support for families) http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
The “Fund Attorney Retainers for 10 Families” Drive began on National Adoption Day, November 20, 2010 ~ and ends on December 31, 2010.~ The Fund website can be found through FirstGiving.com at ~ http://www.firstgiving.com/caicw/Event/AdoptionRetainerFund
Follow CAICW on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
Join CAICW on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org
Thank you all for your prayers and support -
Lisa Morris
Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW)
PO Box 253
Hillsboro, ND 58045
CAICW - Christian Evangelism and Ministry - Gal. 2:10, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
From Lisa Morris
Administrator
Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW)
CAICW Friends;
An adoptive mother made her first contact with CAICW on Facebook about 1am Saturday morning, November 20, only hours after she had lost her little girl...
"They just took my baby after 3 years...her sobbing is forever etched in my soul. She wanted us to save her and we couldn't..devastated."
She then wrote to friends:
"Please sign this petition..the despair on her face pushes me to help destroy this law. She didn't want to go and was looking for us to protect her and we couldn't...I can't remember ever feeling so worthless."
Saturday, November 20th, was National Adoption Day. On this day, a small girl, denied the right to be adopted by the only mother she'd ever known, spent the first day in her memory in foster care, frightened and alone amongst strangers. She was denied the right to be adopted solely because of her heritage. In America, having even a small bit of Indian heritage can mean not having the same rights and opportunities for adoption that other children receive.
Saturday, November 20th, was also her adoptive mother's birthday. Her mother wrote on Facebook, thanking her friends for their love and prayers, and said that the best gift was people signing the petition.
We will be taking the petition with us when visiting Congress in DC at the end of January. The purpose of the Petition is to show Congressmen that people are concerned about this law and want it changed to reflect the best interest of children, not government expediency. We want to the rights of parents and children respected. We encourage families that have been affected by ICWA to join us.
If you aren't able to join us in DC, I urge everyone to obtain the legislative drafts we have available and talk to as many of your US Senators and Representatives and you can, as well as you legislators on the State level. We need to be pushing our representatives on both the federal and state levels to pass protective legislation for these children. No more pretending that what they have decided to do with children of heritage is acceptable or even constitutionally legal.
Finally - CAICW needs financial support. Please help us to:
* Stay in Contact with Families,
* Publish the Newsletter,
* Research Case Law,
* Update & maintain the CAICW.org Website,
* Develop a legal Defense Fund,
* Continue to Educate Federal and State Officials,
* Educate the Community through Facebook and Twitter,
* Speak to and Connect with family-oriented Organizations
All Children need to feel safe. Help CAICW to Advocate, Educate, Assist, & Defend.
http://www.caicw.org/pleasedonate.html
- Please see these sites for more information, and please share these important links:
Sign the Petition: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/559?m=1a237008
Read Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
How You Can Help: http://www.caicw.org/HowYouHelp.html
CAICW Facebook 'Cause' page: (Advocacy, Petition, support for families) http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
The “Fund Attorney Retainers for 10 Families” Drive began on National Adoption Day, November 20, 2010 ~ and ends on December 31, 2010.~ The Fund website can be found through FirstGiving.com at ~ http://www.firstgiving.com/caicw/Event/AdoptionRetainerFund
Follow CAICW on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
Join CAICW on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org
Thank you all for your prayers and support -
Lisa Morris
Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW)
PO Box 253
Hillsboro, ND 58045
CAICW - Christian Evangelism and Ministry - Gal. 2:10, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
Saturday, November 20, 2010
"They just took my baby after 3 years...her sobbing is forever etched in my soul."
.
Friends of a family that lost their 3-yr-old to the ICWA law Friday night are signing and sharing CAICW's online petition to rescind the Indian Child Welfare Act. CAICW has gotten dozens of new signatures in the last 24 hours.
The adoptive mother had made her first contact with CAICW on Facebook about 1am Saturday morning, only hours after she had lost her little girl....
Saturday, November 20th, was also her adoptive mother's birthday. Her mother wrote on Facebook, thanking her friends for their love and prayers, and said that the best gift was people signing the petition.
I am so glad that CAICW happened to get that petition up just before her birthday. Maybe it helped give her small hope - something she can do to fight back - on a day she describes as the worst in her life.
I pray - pray - that CAICW can somehow be used to help. I pray for God's miraculous intervention right now, even though things seem impossible. Please pray with me. Thanks -
- Please see these sites for more information, and please share these important links:
Sign the Petition: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/559?m=1a237008
Read Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
ICWA Case Law: http://www.caicw.org/caselaw.html
CAICW Facebook 'Cause' page: (Advocacy, Petition, support for families) http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
The “Fund Attorney Retainers for 10 Families” Drive began on National Adoption Day, November 20, 2010 ~ and ends on December 31, 2010.~ The Fund website can be found through FirstGiving.com at ~ http://www.firstgiving.com/caicw/Event/AdoptionRetainerFund
Follow CAICW on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org
CAICW - Christian Evangelism and Ministry - Gal. 2:10, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
Friends of a family that lost their 3-yr-old to the ICWA law Friday night are signing and sharing CAICW's online petition to rescind the Indian Child Welfare Act. CAICW has gotten dozens of new signatures in the last 24 hours.
The adoptive mother had made her first contact with CAICW on Facebook about 1am Saturday morning, only hours after she had lost her little girl....
"They just took my baby after 3 years...her sobbing is forever etched in my soul. She wanted us to save her and we couldn't..devastated."She then wrote to friends:
"Please sign this petition..the despair on her face pushes me to help destroy this law. She didn't want to go and was looking for us to protect her and we couldn't...I can't remember ever feeling so worthless."Saturday, November 20th, was National Adoption Day. On this day, a small girl, denied the right to be adopted by the only mother she'd ever known, spent the first day in her memory in foster care, frightened and alone amongst strangers. She was denied the right to be adopted solely because of her heritage. In America, having even a small bit of Indian heritage can mean not having the same rights and opportunities for adoption that other children receive.
Saturday, November 20th, was also her adoptive mother's birthday. Her mother wrote on Facebook, thanking her friends for their love and prayers, and said that the best gift was people signing the petition.
I am so glad that CAICW happened to get that petition up just before her birthday. Maybe it helped give her small hope - something she can do to fight back - on a day she describes as the worst in her life.
I pray - pray - that CAICW can somehow be used to help. I pray for God's miraculous intervention right now, even though things seem impossible. Please pray with me. Thanks -
- Please see these sites for more information, and please share these important links:
Sign the Petition: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/559?m=1a237008
Read Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
ICWA Case Law: http://www.caicw.org/caselaw.html
CAICW Facebook 'Cause' page: (Advocacy, Petition, support for families) http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
The “Fund Attorney Retainers for 10 Families” Drive began on National Adoption Day, November 20, 2010 ~ and ends on December 31, 2010.~ The Fund website can be found through FirstGiving.com at ~ http://www.firstgiving.com/caicw/Event/AdoptionRetainerFund
Follow CAICW on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org
CAICW - Christian Evangelism and Ministry - Gal. 2:10, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
Friday, November 19, 2010
All Children deserve to feel safe: National Adoption Day Kick Off - Nov 20, 2010
.
Deborah Maddox, acting Director of the BIA Office of Tribal Services in 1993, once said Congress intended the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Advocates of ICWA point to the devastation suffered by children of tribal heritage when, years ago, they were forcefully removed from homes they loved and forced to stay at boarding schools. The trauma those children and families experienced was, indeed, devastating.
However, in the implementation of the ICWA, the exact same thing has been happening to children in reverse. What has to be acknowledged is that we live in a migratory, multi-cultural society. This means that many children who fall under the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act have more than one heritage, and many times are predominantly of another heritage, and/or have family who not only haven’t any connection to the Indian Reservation, but have specifically chosen not to participate in the reservation system.
Though some argue that ICWA has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children have been negatively affected by its application. Letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, and pre-adoptive families concerning their children hurt by misapplication of ICWA can be read at ~ http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
There is no inborn difference between persons of tribal heritage and other persons. Any emotionally healthy child, no matter their heritage, will be devastated when they are taken from their familiar homes and forced to live with strangers.
Even children of 100% tribal heritage can be devastated if taken from the only home they know and love, no matter the heritage, and placed into a home they know nothing about.
In the words of Dr. William Allen, former Chair, US Comm. On Civil Rights (1989) and Emeritus Professor, Political Science MSU;
Consequent to this Congressional error in understanding the practical aspects of the ICWA, dozens of adoptions are held up every year. Some of these adoptive homes have had the children since infancy and are the only homes the children know. However, even simple adoptions can be expensive and many families aren’t prepared for this additional impediment. Time and again families have contacted the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) to ask for help because they don’t have the funds needed to hire attorney’s to defend their children. Some families, after mortgaging their homes and having nothing else to use, have been forced to give up the fight for their children.
Saturday, November 20, 2010 is National Adoption Day. Support Families nationally in defending their children from unreasonable impediment to their adoptions by helping raise $50,000 for ten $5000 Attorney retainer fees for ten Adoptive Families. These would be families that are in the midst of adopting children they have had physical custody of over a long term or from infancy, or stable ‘relative families’ attempting to retain or regain custody within the extended family – whether or not said family is enrollable with a tribe.
The “Fund Attorney Retainers for 10 Families” Drive begins on National Adoption Day, November 20, 2010 and ends on December 31, 2010. The Fund website can be found through FirstGiving.com at http://www.firstgiving.com/caicw/Event/AdoptionRetainerFund
The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) has been advocating for families affected by the Indian Child Welfare Act since 2004 and is the only National org advocating for these families. Our advocacy is both Judicial and Legislative, as well as a prayer resource and shoulder to cry on.
Funds raised from this event will be used to assist up to 10 families in obtaining the legal assistance they need in order to complete their adoptions.
Additional informational links:
Legal and Constitutional concerns re: ICWA http://www.caicw.org/icw.html
Letters from Affected Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
ICWA Case Law: http://www.caicw.org/caselaw.html
Please help us Advocate, Educate, Assist, and Defend
Deborah Maddox, acting Director of the BIA Office of Tribal Services in 1993, once said Congress intended the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
“to protect Indian children from removal from their tribes and to assure that tribes are given the opportunity to raise Indian children in a manner which reflects the unique values of Indian culture."
Advocates of ICWA point to the devastation suffered by children of tribal heritage when, years ago, they were forcefully removed from homes they loved and forced to stay at boarding schools. The trauma those children and families experienced was, indeed, devastating.
However, in the implementation of the ICWA, the exact same thing has been happening to children in reverse. What has to be acknowledged is that we live in a migratory, multi-cultural society. This means that many children who fall under the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act have more than one heritage, and many times are predominantly of another heritage, and/or have family who not only haven’t any connection to the Indian Reservation, but have specifically chosen not to participate in the reservation system.
Though some argue that ICWA has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children have been negatively affected by its application. Letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, and pre-adoptive families concerning their children hurt by misapplication of ICWA can be read at ~ http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
There is no inborn difference between persons of tribal heritage and other persons. Any emotionally healthy child, no matter their heritage, will be devastated when they are taken from their familiar homes and forced to live with strangers.
Even children of 100% tribal heritage can be devastated if taken from the only home they know and love, no matter the heritage, and placed into a home they know nothing about.
In the words of Dr. William Allen, former Chair, US Comm. On Civil Rights (1989) and Emeritus Professor, Political Science MSU;
“... We are talking about our brothers and our sisters. We’re talking about what happens to people who share with us an extremely important identity. And that identity is the identity of free citizens in a Republic…" (Re: The Indian Child Welfare Act, September 20, 2008, Wahkon, MN)
Consequent to this Congressional error in understanding the practical aspects of the ICWA, dozens of adoptions are held up every year. Some of these adoptive homes have had the children since infancy and are the only homes the children know. However, even simple adoptions can be expensive and many families aren’t prepared for this additional impediment. Time and again families have contacted the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) to ask for help because they don’t have the funds needed to hire attorney’s to defend their children. Some families, after mortgaging their homes and having nothing else to use, have been forced to give up the fight for their children.
- Children have been removed from safe, loving homes and been placed into dangerous situations by Social Services.
- Some Indian and non-Indian families have felt threatened by tribal government.
- Some have had to take out additional mortgage on their homes and endure lengthy legal processes in attempt to protect their children.
- Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not available to children of all heritages.
- The Constitutional right of parents to make life choices for their children, for children of Indian heritage to associate freely, and for children of Indian heritage to enjoy Equal Protection has in many cases been denied.
Saturday, November 20, 2010 is National Adoption Day. Support Families nationally in defending their children from unreasonable impediment to their adoptions by helping raise $50,000 for ten $5000 Attorney retainer fees for ten Adoptive Families. These would be families that are in the midst of adopting children they have had physical custody of over a long term or from infancy, or stable ‘relative families’ attempting to retain or regain custody within the extended family – whether or not said family is enrollable with a tribe.
The “Fund Attorney Retainers for 10 Families” Drive begins on National Adoption Day, November 20, 2010 and ends on December 31, 2010. The Fund website can be found through FirstGiving.com at http://www.firstgiving.com/caicw/Event/AdoptionRetainerFund
The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) has been advocating for families affected by the Indian Child Welfare Act since 2004 and is the only National org advocating for these families. Our advocacy is both Judicial and Legislative, as well as a prayer resource and shoulder to cry on.
Funds raised from this event will be used to assist up to 10 families in obtaining the legal assistance they need in order to complete their adoptions.
Additional informational links:
Legal and Constitutional concerns re: ICWA http://www.caicw.org/icw.html
Letters from Affected Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
ICWA Case Law: http://www.caicw.org/caselaw.html
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Fighting ICWA? Petition~Draft Legislation~MissionFish~FaceBook!
.
The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) is an advocate for children and families hurt by the Indian Child Welfare Act, an example of misguided federal Indian policy.
There are Four things you can do today to help:
First, if you haven't already, sign the petition on CAICW's Cause page. http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
CAICW will be taking it with to DC in January, and it will help show Congressmen that this is an important issue to many!
Second, donate through MissionFish whenever you use Ebay. The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare is Registered with MissionFish - a service through Ebay that helps nonprofits fundraise while buying and selling on ~ eBay. Sellers can give part of their proceeds to a favorite nonprofit, and nonprofits can raise funds by selling on eBay too. Direct donations from eBay users can also be given through a 'Donate Now' feature, which lets anyone with a PayPal account donate right away without buying or selling anything.
http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=39005
Third, CAICW is sending out a snail mail newsletter this week. It includes anonymous excerpts from four letters families have written, information about the DC trip, a paper copy of the petition for you to share with non-internet friends, and potential draft legislation to share with your newly elected state legislators. If you would like a copy, please contact CAICW with your snail address. writeus@caicw.org
Fourth, Look for Draft legislation that you can bring to your State Legislator for the next session on the CAICW website: caicw.org ~ and bring it to them! Hurry; they are putting together their plans for legislation right now!
Finally - for more information and to connect with other families who are struggling against ICWA, visit the CAICW FaceBook ‘Page:’ http://facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
Thank you so much for your support! God Bless you!
.
The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) is an advocate for children and families hurt by the Indian Child Welfare Act, an example of misguided federal Indian policy.
There are Four things you can do today to help:
First, if you haven't already, sign the petition on CAICW's Cause page. http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
CAICW will be taking it with to DC in January, and it will help show Congressmen that this is an important issue to many!
Second, donate through MissionFish whenever you use Ebay. The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare is Registered with MissionFish - a service through Ebay that helps nonprofits fundraise while buying and selling on ~ eBay. Sellers can give part of their proceeds to a favorite nonprofit, and nonprofits can raise funds by selling on eBay too. Direct donations from eBay users can also be given through a 'Donate Now' feature, which lets anyone with a PayPal account donate right away without buying or selling anything.
http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=39005
Third, CAICW is sending out a snail mail newsletter this week. It includes anonymous excerpts from four letters families have written, information about the DC trip, a paper copy of the petition for you to share with non-internet friends, and potential draft legislation to share with your newly elected state legislators. If you would like a copy, please contact CAICW with your snail address. writeus@caicw.org
Fourth, Look for Draft legislation that you can bring to your State Legislator for the next session on the CAICW website: caicw.org ~ and bring it to them! Hurry; they are putting together their plans for legislation right now!
Finally - for more information and to connect with other families who are struggling against ICWA, visit the CAICW FaceBook ‘Page:’ http://facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
Thank you so much for your support! God Bless you!
.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Families: Hurt by ICWA?
.Find CAICW on TWITTER!
Families: Hurt by ICWA? Connect with other families through CAICW on Facebook and discuss, encourage, share insights, case law, names of possible attorney's, and pray for each other. Join Facebook to start connecting with Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare.
"The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare is committed to seek God's guidance in defending the rights of the poor and needy, as instructed in Proverbs 31:8-9."
CAICW, Christian Ministry as well as Family Advocacy, is interested in the total well-being of the individual and Family. CAICW is the only national organization advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to misapplied and sometimes illegal application of Indian Law.
- CAICW has been advocating for families affected by the Indian law since 2004.
- Children have been removed from safe, loving homes and been placed into dangerous situations.
- Indian and non-Indian families have felt threatened by tribal government. Some have had to mortgage homes and endure lengthy legal processes to protect their children.
- Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not available to children of all heritages.
- The Constitutional right of parents to make life choices for their children, for children of Indian heritage to associate freely, and for children of Indian heritage to enjoy Equal Protection has in many cases been denied.
Please share these links with others:
Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
Home Website: http://www.caicw.org/
Cause page - http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Hurting from ICWA? Help now on Facebook - CAICW
Follow CAICW on Twitter
Though proponents of the ICWA argue that the act has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children have been hurt by misapplication of the Indian Child Welfare Act. These children and their families need encouragement, prayer, and legal help. The biggest way for all of us to help these families is to spread the letters posted on caicw.org (http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html) and let the rest of America know what is going on.
Please help us by sharing the cause!
CAICW is the only National organization advocating for families faced with loss of their children do to what amounts to a racial law. Our advocacy is both Judicial and Legislative as well as being a prayer resource for the families and a shoulder to cry on.
I’d like to encourage families to come to CAICW's facebook page, where they can connect with other families and discuss, encourage, share insights, share case law, share names of possible attorney's, and pray for each other.
If you know families hurt by ICWA, please share this.
We are also currently organizing a trip to DC for January, 2011 where we will meet with Gary Bauer of the American Values org, Dr. William Allen, the former Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights, Senator Tom Coburn's staff, and many more, to let them know of the problem, advocate for the families, and discuss initiatives that will protect these children. Join US!
Thanks so much for your support!
To help spread the word - Please also share these important links:
Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/fbCAICW.org
Home Website: http://www.caicw.org
Cause page: http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/CAICW
EMAIL: writeus@caicw.org
.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Facebook ICWA Discussion Page and Cause -
.
We have now set up a Facebook Page for the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare as well as a "Cause."
Harmful Indian Law affecting children and Families in both USA and Canada - Read the letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, pre-adoptive families concerning their multi-racial children who are being negatively affected by the sometimes illegal misapplication of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
Though proponents of the ICWA argue that the act has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children are being negatively affected by application of ICWA. Across America, children that have never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs are routinely being removed from homes they love and placed with strangers chosen by tribes.
As most of our friends know - my husband Roland and I began CAICW org prior to his passing in 2004. For several years now, as we have moved from Alberta to Montana to North Dakota, and as I have been dealing with the raising of several teenagers on my own, I have been unable to give CAICW my full attention. However, we have continued to receive many letters from families in need of help and the board and I have attempted to support and encourage them as best we can with what little we had.
Now we are organizing a lobbying trip to DC in January, where we will meet with Gary Bauer of the American Values or, Dr. William Allen, the former Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights, Senator Tom Coburn's staff, and many more.
Please read the stories of various families at http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html. If you have time to help me update letters - as well as the website itself - please let me know.
1. Jn 3:16 - God so Loved the World, that he gave his only begotten son..that all might live. Jn 14:1-14 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...
2. CAICW: Christian Ministry as well as Family Advocacy, is interested in the total well-being of the individual and Family.
3. CAICW: only nat'l org advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to misapplied and sometimes illegal Indian Law.
Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Alliance-for-Indian-Child-Welfare/105558148606
Home Website: http://www.caicw.org
Facebook "Cause:" http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
CAICW - Christian Evangelism and Ministry - Gal. 2:10, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
.
We have now set up a Facebook Page for the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare as well as a "Cause."
Harmful Indian Law affecting children and Families in both USA and Canada - Read the letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, pre-adoptive families concerning their multi-racial children who are being negatively affected by the sometimes illegal misapplication of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
Though proponents of the ICWA argue that the act has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children are being negatively affected by application of ICWA. Across America, children that have never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs are routinely being removed from homes they love and placed with strangers chosen by tribes.
As most of our friends know - my husband Roland and I began CAICW org prior to his passing in 2004. For several years now, as we have moved from Alberta to Montana to North Dakota, and as I have been dealing with the raising of several teenagers on my own, I have been unable to give CAICW my full attention. However, we have continued to receive many letters from families in need of help and the board and I have attempted to support and encourage them as best we can with what little we had.
Now we are organizing a lobbying trip to DC in January, where we will meet with Gary Bauer of the American Values or, Dr. William Allen, the former Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights, Senator Tom Coburn's staff, and many more.
Please read the stories of various families at http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html. If you have time to help me update letters - as well as the website itself - please let me know.
1. Jn 3:16 - God so Loved the World, that he gave his only begotten son..that all might live. Jn 14:1-14 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...
2. CAICW: Christian Ministry as well as Family Advocacy, is interested in the total well-being of the individual and Family.
3. CAICW: only nat'l org advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to misapplied and sometimes illegal Indian Law.
Letters from Families: http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Alliance-for-Indian-Child-Welfare/105558148606
Home Website: http://www.caicw.org
Facebook "Cause:" http://www.causes.com/causes/537834
CAICW - Christian Evangelism and Ministry - Gal. 2:10, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)