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.

Indian Children: Citizens, not Cultural Artifacts:

Indian Children: Citizens, not Cultural Artifacts: 

Supporting the Best Interest of Children: ICWA “Teach-In” Friday, October 28, 2011, 9am - 1pm, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing Room, Wash, DC

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.

The sessions will include:

Initial Overview - The Mandate of Congress                              

a. Enforce the 14th Amendment

b. First, Do no Harm

c. Remedy Past Injustices

  

Session 1. ICWA is unconstitutional -

a. Dr. William B. Allen, Emeritus Professor, Political Science, MSU,  will discuss Cohen v. Little Six; Granite Valley v. Jackpot Junction, Kiowa v. United Technologies, Choctaw v. Holyfield, and more.

Session 2. Congressional Intent -

a. Attorney O. Yale Lewis will discuss the legislative history of the ICWA and the changing history of the federal / Indian relationship.

Session 3. Political Status Claims threaten Citizenship -

a. Panel of affected families will share their family experience

b. Case studies on coerced enrollment will be presented.

Session 4. Cultural Heritage is a Data Point in Adoption Cases, not a Trump -

a. Who Decides when a citizen is an Indian; can race be politically attributed?

b. Restoring best interests of child as a consideration in adoptions.

Keynote:   Dr. William Allen -  Why We Must Act Now

JOIN US in support of the ‘Best Interest’ of Children  —  and THANK YOU!!

CONTACT LISA at WRITEUS@CAICW.ORG

WASHINGTON DC—JANUARY 2011

Dr. William B. Allen

This was by far the best visit to DC that we’d had yet. Our group, including parents from New Mexico, Wisconsin, Virginia, and S. Dakota, began Monday, January 24th with a meeting with Dr. William Allen, Emeritus Professor, Political Science, MSU, who broached the question as to whether the ICWA was intended for the best interest of the child or the best interest of the tribe. How is it being interpreted and enforced? He reminded us that tribal governments are accountable to Congress, which has plenary power over them. He then asked, “Has Congress, in passing the ICWA, taken the position of Pontius Pilate” - and essentially washed its hands of these children?

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

Got a call from a Stranger.

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Got a great call yesterday from a foster Dad of two enrolled kids.  He and his wife have had these two ever since they were babies and have seen what has happened to their siblings in the care of relatives. Someone had forwarded him an email with our last update concerning our Washington DC trip (posted on facebook just two hours earlier) and he was totally excited - He said he'd been PRAYING for something to come against the ICWA law and when he saw the email, he thought his prayers were answered! 

I did tell him it was a David and Goliath thing and we haven't had much luck in the past.
He was totally moved with emotion and started crying, which was very moving for me in return.  Then he prayed for the DC trip, the people we'd be meeting, and even for me! 
What a Blessing - I pray, pray, pray we can actually be of some help.
The facebook note he'd received:

Yes! We've confirmed an appt w/ Rep. Michelle Bachmann's aide today. That will be a good one, because Rep Bachmann isn't afraid to fight for constitutional rights.  I've also been told that she is a foster mother!
We also confirmed appts with 3 members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and Speaker Boehner's Assistant, as well as a few other appts. Still working on more. I'm still trying for Rep Issa and West, and Sen. Kent Conrad - who hasn't responded. (Hoeven and Berg are confirmed.)

A Mom Wrote: "They just took my baby after 3 years...her sobbing is forever etched in my soul."

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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."

Fighting ICWA? Petition~Draft Legislation~MissionFish~FaceBook!

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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!
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Facebook ICWA Discussion Page and Cause -

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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."
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