Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. Photo from Anadisgoi
Cherokee Nation Chief Bill John Baker stands up for the Indian Child Welfare Act as the landmark law faces challenges in the courts:
Thirty-seven years ago, the federal government passed a law to keep Indian children safe. Today that promise, embodied in the Indian Child Welfare Act, is under assault. America’s multibillion-dollar adoption industry and its allies seek to undermine ICWA’s enforcement by filing lawsuits they hope to take to the Supreme Court. If successful, the lawsuits would deny tribes of their right -- and their duty -- to look after the welfare of their children. As Indian people, we’ve always known that it’s in our children’s best interests to stay in their families’ homes and to remain connected to their tribes. In 1978, Congress recognized this fact and passed ICWA, which aims to “protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families.” Congress passed ICWA because such protections were desperately needed. In the 1970s, state officials would frequently tear Indian children from their homes for reasons of cultural chauvinism and ignorance. Then, children were served up to America’s adoption industry. ICWA hoped to stop this cultural genocide by creating a legal presumption that Indian children belong in their own homes or with other family or tribal members.Get the Story:
Bill John Baker: It takes a tribe (The Grand Rapids Herald-Review 1/6)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Kevin Washburn announces
departure from Bureau of Indian Affairs post (12/10) Bill John Baker: Cherokee Nation children deserve loving homes (12/03)
BIA officers take children from Northern Cheyenne Reservation (12/02)
Tom Cole and Betty McCollum: Doing what's best for Indian children (12/01)
Disenrollment from Pala Band affects children in ICWA case (11/12)
South Dakota court rebukes judge at center of ICWA dispute (11/11)
South Dakota agency sued for bias against Native applicants (11/03)
Groups challenging Indian Child Welfare Act lose round in court (10/22)
Pala Band takes steps to improve placement of foster children (10/13)
Omaha Tribe to start foster care system with grant from HHS (09/25)
Omaha Tribe to start foster care system with grant from HHS (09/25)
Timothy Davis: Indian Child Welfare Act protects sovereignty (09/14)
Byron Dorgan: Indian parents put first priority on their children (09/07)
Opinion: Indian Child Welfare Act doesn't help Indian children (09/03)
Lakota Country Times: Indian Child Welfare Act is under attack (08/20)
Monique Vondall-Rieke: Conservative group's faulty ICWA report (07/13)
Conservative group disputes legality of Indian Child Welfare Act (07/08)
Lorie Graham and Kathryn Fort: The truth about Indian children (06/25)
Elizabeth Morris: More funding won't stop Indian child abuse (06/22)
New case challenges Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (06/09)
Opinion: BIA politicizes placement of Indian children in new rule (06/01)
John Guenther: Indian Child Welfare Act remains under attack (05/29)
Lawsuit challenges constitutionality of Indian Child Welfare Act (05/27)
Judge at center of ICWA lawsuit in South Dakota stripped of title (05/25)
Matthew Scraper: ICWA opponents wrong to cite blood quantum (05/25)
Cherokee Nation father supports Indian Child Welfare Act rule (05/14)
BIA hopes to implement new ICWA regulation by end of year (05/08)
