Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

National
Oglala Sioux Tribe seeks role in child welfare case


The Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota has filed a motion to intervene in a Utah child welfare case.

A baby girl was born August 18 shortly after her mother was killed by a shotgun. The mother, Darla Marie Woundedhead, was a member of the tribe, The Deseret Morning News reported. Woundedhead is pictured at the right.

The baby was born with cocaine, opiates and barbiturates in her bloodstream, the paper said. She had to be delivered by emergency C-section. She is currently in critical condition.

Woundedhead, 30, was shot while standing in the doorway of a motel room. She was believed to be seven months pregnant. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the room, police said.

Police arrested Kerri Armant, 32, and are looking for three men in connection with the shooting.

The state has taken custody of baby "Janie." A man has come forward claiming to be the father.

Get the Story:
State takes custody of baby in gun slaying (The Deseret Morning News 8/25)
DCFS says man claims to be baby 'Janie's' dad (The Salt Lake Tribune 8/25)
State Seeks �Do Not Resuscitat� Order For Baby (The Salt Lake Tribune 8/24)

Relevant Links:
National Indian Child Welfare Association - http://www.nicwa.org

Related Stories:
Indian mother gives up son to non-Indian couple (08/15)
Child welfare case handed to Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (8/8)
Meskwaki mother asks tribe not to hold up adoption (07/28)
Meskwaki mom wants son to go to non-Native family (07/06)
Adopted Navajo child to return home to reservation (06/22)
Wisconsin tribes form child welfare partnership (06/16)
Failures cited in child abuse on Utah reservation (03/21)
Couple says mother didn't want son in her tribe (03/01)
Hearing slated on custody dispute over Indian boy (02/28)
Yellow Bird: A nation cannot flourish without children (02/01)
Indian mother in South Dakota wants adopted son back (01/31)
Navajo child welfare case sparks legal battle (01/31)
New Mexico infant law said to conflict with ICWA (01/28)
Iowa announces foster care plan for Indian children (11/24)
Alaska opinion backs away from tribal courts (11/01)
Alaska wants to reduce tribal powers in child welfare (09/09)
Fort Peck Tribes sign child welfare agreement (09/07)
Dispute over child welfare contract continues (09/06)
South Dakota Supreme Court supports ICWA case (08/27)
Choctaw Nation helping man in child custody battle (07/06)
Foster care commission seeks tribal inclusion (05/19)
Judge cites ICWA in returning drug addicted baby (03/22)
Native children living in poor, single-parent homes (03/19)
S.D. tribes unhappy with gutting of ICWA bill (02/24)
Bill seeks study of Indian child welfare system in S.D. (02/05)
High rate of Indian adoptions in Iowa protested (01/13)