Law
South Dakota panel pressed on Indian child welfare


A hearing on child welfare policies in South Dakota became heated on Monday over concerns that Indian culture and tribal rights aren't been addressed, The Rapid City Journal reports.

The South Dakota Legislature's Government Operations and Audit Committee opened the first of its two-day hearing into the policies of the Department of Social Services. Lawmakers heard from two Indian women and their attorney but some members blocked certain parts of their testimony and threatened to have the attorney removed, the paper said.

Gwen Caldwell and Hazel Bonner tried to describe their concerns with the system but were asked to provide specifics. When one woman tried to provide details, the committee said it wouldn't hear them without a confidentiality waiver. Their attorney tried to offer information but was accused of being argumentative, the paper reported.

The women said the state needs to ensure Indian children are placed in Indian homes and that tribes need to be involved.

Get the Story:
DSS hearing turns into racial debate (The Rapid City Journal 10/4)

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

Related Stories:
White Earth Band seeks control of child custody case (09/15)
Meskwaki mother decides not to give up baby son (08/26)
Oglala Sioux Tribe seeks role in child welfare case (8/25)
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)