The Utah Supreme Court on June 1 will hear arguments in an Indian Child Welfare Act case.

The Navajo Nation says the state violated ICWA in the case of two Navajo siblings who were adopted by a non-Indian couple. The tribe says it wasn't properly notified, that the state didn't take steps to find an Indian home for the children and that the state refused to transfer the case to tribal court.

But the tribe hasn't been actively involved in the case, the attorney for Ricardo and Suzi Ramos said. The couple adopted Anthony, 9, and Ella, 2, after they were taken from their Navajo mother.

The tribe lost a ruling at an appeals court to block the adoption, which was approved in February 2008.

Get the Story:
Utah Supreme Court to consider severing Navajo kids' adoption (The Salt Lake Tribune 5/22)
Couple fighting Navajo Nation to keep adopted children (KSL-TV 5/21)