"As an adoptive dad who nearly lost two children to the Indian Child Welfare Act, I too am familiar with the history behind this federal law.

In “Indian child law needs full compliance” (Point of View, July 20), Terry Cross presents the same arguments for ICWA as were given more than three decades ago. It’s time for new talking points.

We live in a much different society than we did when children were being removed from reservations and Indian Country in large numbers, often for unwarranted reasons, and forced to assimilate into majority culture. Yet the application of ICWA has extended far beyond what Congress ever intended, and is harming countless children as a result."

Get the Story:
Johnston Moore: Some different talking points about Indian Child Welfare Act (The Oklahoman 7/27)

South Carolina Supreme Court Decision:
Adoptive Couple v. Cherokee Nation (July 26, 2012)

Related Stories:
Court supports return of child to Cherokee father under ICWA (7/26)
Terry Cross: Compliance with Indian Child Welfare Act needed (7/25)
New group lobbies Congress to change Indian Child Welfare Act (7/11)
Couple in ICWA case says Cherokee child is more 'Latino' (04/19)
South Carolina court hears ICWA case for Cherokee child (4/17)
Former Sen. Abourezk clarifies comment about ICWA case (01/24)
South Carolina Supreme Court pushed to take up ICWA case (01/18)
Cherokee Nation seeks gag order in ICWA dispute making news (1/5)
Cherokee Nation man wins custody of daughter in ICWA case (1/3)