Indianz.Com > News > Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hosts discussion on Native children
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hosts discussion on Native children
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Indianz.Com
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is hosting a roundtable discussion on a recent federal report about Native children.
The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission was created by Congress to study issues affecting American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth. After several years of work, members of the federal panel delivered a report in February titled “The Way Forward.”
“Throughout the last century, a succession of U.S. government reports has documented the conditions and circumstances in which Native children and youth live, and the adverse outcomes that these conditions and circumstances can produce,” the opening section of the 258-page report reads. “Native communities have pushed back on that deficit focus, encouraging the Federal government, state governments, and other partners to look instead at the successes that Native children, youth, and families have realized—and to invest in programs and policies proven to generate wellbeing.”
“This report is offered in that spirit,” the document states. “The Commissioners celebrate and honor Native children and youth and look forward to a future in which they all thrive.”
Several members of the commission are taking part in the roundtable with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. They will be joined by experts in child welfare to discuss the report.
The list of participants follows:
Gloria O’Neill
Chair of the Commission
President/CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.
Anchorage, Alaska Tami Decoteau, PhD
Vice Chair of the Commission
DeCoteau, Trauma-Informed Care & Practice, PLLC
Bismarck, North Dakota Anita Fineday
Commissioner
Implementation Director of Equity and Engagement
Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families
Brainerd, Minnesota Leander (Russ) McDonald
Commissioner
President of United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, North Dakota Don Gray
Commissioner
Board Member of Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska Delia Ulima
Advisory Committee Member, Statewide Initiative Manager
HI H.O.P.E.S. Initiative, EPIC ‘Ohana Inc.
Honolulu, Hawaii Gil Vigil
President of the Board
National Indian Child Welfare Association
Portland, Oregon Sarah Kastelic
Executive Director
National Indian Child Welfare Association Portland, Oregon
The roundtable takes place at 2:30pm Eastern in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. A webcast is available at indian.senate.gov.
Chair of the Commission
President/CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.
Anchorage, Alaska Tami Decoteau, PhD
Vice Chair of the Commission
DeCoteau, Trauma-Informed Care & Practice, PLLC
Bismarck, North Dakota Anita Fineday
Commissioner
Implementation Director of Equity and Engagement
Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families
Brainerd, Minnesota Leander (Russ) McDonald
Commissioner
President of United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, North Dakota Don Gray
Commissioner
Board Member of Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska Delia Ulima
Advisory Committee Member, Statewide Initiative Manager
HI H.O.P.E.S. Initiative, EPIC ‘Ohana Inc.
Honolulu, Hawaii Gil Vigil
President of the Board
National Indian Child Welfare Association
Portland, Oregon Sarah Kastelic
Executive Director
National Indian Child Welfare Association Portland, Oregon
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice
Roundtable discussion entitled “The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission’s Report on Native Children.” (May 8, 2024)
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