Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Indian Givers?

I'm sure you've seen this story, because it's one of CNN's top headlines right now.   But, I wanted to know your thoughts on this:  should Native American tribes have a say in these adoption cases?
 
Please know that this is not an isolated case.  I know another family who lost their adopted son after a year for the same reason.  I also have a sister, whose husband is a member of a Native American tribe-- they have had potential adoptions fall through twice (toddler age children in foster care) because the tribe fought on behalf of the incarcerated father to let them keep the children in foster care rather than put them up for adoption.  Even though the potential adoptive father is 1/4 Native American.

Is this a well-meaning, but actually harmful law, or do think there is sound reasoning behind it?

6 comments:

Justine said...

I'm actually irate over this! I absolutely do not understand how there's one shred of logic in what the court is doing!

Wow. I don't even know what to say. This just makes me tremendously sad. That poor child is being taken away from his parents! I imagine that stuff like that will mess him up far more than many expect.

So so sad.

La Yen said...

During our adoptions, we were told by the social workers to never even consider NA adoptions-that they were way more trouble than we would want. Sad, but apparently true.

b. said...

This makes me incredibly mad and sad.
How can this possibly be in the best interest of the child?

That being said...all 3 of my children have some NA blood in them we had to have tribal rights signed away on at least one of them. Our attorney was very up front and even though our son was only 1/16th--he took EVERY precaution there was to be sure this very thing would not happen.
When I hear these tragic stories,I feel sick.

Wendy said...

b., did you adopt? I didn't know that.

We also were told that unless specific permission was given by the tribe, don't even attempt to adopt a NA baby.

Tiffany Wacaser said...

I think the end result is clear, people will avoid adopting those babies. And that is a tragedy.

Carina said...

Considering the forced 'reassignment' of NA kids was the policy of the US government for more than a 100 years in a deliberate attempt to wipe out NA cultures and languages, I completely understand why the laws exist.

I also understand the why, given that paradigm, the tribe would fight for the child.

That's not to say that I agree that it's in the best interest of THIS child, it's clearly not. My heart breaks for the parents and for that little baby. I would hope that the interest of the child would be paramount, but I understand (with a heavy heart) why this is an issue.