The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act

Boozhoo John,

For many Native people like myself, June 15, 2023 will stand as one of the more memorable moments in modern history – a rare occasion in which the United States' system actually held firm for Native families. And while many of our children are distracted with summer vacation, countless adults struggled to fully understand the flood of emotions we would experience, waiting for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch to issue an opinion.

On June 15, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to uphold the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The Brackeen v. Haaland ruling reaffirmed our sovereign right to self-determination and to a cultural identity of our own making. To the over 500 nations that exist in North America, ICWA demonstrates and safeguards who we are and what is ours – protecting our children and our future.

I want to share a personal experience with you, one that seems to stick like flypaper to my mother’s memory:

My mother recalls the day of my birth and how a very opinionated auntie arrived for a surprise visit with my mother that very day. My aunt found out my father just reenlisted to serve in the Korean War, and she was not pleased. My mother, barely 20 years old, would be solely responsible for me at a very difficult time in White Earth. People like my aunt were occasionally approached to help in the unwarranted removal of Indian children from their homes and aided in the adoption out of their communities. If she had her way, my aunt would’ve seen to it that I was next. Though my mother has always been somewhat quiet and accommodating, my auntie was asked to gather her papers that day, and shown to the door.

Up to 35 percent of Native children are placed in non-Native homes, far away from anything that could approximate Indigenous culture, language, values and tribal worldview. Had this become part of my personal narrative, I would hardly know who I was, or what I could be.

The mass removal of Indian children through adoption into non-tribal families – and the continued attacks on ICWA – are an attempt to erase our shared histories, our tribal languages, essential ecological knowledge, and extended family systems.

Our work focuses on educating our Native brothers and sisters about the voting process and getting people out to the polls. It's a way of building strength among our people and ensuring those who have been harmed, have a voice that will be heard.

We also honor those who fought for ICWA by protecting this legislation. Let us reaffirm our rights as nations through our voice and our vote – that truly is in the best interest of the child.

Our Native Vote team will be at pow wows around the state this summer. I hope you’ll stop by our table to say hi and register to vote.

Miigwech (thank you) for being a voter,

Dee Sweet
Native Vote Manager
Wisconsin Conservation Voters

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