Foster Care Exec Gives PC Excuse for Support of BIA Rules

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May 282015
 

This is the response by an executive on the board of more than one Foster Care Association after a tribal member – from a family terribly hurt by ICWA – asked why her association had signed on in support of the unconstitutional, ill-thought and emotionally destructive BIA Rules for ICWA.

This executive’s response does not address the concerns brought to her attention by the tribal member. It reflects the rhetoric pushed by tribal leaders, NICWA, NARF and the Casey Foundation, with little thought or regard for fact and the true needs of individual children. It appears that expediency – making her job and that of others in the industry easier – is much more important than addressing the individual and critical needs of hurting children.

This is the type of rhetoric that needs to be brought to light and shown for what it is – in order for persons in this woman’s position to begin to correct themselves and look at children of heritage as something other than expendable.

Placing children into safe homes – meeting their immediate needs in a timely and nurturing manner – a manner equal to that of children of every other heritage – is never “inappropriate.”

For people in her position to assume that any child with even the smallest amount of tribal heritage “needs” to be under tribal government jurisdiction and control – overlooking the reality of non-tribal relatives, lack of existing relationship with Indian Country, and even strong familial opposition to tribal government’s world-view – is the epitome of racism.

But – this is an example of the type of response commonly received from many who sit in similar positions.

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Date: May 28, 2015 at 1:24:16 PM CDT
Subject: NFPA Response
From: Irene Clements

Dear Ms. XXXXXX,
Thank you for contacting the National Foster Parent Association.

The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) believes that children belong with their birth families (parents or relatives) whenever safely possible and when that is not possible, that the children are served in family foster homes and/or placed into adoption when appropriate. NFPA does not endorse group or congregate care that is not short-term or treatment related.

NFPA signed on to a letter of general suppoprt to proposed regulations/guidelines developed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) because the current ICWA regulations were passed in 1979 and are in desperate need of revision. Regulations that are nearly 40 years old are not current nor do they reflect current child welfare best practice in general. We support that new regulations/guidelines are important and necesary at this point in time.

Part of the problems over the past years hav been created by some states not following current ICWA laws and not doing due diligence on children as they are identified as members of a tribe and need out of home placement. Also, the tribes have historically not had appropriate funding to implement adequate foster care services. At this time, Title IV-E funds are available to assist tribes in this endeavor.

We believe if there is a proper due diliegnce provided by the state prior to a long term placement of tribal children, there will be less disruptions for the child. We hope that the new regulations will stop the inappropriate placement of children until all possible birth or kinship families within the tribe are explored.

Irene Clements
Executive Director, National Foster Parent Association
Public Policy Chair, Texas Foster Family Association
Chair, EveryChild, Inc Board of Directors
Foster Care Consultant

What is Racism?

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Jan 232014
 

What is racism?
According to the ‘Merriam-Webster Dictionary’ – racism is “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”

According to the ‘Concise Encyclopedia,’ racism is “Any action, practice, or belief that reflects the racial worldview—the ideology that humans are divided into separate and exclusive biological entities called “races,” that there is a causal link between inherited physical traits and traits of personality, intellect, morality, and other cultural behavioral features, and that some “races” are innately superior to others. …The idea of race was invented to magnify the differences between people … Racism differs from ethnocentrism in that it is linked to physical and therefore immutable differences among people. Ethnic identity is 3 kidsacquired, and ethnic features are learned forms of behaviour. Race, on the other hand, is a form of identity that is perceived as innate and unalterable. In the last half of the 20th century several conflicts around the world were interpreted in racial terms even though their origins were in the ethnic hostilities that have long characterized many human societies (e.g., Arabs and Jews, English and Irish). Racism reflects an acceptance of the deepest forms and degrees of divisiveness and carries the implication that differences among groups are so great that they cannot be transcended. ”

The Genome project has proved that there are no – absolutely NO – genes denoting race in the human body. Genes only denote skin color, eye color, hair texture, cheek bones, etc, and these things vary from family to family, not large people group to large people group.

What varies from large people group to large people group is culture and ethnicity. But these things are NOT inherent to a persons genetics. They are learned.

In other words – differences between people are familial, not racial. “Race” doesn’t scientifically exist.

The idea that persons of Native American heritage – or persons of ANY heritage – are inherently one way or another is racism. Pure and simple.

I will not allow disparaging remarks or nonsense about any people group on this page.

It is fine to talk about factual matters and documentable evidence. Selfish people exist in this world and come in all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. The factual needs of children and families is top priority and we WILL call out corruption when we see it.

But when people make disparaging remarks about “Indians” as a group, or hateful remarks about “white people” – it WILL get deleted.

I will also delete nonsense about so-called “split feather” syndrome. Not only is there nothing inherently genetic that could cause such a thing – and it is racist to claim that there is – I have raised too many kids of tribal heritage to be conned into thinking such a thing exists. My kids are no different than kids of any other heritage in the United States.

Hello? There are innumerable reasons for depression, addictions and other mental health issues in this world. A genetic requirement to be in Indian Country isn’t one of them.

Further, it is time to stop blaming the past. Historical racism is only relevant if you want it to be. You can choose to be bigger and better than that. My children of heritage are just as strong, smart, and capable as any other citizen of the United States – and they are NOT perpetual victims, incapable of happiness due to what happened 150 years ago. Shame on anyone to thinks – or teaches – otherwise.

Being proud of roots means being proud of all of ones roots. Most tribal members are less than 50% anishinabe. My husband was of the few left in his generation that were 100% Leech Lake. Very few are today. We have taught our children to be proud of their entire heritage. ALL their ancestors – the ones of good character – are worth admiring and emulating – no matter the heritage.

But God is the only entity worthy of high honor.

This is a true rebuttal of racism – to recognize that heritage is only a data point, not a definition of who a person is. When we allow heritage to define us and our children, we are embracing and upholding racism.