Social Justice for our Native Children

Recently the Canadian government awarded 750 million to the Native families who were impacted by the removal of Native children from these families and forced to be placed in adoption by nonnative children.as part of the government policy to assimilate and acculturate them. This follows the settlement the Canadian government provided to those who were sent to residential boarding schools and experienced horrendous treatment. The same policy was experienced by many Native American children here in the United States. We have not even seen an apology here in the United States let alone compensation for the attempt to decimate the family structure of our people. These children were not neglected in any way and yet the government felt it was in their best interests that they be "civilized" so they can be more successful in their lives. The result was the exact opposite as many were scarred for life and have never recovered from this traumatic ordeal.

Let us continue the fight to support the Indian Child Welfare Act which was recently enhanced by some much needed changes to the rules and regulations. We must continue to improve the lives of our young people and to strengthen our families as they hold the key to our future.