wfn.org | Native Americans Oppose Amendment

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3012 notes).

Note 3011 by UMNS on June 13, 1996 at 16:06 Eastern (3793 characters).

SEARCH: Native Americans, Indian, children, amendment, tribes

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CONTACT: Linda Green                           297(10-34-71){3011}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             June 13, 1996

Native Americans oppose
governmental adoption amendment

by David Wilson*

     OKLAHOMA CITY (UMNS) -- Members of the United Methodist
Church's Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) spent one
evening of their June 6-9 annual meeting writing letters to
government leaders in opposition to a recently passed amendment
that affects adoption of Native American children.
     The amendment, called "Title III" to House Bill 3286,
"Adoption Promotion and Stability Act of 1996," was written by
Ohio Representative Deborah Pryce. It seeks to transfer authority
from tribal nations to the state to decide who is and who is not a
Native American Child. 
     The letter writing campaign occurred after conference members
passed a resolution opposing "Title III," because of its effect on
the Indian Child Welfare Act that was enacted in 1978. 
     That Act gave Native American tribes more power over
adoptions of Native American Children, after an estimated 50,000
children were removed from reservations by government social
workers without the consent their families. It was passed to stop
the massive separation of Native American children from their
families and culture by placing them in non-Indian foster and
adoptive homes.
     According to a "Title III" summary statement from Pryce's
office, the Indian Child Welfare Act "has gone beyond the
protection of Indian children and their families." She said it has
led to Indian children being denied placement and adoption in
permanent and loving homes because "their rights and those of
their parents are made subordinate to tribal claims."
     The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, comprised of
approximately 8,000 members, represents approximately 30 tribes in
Oklahoma, Kansas and parts of Texas. 
     To show its opposition to the government's interference in
Native American identity concerns, the conference passed a
resolution calling for the removal of the Pryce amendment from
House Bill 3286. 
     The resolution states that Pryce's motion "contains
provisions that would add a new race-based identity that would
replace the political test in which membership in an Indian tribe
is the linchpin for coverage under the Indian Child Welfare Act."
It says that if the amendment is included in the Bill, "a new
race-based identity test would be developed by people unaware of
Native American cultures with Native American values." 
     When the evening session and letter-writing campaign were
completed, conference members sent 500 cards to United States
senators, the governor of Oklahoma, and President and Mrs. Clinton
opposing "Title III." Cards also were given to people at the
annual conference to carry back to their local churches so that
members also could write to oppose the adoption amendment.
     "We have worked quite intently on claiming and enhancing the
treasure of Native American heritage and ethos," said Bishop Dan
Solomon, episcopal leader of Oklahoma. "By opposing the pending
bill that denies tribal sovereignty in the handling of adoption of
Indian children, we are giving specific application to our
philosophy and our long standing effort."
                               # # #

     * Wilson heads the Office of Interpretation for the Oklahoma
Indian Missionary Conference.

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