Girl taken from foster home because ethnicity.

[Tallguy88]

1.5 % is awfully small percentage to invoke Indian Child Welfare Act, although it appears the Choctaw Nation does not have a blood quantum requirement for tribal citizenship.

http://www.choctawnation.com/services/departments/enrollment-cdib-and-tribal-membership/

 

[Tallguy88]

I just hope the child does not grow up with major psychological trauma over this issue. Maybe the bio family will allow the foster family to continue to visit and interact with the child.

 

[Tallguy88]

Yes it is disgusting and it looks like the very people you are siding with are responsible for it. Responsible to the bitter end including the traumatic situation that gave them to news coverage they wanted to play the victim. They did everything they could to be sure it was an emotional parting to play to public opinion. They did this, no one else.

It's an issue with the entire child welfare system. It's always a bad deal, and the best interests of the child are rarely the actual deciding factor. Not saying it was a bad decision in this case necessarily, but if so, just add it to the thousands of other families messed up by government intervention.

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

I just hope the child does not grow up with major psychological trauma over this issue. Maybe the bio family will allow the foster family to continue to visit and interact with the child.

I see no legitimate reason for them to, after what this foster couple tried to pull for five years, up until the bitter end when they finally lost the case. But it would ultimately be their decision. I think it should be left up to Lexi when she comes of age to decide if she would want further contact with the Pages or not.

 

[Tallguy88]

I see no legitimate reason for them to, after what this foster couple tried to pull for five years, up until the bitter end when they finally lost the case. But it would ultimately be their decision. I think it should be left up to Lexi when she comes of age to decide if she would want further contact with the Pages or not.

It would help ease the transition and help ensure she does not grow up bitter and resentful of the system or either family. I've seen so many cases of one parent denying the kids the right to see the other parent and the kids grow up resenting one or the other or both for it. Not a 100% analogy, but similar.

Also, her foster siblings shouldn't be punished for the actions of the foster parents. No doubt she considers them her siblings as much as her bio sister since she grew up with them. I mean, I'd punch someone in the face if they trash talk my step sister. It doesn't matter that she isn't bio, she's still my "real" sister as far as I'm concerned.

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

It would help ease the transition and help ensure she does not grow up bitter and resentful of the system or either family. I've seen so many cases of one parent denying the kids the right to see the other parent and the kids grow up resenting one or the other or both for it. Not a 100% analogy, but similar.

According to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in their official statement on this case (which I posted in my first post in this thread), Lexi was evaluated by an independent clinical psychologist to gauge her ability to transition from the foster home to her relatives. Other experts were also involved in evaluating the situation. There were no problems found with Lexi's ability to transition. Furthermore, her own individual therapists, her social worker and her attorney, all parties agreed it was in her best interest to be with her relatives. I think Lexi can transition into her new home and new environment without any more interference or publicity antics by the Pages.

Also, her foster siblings shouldn't be punished for the actions of the foster parents. No doubt she considers them her siblings as much as her bio sister since she grew up with them. I mean, I'd punch someone in the face if they trash talk my step sister. It doesn't matter that she isn't bio, she's still my "real" sister as far as I'm concerned.

I am not sure how this situation will be settled, but it is the decision will be for biological relatives to decide until she is old enough to decide for herself.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Speaking as a Native American, who was removed from her native birth family as a child to be placed in a foster home with a white family and then later adopted into a white family, thus losing my entire native identity and culture to be assimilated, I support this move by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and I stand by the decision to return Lexi to her biological family. The Pages, the foster family in question, has dragged out this case for five years, knowing all along that the biological relatives of Lexi have been seeking to adopt her. The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 was placed into effect to keep this very incident from happening and it has prevailed in this case. The Pages are not the only family Lexi has known, because she has had prior contact with her biological relatives, including her biological sisters. Therefore, any biased accusations by the certain media outlets or by individuals claiming that the Pages are the only family Lexi has ever known is untrue and very dishonest. The truth is, the theft of native children being forcibly or arbitrarily removed from their biological families and placed into homes with white families has been going on for far too long in this country.

Broken: Choctaw Father in California Thwarted in Custody Battle With Foster Couple

View attachment 171697

I think the foster parents were part Indian. And the Utah people had no Indian in them. They were a family member by marriage. A very un related family member.

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

I think the foster parents were part Indian. And the Utah people had no Indian in them. They were a family member by marriage. A very un related family member.

Her biological father is Choctaw, she is Choctaw. She belongs with him and with her biological family. He and his family have been fighting for her return for five years. They have had contact with her many times and have voiced the desire to adopt her and bring her back into their family. The foster parents have fought this in court because they felt "attached to the child" but they lost and now Lexi is back where she belongs, with her biological family.

 

[Tallguy88]

I think the foster parents were part Indian. And the Utah people had no Indian in them. They were a family member by marriage. A very un related family member.

I hadn't heard that the pages were native

 

[PsychoeDial]

1.5 % is awfully small percentage to invoke Indian Child Welfare Act, although it appears the Choctaw Nation does not have a blood quantum requirement for tribal citizenship.

http://www.choctawnation.com/services/departments/enrollment-cdib-and-tribal-membership/

All nations invoke the Blood Quantum percentile as requirement for membership. The Federal Government details that in their Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood card that is a federal government issue. The individual nation can also have other requirements for membership as well.

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

I hadn't heard that the pages were native

Nor have I. There have been many distortions to this story, including the Pages were the only family Lexi ever knew.

 

[Tallguy88]

According to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in their official statement on this case (which I posted in my first post in this thread), Lexi was evaluated by an independent clinical psychologist to gauge her ability to transition from the foster home to her relatives. Other experts were also involved in evaluating the situation. There were no problems found with Lexi's ability to transition. Furthermore, her own individual therapists, her social worker and her attorney, all parties agreed it was in her best interest to be with her relatives. I think Lexi can transition into her new home and new environment without any more interference or publicity antics by the Pages.



I am not sure how this situation will be settled, but it is the decision will be for biological relatives to decide until she is old enough to decide for herself.

I would be extremely bitter if it were me, I know how I am. It took me a long time to forgive my mom for divorcing my dad and breaking up my family, even though she was justified in doing so. Her letting me see him and making sure I stayed connected and involved with his family went a long ways toward healing.

 

[Tallguy88]

All nations invoke the Blood Quantum percentile as requirement for membership. The Federal Government details that in their Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood card that is a federal government issue. The individual nation can also have other requirements for membership as well.

The link from the Choctaw nation says otherwise. I know the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma also doesn't have a blood quantum. You just have to be able to prove biological descent from someone on the Dawes Rolls.

 

[One Voice Among Many1]

The link from the Choctaw nation says otherwise. I know the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma also doesn't have a blood quantum. You just have to be able to prove biological descent from someone on the Dawes Rolls.

I agree with blood quantum in cases involving protecting native children and with the sovereignty of the tribe to fight for our children.

NCAI Supports Responsible, Informed Response to California ICWA Case

Excerpted from the article.

Long considered a best practice in childcare, kinship placement creates stability while nurturing ties to the child’s extended family and community. Under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), kinship-based placements must be considered as soon as it becomes clear that the eligible child will be removed from their home. There is nothing unusual about child placement with relatives after a stay in a foster home. The only unusual factor in this case is that the foster family in California used extended litigation to prevent placement of a Native child with her family.

Kinship child placement is the law in 45 states, and also under ICWA. Federal law under title IV-E of the Social Security Act also requires that states “consider giving preference to an adult relative over a non-related caregiver when determining placement for a child….” NCAI works tirelessly with partners like NICWA to raise awareness of the benefits and legality of kinship placement for Native children, and encourages informed discussion around cases like Lexi’s.

“Lexi should have gotten a stable, long-term kinship placement years ago,” said Jacqueline Pata, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. “This is why laws like ICWA exist. Regardless of a child’s Indian status, the goal of foster placement has always been to provide a safe and loving temporary home. It is regrettable that Lexi and her relatives have been dragged through a lengthy legal process, and NCAI extends its support to her family for their long-term stability and well-being.”

The official statement can be read here - National Congress of American Indians

 

[PsychoeDial]

The link from the Choctaw nation says otherwise. I know the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma also doesn't have a blood quantum. You just have to be able to prove biological descent from someone on the Dawes Rolls.

I would suggest you read it again.
"There is no blood quantum requirement for obtaining a CDIB or Tribal Membership as long as you can connect to a direct descendant of yours who was enrolled on the final Choctaw Dawes Commission Rolls by blood. You may live anywhere to be eligible to vote."

Do you know what the Dawes Rolls are?

 

[Tallguy88]

I would suggest you read it again.
"There is no blood quantum requirement for obtaining a CDIB or Tribal Membership as long as you can connect to a direct descendant of yours who was enrolled on the final Choctaw Dawes Commission Rolls by blood. You may live anywhere to be eligible to vote."

Do you know what the Dawes Rolls are?

Yes, but you don't need a specific blood quantum, like 25% Choctaw blood. It's based on having an ancestor on the rolls, not your specific blood quantum.

 

[nightflight]

Her biological father is Choctaw, she is Choctaw. She belongs with him and with her biological family. He and his family have been fighting for her return for five years. They have had contact with her many times and have voiced the desire to adopt her and bring her back into their family. The foster parents have fought this in court because they felt "attached to the child" but they lost and now Lexi is back where she belongs, with her biological family.

Somebody still screwed up; to allow her to get attached like that.

 

[PsychoeDial]

Yes, but you don't need a specific blood quantum, like 25% Choctaw blood. It's based on having an ancestor on the rolls, not your specific blood quantum.

And if an ancestor isn't listed on the Dawes Rolls?

 

[Tallguy88]

Somebody still screwed up; to allow her to get attached like that.

Well, her parents screwed up by being unfit to have her live with them. If they had been fit parents, none of this would have ever been an issue.

 

[Tallguy88]

And if an ancestor isn't listed on the Dawes Rolls?

Then you can't be a tribal member.

What are you even arguing, anyway? Blood quantum is not a requirement for tribal citizenship in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, it clearly says that on their website and the part you quoted in your last post.