American Indians march for change in child welfare
By Alicia Ebaugh Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, November 23, 2006
Crossing a bridge between two states has become symbolic for American Indians who are pushing for change in the child welfare system they say has deprived Native children of their heritage.
Before the fourth annual Memorial March Honoring Lost Children started in South Sioux City on Wednesday morning, leaders from the Winnebago, Omaha, Ponca and Santee Sioux tribes said a new partnership between the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Casey Family Foundation is the beginning of the journey to reunite Indian families whose children have been removed from their homes.
"We have come a long way since we started this a few short years ago," Frank LaMere, a Winnebago Indian leader from South Sioux City, said to the crowd of more than 200 people preparing to march to the Woodbury County Courthouse. "As we take each step across that bridge, I want you to reflect on what we are doing."
LaMere, Sioux City DHS service area manager Pat Penning and Casey senior fellow Khatib Waheed announced the partnership between the Casey Family Foundation's Center for the Study of Social Policy Alliance on Racial Equity and DHS in Woodbury County at a press conference before the annual march over the Veteran's Bridge.
The Casey Alliance has chosen the DHS' new Minority Youth and Family Initiative program, which is based in Woodbury County, as one of the country's four "most promising" programs trying to promote racial equity in foster care, Waheed said. The program will provide DHS with the Casey Family Foundation's 40 years of expertise in developing tools, practices and policies to nurture youth in foster care and help parents strengthen families at risk of needing foster care.
"This effort came from all of your efforts," said Connie Bear King, co-facilitator with LaMere for Community Initiative for Native Children and Families. "Sioux City is the only city chosen where grassroots activism has made a change."
Although the partnership is being counted as a victory, Bear King said the fight is far from over. An empty seat at the front of the room signified the absence of all children who have been taken from Native American families through removal or death while in foster care.
"Success for us would be to hear from you that your children have been returned or that they have been placed with relatives," she said.
The marchers, many toting signs protesting Native Americans' treatment from DHS that proclaimed such things as "We've survived thousands of years without your help" and "Your DHS Indian unit doesn't work for us," started across the bridge around 11:30 a.m.
At the courthouse, marchers and community leaders, including Councilman Jim Rixner and Woodbury County Attorney P.J. Jennings, joined family members of Nathaniel Saunsoci-Mitchell, a 20-month-old Omaha Tribe infant who died Sept. 24 while placed in a non-tribal foster home in South Sioux City. His grandmother, Olivia Saunsoci, said the family's grief grows each day as the little boy's death is not solved.
"It's hard to say how I feel because I am full of anger," she said. "It gets worse the longer it takes for anyone to be arrested."
The group then walked another 10 blocks up Douglas Street to Mount Olive Baptist Church for a 2 p.m. memorial dinner. For the first time a candlelight vigil was held as part of the dinner to remember the lost children.
Leaders Scott Aldrich Sr. and Pete Snowball Sr. recalled the spirits of each family's lost loved ones through the offering of food for their journey away on the "ghost trail." Aldrich spooned bits of turkey, stuffing, stew and salad into a bowl, pouring in coffee and water before Snowball sprinkled a bit of tobacco on top and set the bowl on the tealight-covered table. Family members lit the candles as they lined up to eat.
Before the fourth annual Memorial March Honoring Lost Children started in South Sioux City on Wednesday morning, leaders from the Winnebago, Omaha, Ponca and Santee Sioux tribes said a new partnership between the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Casey Family Foundation is the beginning of the journey to reunite Indian families whose children have been removed from their homes.
"We have come a long way since we started this a few short years ago," Frank LaMere, a Winnebago Indian leader from South Sioux City, said to the crowd of more than 200 people preparing to march to the Woodbury County Courthouse. "As we take each step across that bridge, I want you to reflect on what we are doing."
LaMere, Sioux City DHS service area manager Pat Penning and Casey senior fellow Khatib Waheed announced the partnership between the Casey Family Foundation's Center for the Study of Social Policy Alliance on Racial Equity and DHS in Woodbury County at a press conference before the annual march over the Veteran's Bridge.
The Casey Alliance has chosen the DHS' new Minority Youth and Family Initiative program, which is based in Woodbury County, as one of the country's four "most promising" programs trying to promote racial equity in foster care, Waheed said. The program will provide DHS with the Casey Family Foundation's 40 years of expertise in developing tools, practices and policies to nurture youth in foster care and help parents strengthen families at risk of needing foster care.
"This effort came from all of your efforts," said Connie Bear King, co-facilitator with LaMere for Community Initiative for Native Children and Families. "Sioux City is the only city chosen where grassroots activism has made a change."
Although the partnership is being counted as a victory, Bear King said the fight is far from over. An empty seat at the front of the room signified the absence of all children who have been taken from Native American families through removal or death while in foster care.
"Success for us would be to hear from you that your children have been returned or that they have been placed with relatives," she said.
The marchers, many toting signs protesting Native Americans' treatment from DHS that proclaimed such things as "We've survived thousands of years without your help" and "Your DHS Indian unit doesn't work for us," started across the bridge around 11:30 a.m.
At the courthouse, marchers and community leaders, including Councilman Jim Rixner and Woodbury County Attorney P.J. Jennings, joined family members of Nathaniel Saunsoci-Mitchell, a 20-month-old Omaha Tribe infant who died Sept. 24 while placed in a non-tribal foster home in South Sioux City. His grandmother, Olivia Saunsoci, said the family's grief grows each day as the little boy's death is not solved.
"It's hard to say how I feel because I am full of anger," she said. "It gets worse the longer it takes for anyone to be arrested."
The group then walked another 10 blocks up Douglas Street to Mount Olive Baptist Church for a 2 p.m. memorial dinner. For the first time a candlelight vigil was held as part of the dinner to remember the lost children.
Leaders Scott Aldrich Sr. and Pete Snowball Sr. recalled the spirits of each family's lost loved ones through the offering of food for their journey away on the "ghost trail." Aldrich spooned bits of turkey, stuffing, stew and salad into a bowl, pouring in coffee and water before Snowball sprinkled a bit of tobacco on top and set the bowl on the tealight-covered table. Family members lit the candles as they lined up to eat.
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Dorita wrote on Nov 29, 2006 11:19 AM:
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