Abstract
This article presents the major impact of implemented U.S. Indian policies on the lives of American Indian children. First, the article discusses U.S. policies aimed to re-socializing American Indians through imposition of external language, culture, and beliefs through a system of government-mandated education. In the late 1700s through the 1800s, the U.S. government set a course for military control over American Indian peoples. Re-socialization as an assimilation policy forced profound lifestyle and culture changes. These policies were aimed directly at American Indian children through mandatory Indian residential boarding schools. After decades of resistance, many tribal communities achieved educational reform. Assimilation lead to the displacement of tribal self-identification with formal U.S. citizenship and required U.S. recognition of tribal enrollment status. The consequences from this shift in nationality by U.S. standards have resulted in the inability for some American Indian children to be recognized as formal tribal members, thereby decreasing the American Indian population over time. Next, the health and welfare of American Indian children and families are discussed. Contemporary statistics continue to illustrate a high rate of poverty for Indian children and consequent health issues. Even more devastating has been the loss of Indian children through overzealous foster care and adoption practices by state social workers. With the passage and implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (“ICWA”), many of the most egregious removals of Indian children from their tribal families and communities have been reversed. However, U.S. courts continue to apply ICWA inconsistently. In the final section of the paper, the strides tribal communities have taken to return to positive childhood environments for American Indian children are examined. The future of Tribal Nations in the U.S. rests in the hearts and minds of the children. Key terms: American Indian Children, Native American Children, Indian Children, Indian Child Welfare Act, ICWA, Indian boarding school, residential boarding schools, tribal enrollment, tribal citizenship, tiny tots, Indian education, Indian adoption , Indian child foster care, Indian child removal
Recommended Citation
EagleWoman (Wambdi A. WasteWin), Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, Angelique and G. William Rice, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. "American Indian Children and U.S. Policy." Tribal Law Journal 16, 1 (2016). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/tlj/vol16/iss1/2