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American Indian mother frustrated by laws that let tribe block adoptionBi loWDnMU AvvKunnPmw WamaIOWA CITY. Iowa (AJP) • Kelly Buffalo, an American Indian from the Mnkwaki tnhc. believes hci newborn son will have a better future if he is adopted by a u bite Indiana couple. Some m her tribe disagree.Shortly after Buffalo gave birth six weeks ago. tribal officials temporarily took custody of her win. asserting the tribe’s privilege under stale law to protect the cultural heritage of the child and the tribeOn July 5. a tribal (udge reversed its decision and granted full legal custody to the mother, who says she will continue pursuing adoption For her son. Bravcn But the first step inv olves revets ing corneal from the Meskwaki Tribal Council.This is really frustrating.'' Buffalo. 22. told The Associated Press on July 5. h's my baby andshould he my decision I'm probably more mad ai what is happening than anything else.Larry Lassley. executive director of (he tribe, said the tribe has the authority under the Indian Child Welfare Act to intervene in .nfopiion cases involving ihiMitrn of tnbal membersI assley said the law wav designed to prevent state and private adoption agencies from wrongfully taking away descendants of Inlwl members, as well as ensuring ihc option of keeping those children within the tribal community.The tribal council initially determined that the best interests ol the child was to have the child remain within the boundaries of the Meskwaki settlement. Lassley said. It can he a very important arid serious decision to make ... and a determination could be mask* in spile of the mother's view on who adopts liet child.The Meskwaki tribe, which operates a lucrative casino in Toma, i* the only (toifilly m*ogni/co tnhc m Iowa. Officially known as the Sac fb Fox Tribe ol the Mississippi, many of the tribe'* 1.200 members live on a 7.001»-acre settlement along the banks of the Iowa River. 45 miles west id Cedar Rapids.:.Buffalo said she has filed a peiition seeking a meeting with the tribal countil ro make her case. A date for the meeting has not yet been set Rven though Buffalo t% a tribal member, it* unlikely the child will ever be tortnally enrolled in the tribe because his father is white. And under tribal tradition, women alone cannot enroll rhctr children in the tribe, she wiid. I “! don't really sec the purpose of why they want to keep a child around who won't benefit from staying hcte. Buffalo said
Newspaper Details
Navajo Times
Window Rock, Arizona, US
Thu, Jul 14, 2005
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Johnathan B.
IA, USA 15 Jun 2017
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