Peaceful connections and Cultural Preservation

Halito! (Hi), I am Erica a hard of hearing American Indian woman who is a peacemaker for my tribe and mediator for my county. I believe in faith, family, culture and spend a large part of my time volunteering. I am fundraising so that I may attend The National Indian Child Welfare Association 42nd Annual Protecting Our Children Conference in April. I am establishing a non-profit organization to promote the effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) by providing qualified expert witness testimony at all necessary judicial hearings to better aid in active efforts as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act. Sometimes, when a tribe with a child in the child welfare system is contacted, their response may highlight the challenge of lacking resources to travel to a Texas court. This is given as a reason for being unable to provide either QEW testimony or intervene.

I feel that my attendance to The NICWA Conference will aid in my dedication to ensuring the proper application of ICWA principles and provisions in child welfare proceedings involving American Indian children here in North Texas. Where I will be able to help support the recent Supreme Court Ruling stating: In adopting the Indian Child Welfare Act, Congress exercised that lawful authority to secure the right of Indian parents to raise their families as they please; the right of Indian children to grow in their culture; and the right of Indian communities to resist fading into the twilight of history. All of that is in keeping with the Constitution’s original design. – Haaland v. Brackeen, No. 21-376 (2023)

The funds will be used to pay for the conference registration fee of 660, if registration is paid after 3/1/21, hotel and air fair of $909 according to Priceline. So if you support the recent ruling from the supreme court, believe in keeping families together and cultural preservation, please donate what feels right to you.

Yakoke! (Thank you)