We want to shed light on an urgent issue right here in South Dakota. The stories behind these startling statistics cannot be ignored any longer:
The statistics are alarming:
- 700+ Native children taken from their families EACH YEAR.
- Native children make up just 15% of our child population.
- Yet, they form over 50% of the kids in foster care.
- An overwhelming 90% are placed in non-Native homes, even when tribal foster homes stand ready and willing.
While many leaders in South Dakota remain silent, the profound hurt endured by these children and their families grows. It’s not just a disregard for the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); it’s a profound betrayal of our community’s trust and heritage.
We are at a pivotal moment, and the voice of the Indigenous community must be amplified now more than ever.
