Story Published: Jun 16, 2010 at 10:40 PM PDT
Story Updated: Jun 16, 2010 at 10:40 PM PDT
The conference featured workshops for social workers, advocates and Tribal members. Workshops addressed issues facing Native American cultures with regard to federal protection.
"It's important that we're able to link between the community needs and what the data says needs to be done," said National Indian Child Welfare Association member Nadja Jones. "There's definitely a gap between the practice of really good, profound, thoughtful social work and the policy that's written by, perhaps people that aren't as connected to the community needs. And hopefully this conference will help connect that better."
Nez Perce Tribe Interim Social Services Manager Wendy Thomas said conferences like this help members understand the law.
"The Nez Perce Tribe collaborates with the State of Idaho, as well as other tribes around the state," said Thomas. "It's very important for this conference to happen because the Indian Child Welfare Act is federal law and is generally not acknowledged or appropriately practiced throughout the state. And not just the State of Idaho, but nationwide."
Jones said giving the power of child welfare to the tribes is the key to results.
"You have tribal communities here," said Jones. "You have sovereign governments here. And then you have a partnership that exists within the state to help support that network. And tribes as sovereign entities are able to take care of their own children. Creating that linkage in the unique way that the Shoshone-Bannock or the unique way that the Nez Perce know how to serve their community needs, they're the ones that really need to be able to do that. And not have the larger culture impose their own value set on that community for keeping their own children safe."
District 7 Representative Liz Chavez was also on hand. She said she was there as a government representative, but this issue also hits close to home.
"I did a welcome from the point of view of the legislature, but also from the point of view of a person who is married to a Nez Perce man," said Chavez. "I have a son, our adopted son, who is fetal alcohol and that is part of the conference presentation and just to be with all the people that work through the social system."
