Minority Report Highlights Urgent Need for Reform in Federal Indian Policies Affecting Native Children

A minority report submitted to the congressional 'Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children' has brought to light the severe consequences of federal Indian policies on Native American families and children. Titled 'Minority Report: Commission on Native Children,' the document compiles extensive research and testimonies from grassroots Native American communities, highlighting systemic issues that demand urgent attention.

Commissioner Elizabeth Morris, the report's author, describes an 'iron triangle' within federal Indian policy that enforces laws and policies perceived by many tribal members as 'controlling, oppressive, and unconstitutional.' These policies have contributed to alarming rates of poverty, abuse, substance abuse, and suicide among Native American children, underscoring a crisis that requires immediate action.

The report advocates for significant policy changes and reforms aimed at empowering Native Americans at the individual, family, and community levels, with a strong emphasis on promoting local self-determination. Morris's work serves as a clarion call to Congress and the public, urging them to recognize and address the harm inflicted by current policies on Native American families. The full report is accessible here.

Morris emphasizes the federal government's 'trust responsibility' to protect Native American children, a duty she argues has been neglected in favor of political expediency. The minority report is a pivotal step towards initiating dialogue and action to rectify these longstanding injustices, aiming to secure a brighter future for Native American children and their communities.