native children given up for adoption

[august46_PREV (deleted)]

i was wondering how other native people were affected by adoption? on my fathers side all his siblings were given up for adoption including himself. my mother was given up for adoption as well. as a result i have given up 2 of my children an i thought at the time i was doing the right thing? comments

august46

[sundog]

.everyone on this ground which we walk on can pick the dirt up and it flyes away into the air - those are your clums of dirt that runs thought your fingers are your choices

[poncagirl73160 (deleted)]

.our native children should not be adopted out to other cultures we as people need to step up and take care of our children. Our believes and way of living dies a little more every day we can not let this keep happening!!! It should not matter what tribe you or the child is as long as they are getting some type of native teachings that is better then them growing up with out any teachings at all. I am affraid that by the time my children are old enough to have children our culute will be almost non existant and we can't let that happen!!!!

[wrayn]

.I'm not native american, but I think native american history, art & culture are very interesting. I'm interested in such things and hope that too much of these things are not lost over time, especially since many modern Americans are so out of touch with real living, themselves, & nature.

[cabinetmanjoe]

Those that have never been adopted or have never given a child for adoption should not speak at all on this issue because you would be speaking beyond your experience. As a child I was adopted to a family that is not of my ethnicity and we learn that its HOW someone is raised, not whose raising the child. To say that a child should be raised strictly withen one culture or one ethnicity is not only selfish, but it is exactly what is wrong with the world today. At the foster care center that I volunteer at today, try telling a child that he/she cannot go for adoption because the family is not of THEIR culture and ethnicity. Think about it, and remember to speak beyond your experience is to speak of ignorance.

Joe

[johnmarlon (deleted)]

Found this from Wiki, relevance calls for posting it.
Quote: Congresss overriding purpose in passing this act is to protect Indian culture and tribal integrity from the unwanted removal of Indian children by state and federal agencies. Congress reasoned “there is no resource that is more vital to the continued existence and integrity of Indian tribes than their children. (§ 1902.)

The congressional hearing concerning the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) found that somewhere between 25 percent to 35 percent of all Indian children had been removed from their families and placed in foster or adoptive homes and institutions from 1969 to 1974. Further statistics showed that in some states, such as Minnesota, Indian children faced foster care placement sixteen times more often than their non-Indian counterparts. (1978 U.S.C.C.A.N 7531.)


Native people have a strong belief in keeping Native children in Native families. This is because of the strong sense of "sticking together" native people have. This kind of thinking is shared by many native people raised in Native families with a strong sense of tradition. This thinking also comes from people realizing that Native culture is on the decline.

If you disagree with this "sticking together" attitude then ask yourself why Native people hold this attitude...


cabinetmanjoe wrote:
To say that a child should be raised strictly withen one culture or one ethnicity is not only selfish, but it is exactly what is wrong with the world today. At the foster care center that I volunteer at today, try telling a child that he/she cannot go for adoption because the family is not of THEIR culture and ethnicity. Think about it, and remember to speak beyond your experience is to speak of ignorance.

Joe


I couldn't help but shake my head when reading this joe. You talk about it being selfish and wrong and then tell people not to speak of ignorance...

[annafavela (deleted)]

`It's so true what you say John; It's not something selfish, it's that tradition and your ancestor's blood run through your veinss, it's something people can't ignore.
I think that adopting a Native American child is not only about parenting (like in so many cases it has been done) , it's also about making the child aware of where does he come from, what is the history of his/her people -perpetuating- and keeping alive not only the baby, but what has been here for hundreds and maybe thousands of years.

[ravenwoman_PREV (deleted)]

`The native american culture has taken so many hits. I understand wanting to keep children within the tribe. I think this is a multi level issue tho. Not having grown up on the rez, I cant speak to it really. But I do understand the need and desire to keep children within their culture. I feel it is important. Sometimes perhaps not so simple.

[quayna (deleted)]

I was given up for adoption, because many in my own tribe were sent to residential schools. Canada's government back then was trying to end the Indian culture, so they came to the families and just took the children away and usually never saw the family again until after they turned 18. During this time, they were taken to these schools and brought up by priests and nuns who did not show them love or affection of any kind. So, when they got out and began living again, when they had children they had no clue how to react to them. They did not know how to love them and often had them taken away. In my adoption records it shows that I had been neglected and had severe malnutrition when I was 3 months old. So, I was taken away as were all my siblings. Three of use were adopted out and the rest were taken to live with the Grandparents. I believe if I had not been adopted out, I probably would not be here now. But, that is all in the past and now I live in the states and just last year I was welcomed back into the tribe and welcomed back by my birth family. Unfortunately, I and my one brother did not get to see my mother and I really wanted to.

[gemma1485]

`hiya all, well i can't really speak to much about this- to be honest- of being adopted or having to give my child away but as a woman and as a mother, my heritage will always be with my son, in ways the irish/ romany and italian/ romany cultures are very much similar close knitt and we too have our traditions and beliefs that have been passed down and i feel that is extremely important for any child is to keep ,thier beliefs their background always with them as it's who they are- now the world as it is today- unfortunately is looking a bit 'ergh' - our main focus should be the children as they are our future it is sooo disheartening to hear on the news that another child has gone missing or has been killed or is even out doing the killing, they need us to guide and nurture them. personally tho' my only choice is to adopt children and if their culture was different it wouldn't matter to me i would proudly and actively teach and learn with them on their journey of self discovery- finding out their culture as i feel it's important to instill a sense of self and the best way for that is going back to their roots. i have a great respect and understanding for all cultures and religions that exist on this wonderful planet. ha and i too believ if you come with a brother/ s or sisters then you will stay that way hahaha take all of them home. take care gemma x

[gemma1485]

`P.S and if the birth mother/ father or any relatives ever wanted to meet i would be cool with that hahaha you can never have too many people to love you.

[durnels]

poncagirl73160 wrote: .our native children should not be adopted out to other cultures we as people need to step up and take care of our children. Our believes and way of living dies a little more every day we can not let this keep happening!!! It should not matter what tribe you or the child is as long as they are getting some type of native teachings that is better then them growing up with out any teachings at all. I am affraid that by the time my children are old enough to have children our culute will be almost non existant and we can't let that happen!!!!



You know I dont have anything against adoption, at least the kids will be loved and away from whatever bad activity was going on in the first place. And as far as race goes if the family that adopts is fit to be good then thats what counts. Race should never play a roll in adoption.

[ravenwoman_PREV (deleted)]

`I dont know... seen a bunch of native kids raised white who have no interest in their culture nor their families... makes me really sad

[gemma1485]

there are lots of people on here that have some really interesting opinions and i apologise now but not every 'white' is ignorant to other cultures and their teachings there is a minority of us that respect different cultures and their teachings and would happily teach them like i said it's part of who they are- the best thing to do is always be open with the child about where they come from at a very young age. as for the parents - i really do not want to come across as patronising- but to give your child away- i can only imagine how heart breaking that is and is one of the most toughest decisions ever- and i hope you can take comfort in knowing that people always have a way of coming back to us. take care gemmax