Totally missing my point, which is that the issue at hand isn't simply about "following the rules" but about a dominant society allowing space for the expression of Native heritage.

Nice one!

1) every tribe is different, but these days in most communities eagle feathers are not given only by "the chief", usually any combat veteran can give a feather to someone who has achieved a major accomplishment (including women, and not just for hunting or seeing active combat). For example, a Vietnam combat veteran…

can you imagine the shitstorm that would ensue if christian students were denied the chance to wear a crucifix (esp. in Alabama)? this isn't a case of a "crappy entitled brat," unless by crappy entitled brat you mean someone who wanted to recognize their tribal heritage on their high school graduation day.

hahahahahahahhahah!

Try wearing her & walking around. Ergo baby carrier. Go for long walks when she's crying. And if you pass other parents they will give you understanding, sympathetic looks. Might remind her of when she was all safe & comfy in your womb. And the walking might help keep you sane (and will help you keep fit).

And remember…

Yah, usually the deadspin herd is okay (I laugh a lot more when I read their comments), but on articles like this the grossness emerges.

(1) the coolness. good for Griner.

We may disagree on some points, but I totally agree with the last sentence of your post.

Thanks for taking the time to explain your experience as an adopted child, it sounds like your parents are awesome. And it helps me to think about the process of adoption differently/more. My dad has worked in CPS or foster parent…

I'm sorry if it seems like a leap to you, I'm trying to understand a viewpoint that radically disassociates a child's well-being from their cultural heritage. ... is it impossible to believe that part of a Native child's best interests might be being placed in an adoptive or foster home that can transmit cultural…

I actually don't think the adoptive parents are villains. I think they wanted a child and contracted with an agency (and had lawyers) who either didn't know what they were doing or thought that if they just fudged things everything would turn out in the end. At first I did think they were shady, but then I read the…

ICWA doesn't say that a Native child should never be taken away from a Native parent.

But it DOES say that if a Native child is removed from their biological home, a protocol must be followed. First, the placement agency has to ensure that there are no suitable Native relatives that are qualified to take the child.…

You're being really aggressive and insulting to someone who has been really patient and generous to extensively engage with commenters.

I guess you could interpret it that way.

oops sorry I was being pretentious based on my one semester of Federal Indian Law. the fact pattern is the first part of a court decision that states the facts agreed upon as the basis for the case (before the decision gets into the nitty gritty points of law & their own decision). It's the first section.

I know; I was really disappointed in that Nina Totenberg article on NPR.

I'm sorry for stating things disrespectfully. But I do feel as though you are engaging in willful misinterpretation.

No, I totally understand. I'm on the "opposite side" and I definitely have very strong opinions. But I just posted in response to someone else that I think everyone agrees on one thing: they all want this little girl to be able to be in a loving household & to have a bright future.

LOL.

It is, actually, about Native American rights.