PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Federal officials are planning a summit in
South Dakota in the wake of allegations that the state routinely
violates federal law by taking too many Native American children
out of their homes.
National Public Radio in October ran a three-part series
accusing the state of breaking the Indian Child Welfare Act, which
requires that Native American children removed from homes be placed
with relatives or put in homes within their tribes except in
unusual circumstances.
Nedra Darling with the Interior Department's Office of Indian
Affairs says the agency has created a committee to plan the
impending summit. No date has been set.
Darling says she hopes the meeting will "open up a dialogue."
State officials say the NPR report was inaccurate and unfair and
that they'd welcome a summit.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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