Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

New Petition to “Free Lakota Children from State Kidnapping” Attracts Record Signatures - More than 15,000 Sign in First Week
  • USA - English


News provided by

Romero Institute

Jan 30, 2014, 06:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Stop State Kidnapping
Stop State Kidnapping

We have the solution - foster care programs run by the Lakota tribes - Chase Iron Eyes

Post this

Rapid City, SD (PRWEB) January 30, 2014 -- According to data from the State of South Dakota and the Federal Government, Lakota Sioux children are ten times more likely to be forcibly removed from their parents than Caucasian children, and now comprise over 60% of all foster children in South Dakota. Federal data demonstrate that the State continues to violate federal law by placing 90% of the 750 Lakota foster children it seizes each year into non-Native homes and locked group psychiatric facilities, instead of placing them with relatives or other Native Americans. The State receives up to $79, 000 from the federal government for each foster child.

The Lakota People’s Law Project has initiated the Campaign to Free the Lakota Children, which has already become the largest Native American Rights petition in MoveOn.org history. In just one week, more than 15,000 Americans signed the petition, which urges President Obama to use his Executive Branch authority to order the Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services to shift their foster care funding from the State of South Dakota to new tribal-run Child and Family Service Programs.

The Campaign includes “Hearts on the Ground”, a stunning, heart-opening, 12 minute documentary web video by Kalyanee Mam, whose film about indigenous people in her native Cambodia won last year’s Sundance Film Festival Award. Since launching on Martin Luther King Day last week, Hearts on the Ground has had nearly 9,000 page views, inspiring thousands to sign the campaign’s petition.

“We are on the verge of an historic moment in Lakota history,” says Chase Iron Eyes, LPLP’s South Dakota legal counsel. “We have the solution, which is foster care programs run by Lakota tribes, not by the culturally biased and money-motivated DSS of South Dakota.”

Sara Nelson, Executive Director of the Lakota People’s Law Project, notes that transferring responsibility, and federal funding, from the State of South Dakota’s Department of Social Service to the tribes will not require additional federal funding, but it will support tribal sovereignty. In fact, Nelson explains, “Once the tribal foster care system starts placing foster children with their relatives (as required by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978), instead of in psychiatric group homes (which bring in more than double the federal money) and white foster care, it will begin to heal the trauma which has come from decades of inhumane, family-destroying state run programs. Tribes are family, and the state is not.”

The national petition drive to Free the Lakota Children is being supported by members of MoveOn.org Civic Action, which seeks to facilitate “Americans from all walks of life who are fighting and winning campaigns for progressive change.” MoveOn Communications Director Nick Berning, says, “MoveOn members are organizing to protect the civil rights of Native Americans, and all Americans, and we are here to provide tools to grassroots organizations like the Lakota Law Project to help make this happen.”

The Lakota People’s Law Project t has been partnering with Lakota tribes and leaders in South Dakota since 2005 from its offices in Rapid City, S.D., and Santa Cruz, C.A. The project combines public interest law, research, education and organizing into a unique model for advocacy and social reform.

The Lakota People’s Law Project is sponsored by the non-profit t Romero Institute based in Santa Cruz, C.A. The Institute is named after slain human rights advocate Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. The Institute seeks to identify and dismantle structural sources of injustice and threats to the survival of our human family.

Randy Pozos, Romero Institute, http://LakotaLaw.org, +1 (831) 588-3423, [email protected]

Modal title

Read the Full Petition
View PDF
Read the Full Petition
Art by Shepard Fairey of OBEY Photography by Aaron Huey
Art by Shepard Fairey of OBEY Photography by Aaron Huey
Watching the Watch Dog
View PDF
Watching the Watch Dog
Solving the Lakota Foster Care Crisis
View PDF
Solving the Lakota Foster Care Crisis
ICWA Coalition Report to Congress
View PDF
ICWA Coalition Report to Congress
3-Part NPR Series: "Native Foster Care: Lost Children, Shattered Families"
3-Part NPR Series: "Native Foster Care: Lost Children, Shattered Families"
The Lakota Future
The Lakota Future
Read the Full Petition Art by Shepard Fairey of OBEY Photography by Aaron Huey Watching the Watch Dog Solving the Lakota Foster Care Crisis ICWA Coalition Report to Congress 3-Part NPR Series: "Native Foster Care: Lost Children, Shattered Families" The Lakota Future

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.