Quarterly Newsletter
“It Takes Us All”
NICWA News is the quarterly newsletter for members and donors of the National Indian Child Welfare Association. Donate or become a member today to subscribe.
A Message from NICWA’s Executive Director
Dear NICWA Members, Sponsors, Donors, and Friends,
Welcome to the Winter issue of NICWA News.
The theme of this issue is It Takes Us All. As we move forward together, after decades of NICWA’s work with Native communities, it’s clear that creating a brighter future for children and families is not the work of one person or one organization. It takes all of us—working collectively; honoring our shared commitment to tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and collective well-being; and bringing our unique strengths and gifts to the table.This is the spirit of It Takes Us All. Our work is only as strong as the relationships we foster, the shared vision we nurture, and the aligned actions we take. Each voice matters, each experience informs our work, and each effort contributes to our larger life’s work of protecting Native children and strengthening tribal sovereignty.
Today, I am proud to share that our path forward has never been clearer. ICWA 2050, our bold framework for the next generation of work, stands as a unifying guide for the field, a way that we can all situate and see our work in relationship to one another, leveraging our strengths. It identifies the strategies, goals, and resources needed to address critical priorities, enhancing tribal child welfare capacity, strengthening tribal-state partnerships, and improving federal accountability.
ICWA 2050 is not just a roadmap; it’s an invitation. An invitation to every advocate, leader, partner, and ally to come together in advancing what we know works: honoring tribal sovereignty and ensuring Native children grow up connected to their families, communities, and cultures.
We need your voice, your perspective, your energy, and your commitment. As we progress ICWA 2050, I invite you to partner with us in shaping its implementation by participating in our environmental scan this Winter season. Sign up for NICWA emails for updates on the environmental scan and attend our 43rd Annual Protecting Our Children Conference to join the in-person conversation during workshop and plenary presentations dedicated to this effort. If you can’t make it in person, you can register as a virtual attendee to take part in our three plenary sessions.
It Takes Us All is more than a theme—it’s a truth that sustains our work and inspires our progress. Thank you for standing with us, for lifting up Native children and families, and for being part of this journey. Only together can we ensure a future where every Native child thrives.
In partnership,
Sarah L. Kastelic, PhD (Alutiiq)