Quarterly Newsletter
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 Summer issue of NICWA News. The long, warm days give us time for this cycle of our traditional practices that sustain us: fishing, harvesting and gathering foods and medicines, and hunting. Some of us visit important places where our ancestors did these very same tasks, perhaps spending time on the water, and some of us go to culture camps, where we hear our languages and learn more about our ways of life. We may sit around the fire and tell stories, or turn our attention to crafts, games, or sports. Ceremonial and cultural gatherings take place, and we may travel to be with others and express our traditions and cultural pride. Intergenerational relationships are the thread that pulls through all of these activities. Through these gatherings, as well as family visits and vacations, we tend to and nurture our relationships.
At NICWA, we’re reflecting on our relationships and the care they need to grow and evolve especially as we wrap up some projects, like our Bridging Systems technical assistance with the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin to better coordinate services for relative caregivers. We’re also starting some new projects, like supporting the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi with technical assistance, and planning for the 45th Annual Protecting Our Children Conference, which will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in April 2027, by selecting our conference artwork and writing the event theme.
During our summer board meeting, our deeply rooted community leaders from across the country traveled to NICWA’s home in Portland, Oregon, to work in-person together for this two-day gathering. Beyond directing our work, board members shared the emerging child and family trends, needs, and successes they are seeing in their own communities, and reviewed our strategic plan. They also helped us bead gifts for communities and leaders we encounter in our work.
As you’ll read in this issue of NICWA News, throughout the seasonal cycle, our public policy and advocacy work is a constant. The Trump Administration continues to move quickly to advance its priorities, and HHS’s Administration for Children and Families is no exception. You can keep track of all of our administrative and legislative work through the Advocacy Center on our website. Our team not only summarizes new developments, but we provide links and templates to make it easier for you to use your voice and position to influence key decision-makers. If you haven’t already signed up for these email alerts, we invite you to customize your own tracker on the issues you care most about to stand with us, relentlessly fighting for Native children and families.
Our collective work is not only about responding to today’s challenges, but also about strengthening connections and relationships that will carry our children into the future. There’s so much good work that you can be a part of, and we thank you for being a part of that journey with us.
With gratitude for your partnership,
Sarah L. Kastelic, PhD, MSW
(Alutiiq)