Press Releases
If you are a member of the media and wish to speak to a representative of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, please email media@nicwa.org or call the NICWA office at 503-222-4044.
Amicus Briefs Filed to Uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act and Support Indian Children and Families in Brackeen v. Haaland (formerly Brackeen v. Bernhardt)
Media ContactSarah Kastelicskastelic@nicwa.org(Portland, Ore., October 12, 2021)—On Friday, 180 tribal nations and 35 Native organizations, 25 states and the District of Columbia, and Casey Family Programs and 10 child welfare and adoption organizations filed briefs...
NICWA Applauds Truth and Healing Commission Legislation
Media Contactmedia@nicwa.org(Portland, Ore., September 30, 2021)—The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) applauds Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Sharice Davids for introducing the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School...
Protect ICWA Campaign Stands with Indian Children and Families in Brackeen v. Haaland (formerly Brackeen v. Bernhardt) Cert. Petitions
Today, the United States, tribal defendants, and state and private plaintiffs filed petitions asking the United States Supreme Court to review the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
NICWA Applauds U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the Announcement of the Federal Government’s Plan to Launch the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative
Today, United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the steps that the U.S. Department of Interior will take to address the history and current-day impact of boarding school policies and operations targeted at Native children and families through the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.
MEDIA ADVISORY: National Indian Child Welfare Association Launches New Brackeen v. Haaland Resource
On Friday, June 18, 2021, the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) announced the launch of a new resource for state child welfare workers and agencies.
Available electronically, the resource provides best practices for state child welfare agencies when applying the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) to state child welfare proceedings.
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Issues En Banc Decision in Brackeen v. Haaland (formerly Brackeen v. Bernhardt)
Today, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals published its en banc decision in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). While the Protect ICWA Campaign is pleased to see that the court recognized that ICWA generally is within Congress’s authority, we are deeply concerned that aspects of this opinion misunderstand the unique relationship between the United States and tribal nations.