Report: South Dakota Removes Hundreds Of Native American Children From Their Homes, Collects Millions In Federal Funds

Report: South Dakota Removes Hundreds Of Native American Children From Their Homes, Collects Millions In Federal Funds

There was a time in this country when thousands of Native American children were forced from their homes by public and private agencies, then sent to boarding schools where the school founder’s motto was “Kill the Indian, Save the Man.” This practice wiped out cultural ties and traditions from an entire generation on which tribes depended to carry on their legacies. In 1978, Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act, a law meant to ensure that Native American children stay with Native American families, especially when placed in foster care.