Opinion: The Supreme Court needs to uphold protection for Native American children
As an American Indian pediatrician working in my own tribal community, I know how important it is to ensure that children have connections to their culture and community to support their well-being. That is why I think it is essential that the U.S. Supreme Court uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act when it hears a case on Nov. 9 that challenges the law.
In Brackeen v. Haaland, opponents of tribal sovereignty and self-determination challenge the act’s constitutionality by arguing that the law exceeds the authority of Congress provided by the U.S. Constitution’s Indian Commerce Clause, violates the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment, and forces state agencies and courts to enforce federal law in violation of the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and states’ rights.
