For Immediate Release
February 28, 2022 Media Contact: Jason Salsman: jsalsman@muscogeenation.com
Muscogee (Creek) Nation statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s agreement to hear Brackeen case that challenges constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act
OKMULGEE, Okla. – This morning the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari and agreed to hear the case of Haaland, et al, v. Brackeen, et al. challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act despite decades of well-established precedent upholding ICWA and its fundamental purpose of strengthening Tribal sovereignty and protecting the rights of Indian children and families.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is disheartened that ICWA and Tribal rights are once again under attack at the Supreme Court and requiring Tribes and Tribal advocates to defend the fundamental principle that Tribes are political, self-governing entities, not racial groups, and that laws like ICWA are premised on the obligation of the United States to uphold and support Tribal sovereignty.
The workers and advocates at MCN’s Children and Family Services work tirelessly every day in support of one of ICWA’s key purposes, “there is no resource that is more vital to the continued existence and integrity of Indian tribes than their children.”
MCN stands behind the Tribes in the Brackeen case and will work with all of Indian country to present a strong and unified voice in support of ICWA before the Supreme Court.
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