Within Ho-Chunk history, there is a prevailing theme of perseverance. Throughout the course of time, the tribe has been tried and challenged. Of these historic and intergenerational challenges, Native children were rapidly and abruptly split and displaced, away from their families and tribes. But hope lingered for future generations, as the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) came into play. Read on to learn About the Indian Child Welfare Act, hear powerful pre-act stories, and uncover the post-act impact that continues to carry into the present day.
About the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a piece of federal legislation, enacted by Congress and adopted in 1978, that addresses the unequal removal of Native children from their families and communities. Its mission is to keep Native children connected to their families and within the community they will forever call home–the Ho-Chunk community.
Prior to the enactment of ICWA, several Native children were removed and displaced from their loved ones, from their families, and from close-knit tribal communities. In fact, between 25-35% of Native children were separated, severing the bonds to parents, siblings, and both tribal traditions and communities. Only 1% of these tragic removal cases stemmed from actual abuse.
Most removals occurred because of differing views–the Western view and the Native view. For instance, traditional Ho-Chunk homes, which included dirt floors, were seen as child abuse and deficient standards of care in the eyes of Westerners. In many instances, cultural differences resulted in the uproot of Native children, taken far away from their ties and into non-native, non-tribal communities.
Pre-Act Stories
Uprooting Native children created gaps and holes within their hearts and souls, like Loa Porter, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation tribe. On Christmas Eve, Loa, six years old at the time, watched as police removed her mother and separated her siblings.
Shortly thereafter, Loa and her siblings arrived at a holding foster home, where non-native families came to adopt Native children. Loa, picked last, ended up isolated not only from each of her family members but also from her Ho-Chunk culture.
She, along with many other Native children, failed to receive the same reinforcement, love, and support that only their Ho-Chunk community could provide.
Post-Act Impact
Following the enactment of ICWA, Ho-Chunk set out to provide families with active efforts and cultural services to rekindle their connection to the tribe. By far, the greatest impact of all is children understanding who they are and who their people are–proud and persevering Ho-Chunk.
In an effort to heal the wounds of removal, Ho-Chunk strives to give the necessary tools needed to identify the traumas. These traumas may be personal, historical, or even intergenerational. After identifying these deep-cut wounds, affected children and families begin to realize it’s not their fault and learn how to overcome them, as their ancestors have before them.
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While Ho-Chunk Nation has been continually tried and challenged throughout the course of history, they continue to persevere, even when their tribal children were taken away. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) became a pivotal moment for The Ho-Chunk Nation and all Native Nations, rewriting the narratives of several Native children and families. With ICWA, Native children can at last experience their culture, hear their language, and proudly claim their identity as Ho-Chunk Nation.
Hear Loa’s powerful Ho-Chunk story by watching this Discover Wisconsin original short here:
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Hailey Rose: Writer for Discover Mediaworks. A born & bred Wisconsinite with a love for fishing, hunting, and enjoying the great outdoors.
