Before anyone comments that I am not a good person for not supporting the biological family in Tennessee where the father just turned 14 years old, I will clearly state, I do believe that most family's should have the right to raise their children, but it is not always the case! Each case is different. Not all adoptive parents are good, nor is all biological parents.
I have looked at this case from many different angles, have a lot of back ground information on the bio family, and a lot of information was offered to me by the many people who have been in contact with me about this situation.
I am greatly concerned over what I have learned, and cannot look the other way because the biological family wants this baby, the best interest of this baby is not with the biological family.
The first concern I have is always with the child. The child will come first when I look at cases I blog about. To ignore the best interest of a child is wrong. No exceptions.
I know too many cases of children killed by adoptive family. I know too many cases of children killed by foster care, and I know way too many cases where children were killed by their mothers and fathers. There is no perfect answer to any case, but it is best that the whole case is looked at, and not just one side taken on a "just because they are family".
In a perfect world, there would be no need for adoption, there would be no need for foster care, every child would grown, never be hungry or abused. We do not live in a perfect world. Not every family is best for a child.
Do not post to me telling me that you were the perfect parent at a young age, because not every young parent is going to be like you.
Do not post to be telling me that you are a perfect adoptive parent, because not all adoptive parents are like you.
Please do not post and tell me what a wonderful foster home you provide, because not all foster homes are like yours.
Each person is different, and each child deserves the best chance they can in life.
The bottom line is this, you can disagree with me, and none of us are perfect, I blog about what I see, and the wrongs done to children all at the sake of adoption profiting... this I do not believe is a good case to use for a fathers rights.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Help! They Sole My Grandbaby!!
*All photos used have been made public by the media or on public Facebook posts by Ivy Beard, mother of the teen father*
This is a recent cry of a woman named Ivy Beard, who went from group to group on Facebook, posting how a hospital took her 14 year old son's daughter from his arms to give to a couple wanting to adopt.
This story is a whole bunch of crazy. I began following this story after different people alerted me to the fact that this grandmother, Ivy Beard, is crying for ICWA, but the family is not enrolled, nor are they Indian. I was asked by several people to blog about this case... So I began to look into this case and try to separate facts from fiction,
This is a case where someone is trying to take advantage of a law.
You can read the story here:
False Claim To ICWA
If the story does not interest you, here is a run down on the case. The male was aged 13 when he met a older teenage girl, by the mother's account, her son had just turned 14 when the baby was born. The teen mother is currently in a juvenile correction facility due to a "incident" with her mother earlier this year, which means, on December 2, 2014 she was incarcerated at the time she went into labor with this baby girl and delivered her. Upon her release from the hospital, she was returned to the juvenile corrections facility. The mother of the boy. The teen mother decided to place her child for adoption. The mother of the boy is upset and stated her son wanted to raise this infant girl with her help. Now, the mother of the boy is fighting the system to have the baby girl returned to them.
I worry about the maturity of the people who have the biological connection to this infant girl.
This whole case is just a train wreck if you ask me.
If you are having a problem picturing a 14 year old father, here he is, with the infant.
It is really sad to see such a young boy in a position of being a "father" to any child, and in all honesty, the mother of this boy does not act her age.
So far, Ivy Beard has told quite a few stories. The story she gave the newspaper is not exactly what she has said in Facebook. While on Facebook, she writes "American Indian Movement! Rally! They took a Native baby out of it's father's arms!" she claims that the state of Tennessee Social Workers told the hospital staff that what the hospital was doing was "illegal". Notice she did not include that information in the news story? She did not include that because Tennessee social workers never told the hospital such, and I guess she did not realize that her story would be known as a lie as soon as she told it because state social workers have authority over the hospital.
Ivy Beard went online stating the "Native people were declaring war" that "we are warriors and we will not tolerate them taking our children!" Oh boy... The Native people are NOT going to "war" for Ivy Beard. We have other issues far more important than her issue.
One person informed me how Ivy wrote to them telling them that "They snatched my sons daughter from his arms and told him that native americans are alcoholics, drug addicts. prostitutes, and the poorest people in america". See, Ivy was in a conversation with a member of the American Indian Movement, and she thought she could entice him into getting angry and acting on what she was saying, but he knew she was lying. He said the lies that flowed from her were mind blowing, and hilarious... example is this story she gave as to why she cannot prove her Indian claims:
"My mom said to me little ivy, never get registered with the tribe, its the government way of keeping up with the tribe with how many people are out there, in case we breed too many and wanted to take our land back. They offer us benefits to trick us and the moment we have too many natives they might poisin our water or other things to keep our population under control. Have lots of babies and teach them to breed with other natives to purify our blood . Raise warriors, I pray that one day we will raise up and take back what is ours!"
She also stated:
"I need a full blooded native in court with me tomorrow at 1:30 to explain how important it is that she be raised in our culture, that our traditional ways are dying out. We are losing the old ways and i proudly practice NAC and teach my kids our traditional way of life the medicine wheel and even how to make fry bread" Now she is stereotyping Indian people and using words she thinks will convince someone else she is Indian... and yet, has no clue to what she is talking about...
My friend stated that Ivy Beard is one of the most immature people they have been in contact with, and has no business raising this infant.
What prompted me to write about this case earlier than I had planned, is just a bit ago while studying the newspaper article that I posted at the beginning of this story, is I seen she has been posting to the article and being her immature self. She is using the name of "Scientist Warrior" writing to one pea rson "
THANK YOU! the BIA CAN follow a paper trail to heritage that tribes cannot, sometimes. ICWA was created to protect babies from blood quantum rhetoric as well. Watch out Cuba, rich white people will be on the boat to take your babies too, once tourism opens up."
Well, no, BIA cannot verify or search a person's claim to being Native, the BIA cannot enroll you in a tribe, the BIA does not set standards for enrollment, and rich white people do not want to take the children from Cuba.
You can read a lot of her insane rantings here:
https://disqus.com/by/scientistwarrior/
Here is a quote of Ivy Bead from the newspaper article: "“Every time he saw the baby the baby’s bed, bassinet or car seat, something that reminded him of the baby, he started crying, screaming, kicking things,” Beard said." But to another person who contacted me, she stated that Ivy was telling her how mature and grown up her son had become, and he was wanting to take care of his responsibilities! I disagree. I think he is behaving like a normal 14 year old child, who has not gotten his way. He is not showing mature behavior when he is kicking things, screaming and carrying on, imagine, if the infant had upset him, what would he do? It is obvious he has not grown enough to control his anger.
I do believe that children do best when raised by their family, however in this case, I cannot imagine this family having custody and raising this innocent little girl. It is proven they are willing to lie to get their prize, Ivy tried to prove her "Cherokee blood" by showing people pictures of her grandmother. She has lied over and over again to several people, changing her story time and time again. She was offered free genealogy help to see if she really had Cherokee ancestors and help to get enrolled, she has ignored the offer by offering more stories and pictures.
No, this is not a ICWA case, this is a case of a "wholelottafuckeduppeople" and perhaps the most mature and responsible person in this whole mess is the biological mother, who found a family to place this infant with. It is clear her mother had no interest in raising this child, and I do not think she ever seriously considered giving this child to the biological father.
What ever happens in this case, I feel strongly that this baby deserves the best life has to offer, not in monetary values, but in love and stability... too many children are growing up in total dysfunction, I hope this child really can be saved.
This is a recent cry of a woman named Ivy Beard, who went from group to group on Facebook, posting how a hospital took her 14 year old son's daughter from his arms to give to a couple wanting to adopt.
This story is a whole bunch of crazy. I began following this story after different people alerted me to the fact that this grandmother, Ivy Beard, is crying for ICWA, but the family is not enrolled, nor are they Indian. I was asked by several people to blog about this case... So I began to look into this case and try to separate facts from fiction,
This is a case where someone is trying to take advantage of a law.
You can read the story here:
False Claim To ICWA
If the story does not interest you, here is a run down on the case. The male was aged 13 when he met a older teenage girl, by the mother's account, her son had just turned 14 when the baby was born. The teen mother is currently in a juvenile correction facility due to a "incident" with her mother earlier this year, which means, on December 2, 2014 she was incarcerated at the time she went into labor with this baby girl and delivered her. Upon her release from the hospital, she was returned to the juvenile corrections facility. The mother of the boy. The teen mother decided to place her child for adoption. The mother of the boy is upset and stated her son wanted to raise this infant girl with her help. Now, the mother of the boy is fighting the system to have the baby girl returned to them.
I worry about the maturity of the people who have the biological connection to this infant girl.
This whole case is just a train wreck if you ask me.
If you are having a problem picturing a 14 year old father, here he is, with the infant.
It is really sad to see such a young boy in a position of being a "father" to any child, and in all honesty, the mother of this boy does not act her age.
So far, Ivy Beard has told quite a few stories. The story she gave the newspaper is not exactly what she has said in Facebook. While on Facebook, she writes "American Indian Movement! Rally! They took a Native baby out of it's father's arms!" she claims that the state of Tennessee Social Workers told the hospital staff that what the hospital was doing was "illegal". Notice she did not include that information in the news story? She did not include that because Tennessee social workers never told the hospital such, and I guess she did not realize that her story would be known as a lie as soon as she told it because state social workers have authority over the hospital.
Ivy Beard went online stating the "Native people were declaring war" that "we are warriors and we will not tolerate them taking our children!" Oh boy... The Native people are NOT going to "war" for Ivy Beard. We have other issues far more important than her issue.
One person informed me how Ivy wrote to them telling them that "They snatched my sons daughter from his arms and told him that native americans are alcoholics, drug addicts. prostitutes, and the poorest people in america". See, Ivy was in a conversation with a member of the American Indian Movement, and she thought she could entice him into getting angry and acting on what she was saying, but he knew she was lying. He said the lies that flowed from her were mind blowing, and hilarious... example is this story she gave as to why she cannot prove her Indian claims:
"My mom said to me little ivy, never get registered with the tribe, its the government way of keeping up with the tribe with how many people are out there, in case we breed too many and wanted to take our land back. They offer us benefits to trick us and the moment we have too many natives they might poisin our water or other things to keep our population under control. Have lots of babies and teach them to breed with other natives to purify our blood . Raise warriors, I pray that one day we will raise up and take back what is ours!"
She also stated:
"I need a full blooded native in court with me tomorrow at 1:30 to explain how important it is that she be raised in our culture, that our traditional ways are dying out. We are losing the old ways and i proudly practice NAC and teach my kids our traditional way of life the medicine wheel and even how to make fry bread" Now she is stereotyping Indian people and using words she thinks will convince someone else she is Indian... and yet, has no clue to what she is talking about...
My friend stated that Ivy Beard is one of the most immature people they have been in contact with, and has no business raising this infant.
What prompted me to write about this case earlier than I had planned, is just a bit ago while studying the newspaper article that I posted at the beginning of this story, is I seen she has been posting to the article and being her immature self. She is using the name of "Scientist Warrior" writing to one pea rson "
THANK YOU! the BIA CAN follow a paper trail to heritage that tribes cannot, sometimes. ICWA was created to protect babies from blood quantum rhetoric as well. Watch out Cuba, rich white people will be on the boat to take your babies too, once tourism opens up."
Well, no, BIA cannot verify or search a person's claim to being Native, the BIA cannot enroll you in a tribe, the BIA does not set standards for enrollment, and rich white people do not want to take the children from Cuba.
You can read a lot of her insane rantings here:
https://disqus.com/by/scientistwarrior/
Here is a quote of Ivy Bead from the newspaper article: "“Every time he saw the baby the baby’s bed, bassinet or car seat, something that reminded him of the baby, he started crying, screaming, kicking things,” Beard said." But to another person who contacted me, she stated that Ivy was telling her how mature and grown up her son had become, and he was wanting to take care of his responsibilities! I disagree. I think he is behaving like a normal 14 year old child, who has not gotten his way. He is not showing mature behavior when he is kicking things, screaming and carrying on, imagine, if the infant had upset him, what would he do? It is obvious he has not grown enough to control his anger.
I do believe that children do best when raised by their family, however in this case, I cannot imagine this family having custody and raising this innocent little girl. It is proven they are willing to lie to get their prize, Ivy tried to prove her "Cherokee blood" by showing people pictures of her grandmother. She has lied over and over again to several people, changing her story time and time again. She was offered free genealogy help to see if she really had Cherokee ancestors and help to get enrolled, she has ignored the offer by offering more stories and pictures.
No, this is not a ICWA case, this is a case of a "wholelottafuckeduppeople" and perhaps the most mature and responsible person in this whole mess is the biological mother, who found a family to place this infant with. It is clear her mother had no interest in raising this child, and I do not think she ever seriously considered giving this child to the biological father.
What ever happens in this case, I feel strongly that this baby deserves the best life has to offer, not in monetary values, but in love and stability... too many children are growing up in total dysfunction, I hope this child really can be saved.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
A Bitter After Taste For Capobiancos
People thumping their chests proclaiming Veronica is happy, when Matt has to tell this child every day that she is "his" and when she asks to "go home" he tries to convince her she "is home" but she knows that he is not her daddy, Melanie is not her mommy, and she knows she is not at "home".
When Veronica was taken, a cousin of Melanie's had a teenage daughter about to give birth to a girl, to try to prove to everyone Veronica was "happy" this photo appeared online of Veronica holding this newborn. Though the Capobianco's wanted people to believe Veronica was happy, you can see the sadness in her eyes, the dark circles around her eyes from lack of sleep, and her eyes are a little puffy from all the tears she has been crying. The truth of the situation is seen in the picture.
This picture was posted on Facebook within two weeks of Veronica's forced removal from her loving father. She just turned four years old, and what four year old girl is not taken with a newborn baby, specially a baby girl.
Now, Miss Veronica is five years old, she has spent a year in captivity. She is a indentured slave being held by her captors, the Capobiancos.
Interesting adoption article online, a adopted woman discovered the truth of her adoption. She discovered that her mother did not want to put her up for adoption, but the woman who adopted her used unethical tactics, was misleading and deceitful in forcing a unethical adoption. The biological mother fought to have her child, but did not have the money to fight the rich, and well connected couple who demanded her child, and so the court founded that the couple would be "better suited parents because of their wealth, and ability to provide the child with everything she wanted and a good education". Wow, sounds like what the supporters of the Capobianco's were yelling! The single mother had another child, and was threatened to lose that child as well. That adopted girl grew up into a woman, who has learned the truth of her adoption when she got a copy of her adoption record, was she over joyed that she was adopted from a mother who was impoverish? No, she was not thankful for being "saved" in fact, she is quite angry. How dare her adoptive mother and father battle HER family! How dare they take her away from people who LOVED her! How DARE they take her away from her sibling! She considers her captors as selfish, cruel, unloving and hateful people, she has walked out of their lives and wants nothing to do with them.
Oh get ready Matt and Melanie Duncan Capobianco! The clock is ticking! Your time is coming!!
Let it be known to the public, Dusten and Robin will welcome baby girl Isabelle May 2015! It is happy news, and yet it is bitter sweet, because Veronica will not be there to help welcome HER SISTER into the world! Her REAL BABY SISTER!
Isabelle is much loved, much wanted, and she is not replacing Veronica. She will know her sister's story of how she was stolen, not once, but twice. Sold into slavery to make a childless couple happy, a birth mother getting a new vehicle and roof in trade for a child, a child taken from a dad, step mom, grandma and grandpa who loved her and wanted her, stolen from the life of a older sister who misses her, and now a younger sister who will be forced to grow up without the guidance and love that only true sisters can share...
What shall the future bring Veronica? She will return home, she will be welcomed with open, loving arms to a larger family than which she was taken from.
Capobianco's will be left behind, bitter and Veronica will not want any contact with them, for she will know what they did to her, her daddy, her mommy, older sister and younger sister. Yes, life will truly suck for Matt, since he currently is demanding that these things will "never happen" that he has some kind of "power" to control Veronica's emotions, who she loves, where she wants to be. He really thinks a piece of paper will convince Veronica that they were "right" for what they have done to her... but her heart won't lie to her. It is not lying to her now, and it will not lie to her in the future, she knows where she belongs.
When Veronica was taken, a cousin of Melanie's had a teenage daughter about to give birth to a girl, to try to prove to everyone Veronica was "happy" this photo appeared online of Veronica holding this newborn. Though the Capobianco's wanted people to believe Veronica was happy, you can see the sadness in her eyes, the dark circles around her eyes from lack of sleep, and her eyes are a little puffy from all the tears she has been crying. The truth of the situation is seen in the picture.
This picture was posted on Facebook within two weeks of Veronica's forced removal from her loving father. She just turned four years old, and what four year old girl is not taken with a newborn baby, specially a baby girl.
Now, Miss Veronica is five years old, she has spent a year in captivity. She is a indentured slave being held by her captors, the Capobiancos.
Interesting adoption article online, a adopted woman discovered the truth of her adoption. She discovered that her mother did not want to put her up for adoption, but the woman who adopted her used unethical tactics, was misleading and deceitful in forcing a unethical adoption. The biological mother fought to have her child, but did not have the money to fight the rich, and well connected couple who demanded her child, and so the court founded that the couple would be "better suited parents because of their wealth, and ability to provide the child with everything she wanted and a good education". Wow, sounds like what the supporters of the Capobianco's were yelling! The single mother had another child, and was threatened to lose that child as well. That adopted girl grew up into a woman, who has learned the truth of her adoption when she got a copy of her adoption record, was she over joyed that she was adopted from a mother who was impoverish? No, she was not thankful for being "saved" in fact, she is quite angry. How dare her adoptive mother and father battle HER family! How dare they take her away from people who LOVED her! How DARE they take her away from her sibling! She considers her captors as selfish, cruel, unloving and hateful people, she has walked out of their lives and wants nothing to do with them.
Oh get ready Matt and Melanie Duncan Capobianco! The clock is ticking! Your time is coming!!
Let it be known to the public, Dusten and Robin will welcome baby girl Isabelle May 2015! It is happy news, and yet it is bitter sweet, because Veronica will not be there to help welcome HER SISTER into the world! Her REAL BABY SISTER!
Isabelle is much loved, much wanted, and she is not replacing Veronica. She will know her sister's story of how she was stolen, not once, but twice. Sold into slavery to make a childless couple happy, a birth mother getting a new vehicle and roof in trade for a child, a child taken from a dad, step mom, grandma and grandpa who loved her and wanted her, stolen from the life of a older sister who misses her, and now a younger sister who will be forced to grow up without the guidance and love that only true sisters can share...
What shall the future bring Veronica? She will return home, she will be welcomed with open, loving arms to a larger family than which she was taken from.
Capobianco's will be left behind, bitter and Veronica will not want any contact with them, for she will know what they did to her, her daddy, her mommy, older sister and younger sister. Yes, life will truly suck for Matt, since he currently is demanding that these things will "never happen" that he has some kind of "power" to control Veronica's emotions, who she loves, where she wants to be. He really thinks a piece of paper will convince Veronica that they were "right" for what they have done to her... but her heart won't lie to her. It is not lying to her now, and it will not lie to her in the future, she knows where she belongs.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome with Stereotyping
There are many people who believe that when a child is born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome that the mother must be a alcoholic, and in general, most people believe that a infant born with FAS is born to a Native mother.
We need to stop putting race with the fact that some women drink alcohol while pregnant, and not all of them are alcoholics.
I go back to a time in my young adult days, I went to a bar with some friends. A female was there, obviously very pregnant, bragging how she was in labor, and told her friend "Fill up my glass! It is going to be a long night for me and I need all the help I can get!" the gals at the table laughed while one of them poured her a full glass of beer from the pitcher on the table. I had to say something, so I went up to the pregnant female and stated "I don't think your unborn child needs all that alcohol" I was told to mind my own business, but I couldn't. I promptly replied "This is my business, I know you have four children at home, I know you are a single mother living on welfare, I know my tax dollars are paying for you, your children, and will pay for the birth and the difficulties your unborn baby will have once it is born, the only thing my tax dollars will not be responsible for is if your baby dies from this alcohol you are drinking, you will be responsible for the funeral costs, if you are in labor will have a significant effect on the baby!" I wish I could say she put the glass down, but she didn't.
I knew who this female was because I have seen her all over town, and the guys said she was a "door knob" meaning "everyone gets a turn" so she had a reputation, and watching her actions for several years let me know that there was truth to the rumors.
The pregnant woman did indeed give birth the next day, the infant did indeed have problems, but was never put into the child protection services system. Today, that child is a adult, who has problems, and is in trouble with the law. It is a sad situation, one I know could have been prevented, but the one thing about this situation I feel is very important, is this woman is not Native, she is a white woman who had no dignity for herself nor care for her children.
I do not drink, but I also try not to be judgmental about it. I have never been a alcoholic, not that I did not try alcohol, I just do not like the taste of it.
With the help of friends, they alert me to things happening on Facebook, and such is this posting is from one of the people who post things.
I introduce you to a woman named Sarah J. Powell from Mauston, Wisconsin who posted between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on a Indian Child Welfare page:
No doubt I left out the person she was trying to involve in a debate, because as I understand, less than half way through the debate, Sarah J. Powell blocked the person and continued the rant, so I have decided to take this and answer what she is obviously confused about.
First she claims that the law was to keep children away from "rasists" then goes on to say the law is "rasist" ohhh I get it, she means RACIST!
No Sarah J. Powell, the law is not racist, in fact, the law was designed to stop the forced removal of Native children and put into homes of white people in a attempt to "kill the Indian save the child" theory. It was believed that if a child was not raised in their culture, then they would cease to be Indian people, and that itself is racist because the only reason children were removed is because they were and are Native children.
Of course a tribe is going to "protect their own" because as a tribe, we are a family, as a family we will deal with the issues.
Abuse and neglect of children happens in all races, all cultures, it happens in every country on earth, but you believe it only happens in Native communities? Seriously, who needs the education on the subject of why there is Child Protection Services in every state, every town in the USA?
What happens when a child is of mixed race? The Indian Child Welfare Act is for children who parent(s) are enrolled in a federally recognized tribe, and the child must be enrolled or eligible for enrollment. In cases of mixed race, a non tribe member is included in the proceedings as if they are a tribe member. In fact, if a non Native parent does not wish for the case to be heard in tribal court, they only have to object.
Sarah J. Powell claims the person she is debating is racist, yet goes on to use "fetal alcohol syndrome". Again, this is a issue that crosses all color, culture and financial lines:
CDC Data
Sarah J. Powell claims that she is a "auntie" who "saved" her "niece" at a "very young age" because she could not prove Indian in her background. The truth is, her being a aunt gives her no legal standing in any case involving a minor child when a legal parent has not had their parental rights taken away. It does not matter what court, or what color the child is, Sarah J. Powell has no legal standing. How ironic Sarah J. Powell decides to claim to be Native in a attempt to manipulate the law, but she made a false claim, she does not understand the requirements in being a enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.
Sarah is upset that the family, by her claims, lives in a trailer, and that it was condemned shortly after the family got this child.. Really? I guess she does not know home studies are done. But perhaps, if she were truly concerned, she would be contacting her law makers and asking them why the federal treaties are being broken and Indians are forced to live in what she feels is unsuitable housing.
Sarah J. Powell's last entry is quite telling, once you put this all together, the mother of this child is her relation, per Sarah's information that they family did "not know the child existed" the family would be that of the father, but then someone in the family had to know, because they went to court for custody of this child, perhaps the mother was neglecting and abusing this child and the state stepped in, and the state awarded the child to the father and his family because the child's mothers family is not stable. Sarah, it appears, is on a late night rant, with too much to drink herself, wanting to put the blame on a law that in reality, helped to protect a Native child. I am sure if the Ho Chunk Nation were to be contacted their story would be quite different than that of Ms. Powell.
I am sure Sarah J. Powell's family is upset over the loss of contact, that too is telling, it tells me that there is conflict between these two families. Something has happened and contact was cut off between them and this innocent child. Perhaps it is the allegations that the child is neglected and abused by them? Perhaps it is a obvious racist attitude by Sarah J, Powell, but I am sure it is something very serious that happened. ICWA does not, I repeat, DOES NOT get involved in custody cases where one parent wants custody, they get involved with the state has stepped in and removed a child for the welfare of that child. This child was removed from Powell. With a late night drunk rant, it seems it was the best action taken,
Sarah, you can complain about the blog, you can complain about the use of the photos, but all you have written, and your photos were in a public domain on the internet, therefore you have no copyright to them.
We need to stop putting race with the fact that some women drink alcohol while pregnant, and not all of them are alcoholics.
I go back to a time in my young adult days, I went to a bar with some friends. A female was there, obviously very pregnant, bragging how she was in labor, and told her friend "Fill up my glass! It is going to be a long night for me and I need all the help I can get!" the gals at the table laughed while one of them poured her a full glass of beer from the pitcher on the table. I had to say something, so I went up to the pregnant female and stated "I don't think your unborn child needs all that alcohol" I was told to mind my own business, but I couldn't. I promptly replied "This is my business, I know you have four children at home, I know you are a single mother living on welfare, I know my tax dollars are paying for you, your children, and will pay for the birth and the difficulties your unborn baby will have once it is born, the only thing my tax dollars will not be responsible for is if your baby dies from this alcohol you are drinking, you will be responsible for the funeral costs, if you are in labor will have a significant effect on the baby!" I wish I could say she put the glass down, but she didn't.
I knew who this female was because I have seen her all over town, and the guys said she was a "door knob" meaning "everyone gets a turn" so she had a reputation, and watching her actions for several years let me know that there was truth to the rumors.
The pregnant woman did indeed give birth the next day, the infant did indeed have problems, but was never put into the child protection services system. Today, that child is a adult, who has problems, and is in trouble with the law. It is a sad situation, one I know could have been prevented, but the one thing about this situation I feel is very important, is this woman is not Native, she is a white woman who had no dignity for herself nor care for her children.
I do not drink, but I also try not to be judgmental about it. I have never been a alcoholic, not that I did not try alcohol, I just do not like the taste of it.
With the help of friends, they alert me to things happening on Facebook, and such is this posting is from one of the people who post things.
I introduce you to a woman named Sarah J. Powell from Mauston, Wisconsin who posted between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on a Indian Child Welfare page:
Sarah J Powell
Do
you even know what the Indian child welfare act
is
Sarah J Powell
Today
you may want to look at what it is again..it was designed to keep children safe
from resists maybe but it also prevents any other nationality from having
anything to do with their brothers, sisters, neices, nephews and so in.....it is
rasist it self...period
Sarah J Powell
But
the Tribe will sit by and let government courts do whatever, they will sit by
and let abuse and neglect happen before they step in and use Indian monies to
"protect their own"
Sarah J Powell
Alot
of abuse and neglect happens within TRIBES and they won't do a thing unless, God
for bid a white family or any other for the matter steps in...what happens when
the child is mixed race???? Indian child welfare act has control.
..yep....
Sarah J Powell
I
know first hand lady!!! Maybe you need to educate
yourself
Sarah J Powell
Blinde??
Really?? How is stereotyping now...racist
much??
Sarah J Powell
Oh
I think I do...ever look at statistics of children born with fetal alcohol
syndrome?
Sarah J Powell
Just
going on my own experience of course. ..I'm sure there are alot out there that
really do give a shit bit the ones that don't give the majority a bad
name...likes whites or blacks too
Sarah J Powell
But
I am a auntie that saves her niece at a very young age and because I could not
prove Indian in my background was not suitable
Sarah J Powell
Yet
family who never even knew she existed who lived in a trailer by that was
condemned shortly after they got her was
suitable
Sarah J Powell
And
now they don't let any of the family have a part in her life. It hurts...but it
is killing my mom...and there isn't a thing we can do...because she is hochunck.
...and sorry...but that's fucked up...plain and
simple
No doubt I left out the person she was trying to involve in a debate, because as I understand, less than half way through the debate, Sarah J. Powell blocked the person and continued the rant, so I have decided to take this and answer what she is obviously confused about.
First she claims that the law was to keep children away from "rasists" then goes on to say the law is "rasist" ohhh I get it, she means RACIST!
No Sarah J. Powell, the law is not racist, in fact, the law was designed to stop the forced removal of Native children and put into homes of white people in a attempt to "kill the Indian save the child" theory. It was believed that if a child was not raised in their culture, then they would cease to be Indian people, and that itself is racist because the only reason children were removed is because they were and are Native children.
Of course a tribe is going to "protect their own" because as a tribe, we are a family, as a family we will deal with the issues.
Abuse and neglect of children happens in all races, all cultures, it happens in every country on earth, but you believe it only happens in Native communities? Seriously, who needs the education on the subject of why there is Child Protection Services in every state, every town in the USA?
What happens when a child is of mixed race? The Indian Child Welfare Act is for children who parent(s) are enrolled in a federally recognized tribe, and the child must be enrolled or eligible for enrollment. In cases of mixed race, a non tribe member is included in the proceedings as if they are a tribe member. In fact, if a non Native parent does not wish for the case to be heard in tribal court, they only have to object.
Sarah J. Powell claims the person she is debating is racist, yet goes on to use "fetal alcohol syndrome". Again, this is a issue that crosses all color, culture and financial lines:
CDC Data
Sarah J. Powell claims that she is a "auntie" who "saved" her "niece" at a "very young age" because she could not prove Indian in her background. The truth is, her being a aunt gives her no legal standing in any case involving a minor child when a legal parent has not had their parental rights taken away. It does not matter what court, or what color the child is, Sarah J. Powell has no legal standing. How ironic Sarah J. Powell decides to claim to be Native in a attempt to manipulate the law, but she made a false claim, she does not understand the requirements in being a enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.
Sarah is upset that the family, by her claims, lives in a trailer, and that it was condemned shortly after the family got this child.. Really? I guess she does not know home studies are done. But perhaps, if she were truly concerned, she would be contacting her law makers and asking them why the federal treaties are being broken and Indians are forced to live in what she feels is unsuitable housing.
Sarah J. Powell's last entry is quite telling, once you put this all together, the mother of this child is her relation, per Sarah's information that they family did "not know the child existed" the family would be that of the father, but then someone in the family had to know, because they went to court for custody of this child, perhaps the mother was neglecting and abusing this child and the state stepped in, and the state awarded the child to the father and his family because the child's mothers family is not stable. Sarah, it appears, is on a late night rant, with too much to drink herself, wanting to put the blame on a law that in reality, helped to protect a Native child. I am sure if the Ho Chunk Nation were to be contacted their story would be quite different than that of Ms. Powell.
I am sure Sarah J. Powell's family is upset over the loss of contact, that too is telling, it tells me that there is conflict between these two families. Something has happened and contact was cut off between them and this innocent child. Perhaps it is the allegations that the child is neglected and abused by them? Perhaps it is a obvious racist attitude by Sarah J, Powell, but I am sure it is something very serious that happened. ICWA does not, I repeat, DOES NOT get involved in custody cases where one parent wants custody, they get involved with the state has stepped in and removed a child for the welfare of that child. This child was removed from Powell. With a late night drunk rant, it seems it was the best action taken,
Sarah, you can complain about the blog, you can complain about the use of the photos, but all you have written, and your photos were in a public domain on the internet, therefore you have no copyright to them.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Life Lessons
There are many things in life that teach us lessons. I was deeply moved by a women who was 93.
The woman, out of respect for her, and she recently passed away, I will not reveal her name right now. She would be the first to tell you she had a wonderful life. She grew, married, had children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her life was rich with love, and she had her fair share of heart breaks and hardships that we all experience.
She is mourned by her family, and those who knew her.
Her obituary was not like most, because she wrote it, she wrote knowing one day it would be a very short story of her life.... she was adopted. Back in time, when she was born to a unmarried mother and father, it was shame that a family gave for a baby born out of wedlock. Her mother had no choice but to give her infant up for adoption. The laws then were court sealed papers, generally biological parents were erased out of the child's life, as if they never existed.
I cannot tell you of the woman's family who adopted her, she really did not speak of them, but when she learned she was adopted, she was treated like she was to be shamed. Like other adoptee's, she had a deep desire to learn of her biological family.
She was raised in a German culture, her genetics were not of the German descent, and she never felt that she fit into this culture.
When she became a adult, she searched for who she was, without the aid of computers, or the internet, she went to the city of her birth, and she dug for any information she could get. It took her years, and finally, with all the odds stacked against her, she was able to find her biological family. It was only then, when she met her mother, her father, that she fit in. It brought peace to her heart.
Her obituary was simple, but it spoke of truth, it begins when she was born, where she was born, who she was born to, and it listed her birth parents name, then it stated she was adopted by, Mr. and Mrs. and that she was raised five hundred miles from her place of birth.
Those who proceeded her in death were her parents, her adoptive parents and her husband. On her survivors is listed her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a half brother. A BROTHER! Her biological father later married and had a son! She was so joyous to find him, and get to know him before she passed away.
Through her, we learn, that when taken from your real family, and forced to live a lie, never stops knowing when you do not belong, genetics go way deep into the soul. Inside, you know, you know you don't belong. There is a desire deep inside that wants to connect to your place where you should have been in life.
Perhaps the greatest thing I learned from her is that she detested the German foods she was forced to eat, she much preferred Italian foods, she knew that when she grew up, sausage and kraut would not be a staple in her house, and as it turns out, her mother who carried her for nine months, was Italian, and thus, those foods were imprinted on her biologically.
I am not against adoption, but adopters need to look to the history of a family and see if this child will be happy with their life style, because no matter how much money they have, you cannot change the genetics of a child. You cannot force a child to like foods, sports or hobbies if that is not part of a child's genetic makeup.
I am touched that someone who graced my life was able to teach me so much, not just in life, but in her death.
I wonder what Veronica Brown Capobianco will chose for her obituary? What will she have to say about her life? Being forced away from a family who loved her, and wanted her. Taken by a selfish childless couple in their desire to obtain this child. Will she even mention the Capobianco's?
Veronica's life story is being written as she grows, it is up to the Capobianco's to watch themselves in their behavior as to how she will write about them...
The woman, out of respect for her, and she recently passed away, I will not reveal her name right now. She would be the first to tell you she had a wonderful life. She grew, married, had children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her life was rich with love, and she had her fair share of heart breaks and hardships that we all experience.
She is mourned by her family, and those who knew her.
Her obituary was not like most, because she wrote it, she wrote knowing one day it would be a very short story of her life.... she was adopted. Back in time, when she was born to a unmarried mother and father, it was shame that a family gave for a baby born out of wedlock. Her mother had no choice but to give her infant up for adoption. The laws then were court sealed papers, generally biological parents were erased out of the child's life, as if they never existed.
I cannot tell you of the woman's family who adopted her, she really did not speak of them, but when she learned she was adopted, she was treated like she was to be shamed. Like other adoptee's, she had a deep desire to learn of her biological family.
She was raised in a German culture, her genetics were not of the German descent, and she never felt that she fit into this culture.
When she became a adult, she searched for who she was, without the aid of computers, or the internet, she went to the city of her birth, and she dug for any information she could get. It took her years, and finally, with all the odds stacked against her, she was able to find her biological family. It was only then, when she met her mother, her father, that she fit in. It brought peace to her heart.
Her obituary was simple, but it spoke of truth, it begins when she was born, where she was born, who she was born to, and it listed her birth parents name, then it stated she was adopted by, Mr. and Mrs. and that she was raised five hundred miles from her place of birth.
Those who proceeded her in death were her parents, her adoptive parents and her husband. On her survivors is listed her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a half brother. A BROTHER! Her biological father later married and had a son! She was so joyous to find him, and get to know him before she passed away.
Through her, we learn, that when taken from your real family, and forced to live a lie, never stops knowing when you do not belong, genetics go way deep into the soul. Inside, you know, you know you don't belong. There is a desire deep inside that wants to connect to your place where you should have been in life.
Perhaps the greatest thing I learned from her is that she detested the German foods she was forced to eat, she much preferred Italian foods, she knew that when she grew up, sausage and kraut would not be a staple in her house, and as it turns out, her mother who carried her for nine months, was Italian, and thus, those foods were imprinted on her biologically.
I am not against adoption, but adopters need to look to the history of a family and see if this child will be happy with their life style, because no matter how much money they have, you cannot change the genetics of a child. You cannot force a child to like foods, sports or hobbies if that is not part of a child's genetic makeup.
I am touched that someone who graced my life was able to teach me so much, not just in life, but in her death.
I wonder what Veronica Brown Capobianco will chose for her obituary? What will she have to say about her life? Being forced away from a family who loved her, and wanted her. Taken by a selfish childless couple in their desire to obtain this child. Will she even mention the Capobianco's?
Veronica's life story is being written as she grows, it is up to the Capobianco's to watch themselves in their behavior as to how she will write about them...
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Aboriginals adopted into white families want formal apology
Pay close attention to this article, these cases are in Canada, but the US is right there next in line... later, will it become the Irish children who were taken out of Ireland? Scotland? Korea? Children are taken ever day, and they grow up, they learn the truth of where they are from, and they were removed from their family and their culture.
The Capobianco's need to be very concerned, of course they still have that lawsuit against Veronica, but in the future, it will not prevent her from taking action against them. Due to all the media they have stirred, Veronica will no doubt learn the truth of the stealing from her daddy, family, and culture.
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/aboriginals-adopted-into-white-families-want-formal-apology/article17654556/?service=mobile
CHINTA PUXLEY
Some aboriginal people who were adopted into white families during the so-called Sixties Scoop say it’s their turn for reconciliation and are calling for a formal apology from the federal government.
Dozens of adoptees gathered in Winnipeg on Monday to tell their stories – many for the first time – and figure out how to get justice. Coleen Rajotte was taken from her Cree community in Saskatchewan when she was three months old and raised by a Manitoba family. Adoptees were robbed of their real families and feel someone has to be held accountable, she said.
“If someone came into your home today, took your children and shipped them to the United States and around the world, we would want answers,” she said. “That’s what we as adoptees are asking for. Someone has to take responsibility for this.”
From the 1960s to the 1980s, thousands of aboriginal children were taken from their homes by child welfare services and placed with non-aboriginal families. Many consider the adoptions as an extension of the residential school system, which aimed to “take the Indian out of the child.”
Ms. Rajotte said she was lucky enough to be placed into a loving home, but she lost her language, her culture and her connection to her ancestral home. When she recently went to the home she would have grown up in had she not been adopted, Ms. Rajotte said it was overwhelming.
“I was physically ill for days just trying to process all of that,” she said.
But while residential school survivors have had a formal apology and are the subjects of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, adoptees haven’t been formally recognized.
“Personally, I would like to see some kind of formal apology to all adoptees that were taken from their homes,” Ms. Rajotte said. “That’s a lot of children – 20,000 children across Canada.”
A spokeswoman for federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said there would be no comment. “As this case is currently before the courts it would be inappropriate to comment further,” she said in an e-mail.
A class-action lawsuit launched by some survivors in Ontario in 2009 is slowly making its way through the courts. The lawsuit was certified, but Canada recently won leave to appeal that decision.
Manitoba Aboriginal Affairs Minister Eric Robinson said it’s time adoptees were given the same opportunity for reconciliation as residential school survivors. Some adoptees were put with families where they were treated as farm hands or subjected to horrific abuse, he said.
“It’s not an easy thing to talk about the hurts that many of them endured as children, not knowing who they were, being a brown face in an all-white school as an example,” said Mr. Robinson, a residential school survivor who organized the two-day gathering. “Those things are very difficult to talk about in this current day but they have to be addressed.”
Those adoptees at the gathering hope to emerge with a strategy for recognition and a sense of what supports they need to heal, he said.
“Compensation no doubt will come up,” Mr. Robinson said. “There’s got to be a certain degree of accountability by governments.”
The Capobianco's need to be very concerned, of course they still have that lawsuit against Veronica, but in the future, it will not prevent her from taking action against them. Due to all the media they have stirred, Veronica will no doubt learn the truth of the stealing from her daddy, family, and culture.
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/aboriginals-adopted-into-white-families-want-formal-apology/article17654556/?service=mobile
CHINTA PUXLEY
WINNIPEG — The Globe and Mail
Last updated Monday, Mar. 24 2014, 11:32 PM EDT
Some aboriginal people who were adopted into white families during the so-called Sixties Scoop say it’s their turn for reconciliation and are calling for a formal apology from the federal government.
Dozens of adoptees gathered in Winnipeg on Monday to tell their stories – many for the first time – and figure out how to get justice. Coleen Rajotte was taken from her Cree community in Saskatchewan when she was three months old and raised by a Manitoba family. Adoptees were robbed of their real families and feel someone has to be held accountable, she said.
“If someone came into your home today, took your children and shipped them to the United States and around the world, we would want answers,” she said. “That’s what we as adoptees are asking for. Someone has to take responsibility for this.”
From the 1960s to the 1980s, thousands of aboriginal children were taken from their homes by child welfare services and placed with non-aboriginal families. Many consider the adoptions as an extension of the residential school system, which aimed to “take the Indian out of the child.”
Ms. Rajotte said she was lucky enough to be placed into a loving home, but she lost her language, her culture and her connection to her ancestral home. When she recently went to the home she would have grown up in had she not been adopted, Ms. Rajotte said it was overwhelming.
“I was physically ill for days just trying to process all of that,” she said.
“Personally, I would like to see some kind of formal apology to all adoptees that were taken from their homes,” Ms. Rajotte said. “That’s a lot of children – 20,000 children across Canada.”
A spokeswoman for federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said there would be no comment. “As this case is currently before the courts it would be inappropriate to comment further,” she said in an e-mail.
A class-action lawsuit launched by some survivors in Ontario in 2009 is slowly making its way through the courts. The lawsuit was certified, but Canada recently won leave to appeal that decision.
Manitoba Aboriginal Affairs Minister Eric Robinson said it’s time adoptees were given the same opportunity for reconciliation as residential school survivors. Some adoptees were put with families where they were treated as farm hands or subjected to horrific abuse, he said.
“It’s not an easy thing to talk about the hurts that many of them endured as children, not knowing who they were, being a brown face in an all-white school as an example,” said Mr. Robinson, a residential school survivor who organized the two-day gathering. “Those things are very difficult to talk about in this current day but they have to be addressed.”
Those adoptees at the gathering hope to emerge with a strategy for recognition and a sense of what supports they need to heal, he said.
“Compensation no doubt will come up,” Mr. Robinson said. “There’s got to be a certain degree of accountability by governments.”
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Lakota People's Law Project, URGENT
From the Lakota People's Law Project, please read, please share, please ACT NOW! These children depend on YOU!
The Lakota People's Law Project is working to create a permanent solution for Lakota foster children and families by creating Lakota run foster care. Unfortunately, we are unable to take on individual cases at this time, but through spreading awareness, we can all help to create the change that so many young children need.
Many of you are aware of the latent corruption that is involved in the Mette Case of South Dakota. For those of you that aren't aware, there's a brief summary below and more information can be found at: http://lakotalaw.org/special-reports/the-mette-affair .
We ask you to contact Virgena Wiesler, the Acting Program Administrator for the Child Protection Services Department of the Department of Social Services in South Dakota. Please call, write, or email Ms. Wiesler telling her that you are aware of the activities and accusations that have been brought upon South Dakota's Depatment of Social Services and insist upon the release of the children from Wendy Mette's custody. These children have been through enough and they belong with their relatives that are more than able to care for them.
Contact Info:
Virgena Wiesler
Acting Program Administrator
Child Protection Services
Department of Social Services
Richard F Kneip Building
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-2291
phone: (605) 773-3227
email: virgena.wiesler@state.sd.us
Mette Affair Summary:
The South Dakota Dept. of Social Services placed 7 Lakota foster children into foster care with a non-Native, known molester, Richard Mette, and his enabling wife, Wendy Mette, from 2000 to 2013. The DSS knew of the accusations against Mr. Mette, but still placed Lakota foster children with him.
The state ignored MULTIPLE complaints of sexual and physical abuse, and pleas for help from the children.
Brandon Taliaferro, the Assistant State’s Attorney responsible for criminal child abuse cases in Brown County, immediately began an investigation.
The police searched the Mette house and find more evidence of sexual abuse, including enough pornography to “pack a store”, including “family incest” porn.
The children revealed they had been subjected to physical abuse, sexual molestation and threats of being beaten if they did not comply with the molestation or if they told anyone.
The disgusted police charged Mr. Mette with 23 counts of child rape and incest, and Mrs. Mette with 11 counts of physical abuse and enabling.
The State prosecutor, however, first attempted to drop all charges, and charged sexual predator Mr. Mette with only one count of “spanking”. When the State was not allowed to do this, they decided to charge Mr. Mette with only one count of rape of a child under 10. The other 22 charges of aggravated child rape and incest were dropped.
The State then dropped all charges against Mrs. Mette, who the children said knew about and enabled the abuse.
The state then went after the Lakota childrens’ advocates instead! Rather than save the Mette children from a known sexual predator and his enabling wife, the state of South Dakota brought felony charges against Brandon Taliaferro, the attorney who started the investigation and advocated for the kids, and Shirley Schwab, the childrens’ Court
Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
The judge acquitted the advocates of all charges, due to the state’s complete lack of evidence against Taliaferro and Schwab.
Children are now back with Mrs. Mette, where they can’t sue the State DSS. Since they are now minors in the custody of Wendy Mette, the person who enabled the abuse, they cannot sue the state without her permission and support.
The Lakota People's Law Project is working to create a permanent solution for Lakota foster children and families by creating Lakota run foster care. Unfortunately, we are unable to take on individual cases at this time, but through spreading awareness, we can all help to create the change that so many young children need.
Many of you are aware of the latent corruption that is involved in the Mette Case of South Dakota. For those of you that aren't aware, there's a brief summary below and more information can be found at: http://lakotalaw.org/special-reports/the-mette-affair .
We ask you to contact Virgena Wiesler, the Acting Program Administrator for the Child Protection Services Department of the Department of Social Services in South Dakota. Please call, write, or email Ms. Wiesler telling her that you are aware of the activities and accusations that have been brought upon South Dakota's Depatment of Social Services and insist upon the release of the children from Wendy Mette's custody. These children have been through enough and they belong with their relatives that are more than able to care for them.
Contact Info:
Virgena Wiesler
Acting Program Administrator
Child Protection Services
Department of Social Services
Richard F Kneip Building
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-2291
phone: (605) 773-3227
email: virgena.wiesler@state.sd.us
Mette Affair Summary:
The South Dakota Dept. of Social Services placed 7 Lakota foster children into foster care with a non-Native, known molester, Richard Mette, and his enabling wife, Wendy Mette, from 2000 to 2013. The DSS knew of the accusations against Mr. Mette, but still placed Lakota foster children with him.
The state ignored MULTIPLE complaints of sexual and physical abuse, and pleas for help from the children.
Brandon Taliaferro, the Assistant State’s Attorney responsible for criminal child abuse cases in Brown County, immediately began an investigation.
The police searched the Mette house and find more evidence of sexual abuse, including enough pornography to “pack a store”, including “family incest” porn.
The children revealed they had been subjected to physical abuse, sexual molestation and threats of being beaten if they did not comply with the molestation or if they told anyone.
The disgusted police charged Mr. Mette with 23 counts of child rape and incest, and Mrs. Mette with 11 counts of physical abuse and enabling.
The State prosecutor, however, first attempted to drop all charges, and charged sexual predator Mr. Mette with only one count of “spanking”. When the State was not allowed to do this, they decided to charge Mr. Mette with only one count of rape of a child under 10. The other 22 charges of aggravated child rape and incest were dropped.
The State then dropped all charges against Mrs. Mette, who the children said knew about and enabled the abuse.
The state then went after the Lakota childrens’ advocates instead! Rather than save the Mette children from a known sexual predator and his enabling wife, the state of South Dakota brought felony charges against Brandon Taliaferro, the attorney who started the investigation and advocated for the kids, and Shirley Schwab, the childrens’ Court
Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
The judge acquitted the advocates of all charges, due to the state’s complete lack of evidence against Taliaferro and Schwab.
Children are now back with Mrs. Mette, where they can’t sue the State DSS. Since they are now minors in the custody of Wendy Mette, the person who enabled the abuse, they cannot sue the state without her permission and support.
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