I am writing to you, not just as the Secretary of the Interior, but as a beacon of hope for indigenous communities across the nation. Your leadership and dedication to indigenous rights have illuminated a path towards justice and equality. It is with great urgency that I bring to your attention a deeply disturbing situation unfolding in South Dakota — a blatant disregard for the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the welfare of Native American children.

The Alarming Numbers in South Dakota:

• Each year, over 700 Native children are forcibly removed from their homes.
• Though Native American children constitute just 15% of the child population, they make up over 50% of the children in foster care in South Dakota.
• A staggering 90% of these children are placed with white families, casting aside suitable and available tribal foster homes.

These statistics aren't just numbers; they represent children torn from their families, deprived of their heritage, and forced into a system that seems to consistently overlook the heart of ICWA.

I earnestly urge you to:

1. Investigate South Dakota's ICWA Compliance: An in-depth investigation into South Dakota's child welfare practices regarding the removal and placement of Native children is imperative. Your department's intervention can shed light on systemic biases and discrepancies in the system.

2. Enhance Oversight and Accountability: Champion the creation of an independent oversight mechanism to ensure that states like South Dakota are held accountable for breaches of ICWA compliance.

3. Prioritize Tribal Foster Homes: Advocate for policies that prioritize the placement of Native children into tribal foster homes or, at the very least, homes that respect and nurture their Native heritage.

4. Support and Strengthen ICWA Nationally: Use the situation in South Dakota as a clarion call to reinforce ICWA guidelines and adherence nationally, ensuring that no Native child is unjustly stripped of their familial and cultural ties.

Secretary Haaland, South Dakota's indigenous children look to figures of authority and hope like yourself to protect their rights and uphold the spirit of ICWA. By holding South Dakota accountable for its troubling practices, you would be sending a powerful message to the nation about the inviolable rights of Native children and the unyielding commitment to their well-being.

Your leadership offers a golden opportunity to rectify these grave injustices and ensure that the ICWA isn't just a piece of legislation but a living testament to our nation's commitment to its indigenous peoples.

Sincerely,