Montana ICWA community emphasizes language, kinship and sustained tribal outreach

Participants in a Montana Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Community of Practice meeting in June focused on two priorities they had previously selected: strengthening cultural connections for Native children placed outside their communities, and expanding tribal community outreach and education.

The community-of-practice facilitator opened the session by restating the group's purpose: “this community of practice is meant to foster meaningful, culturally humble collaboration among people involved in and affected by ICWA to preserve and empower Indian families and their connection to their culture.” That framing guided a session built around storytelling and discussion of how “dynamic power” — power over, power to, power with and power within — shapes efforts to keep children connected to their culture.

Why it matters: Participants said cultural connection is more than compliance with ICWA; they described it as central to children’s spiritual and communal well-being. In rural…