After spending 17 years with a non-Native family, Allyssa Kristen Keetso-Pitts, once known as "Baby K," has returned to her roots on the Navajo Nation.
Keetso-Pitts, 17, has moved in with her paternal grandmother in Red Lake, Arizona. She wants to learn the Navajo language and other tribal traditions.
Keetso-Pitts was put up for adoption by her mother, Patricia Keetso-Polacca. The Navajo Nation became involved because the Indian Child Welfare Act wasn't being followed. The non-Native family was granted custody in an open guardianship but the tribal judge ordered them to remain in contact with Allyssa's biological family.
Get the Story:Dispute in the past, 'Baby K' back home (The Arizona Republic 7/6) Relevant Links:
National Indian Child Welfare Association - http://www.nicwa.org Related Stories:
Adopted Navajo child to return home to reservation (06/22)
Wisconsin tribes form child welfare partnership (06/16)
Failures cited in child abuse on Utah reservation (03/21)
Couple says mother didn't want son in her tribe (03/01)
Hearing slated on custody dispute over Indian boy (02/28)
Yellow Bird: A nation cannot flourish without children (02/01)
Indian mother in South Dakota wants adopted son back (01/31)
Navajo child welfare case sparks legal battle (01/31)
New Mexico infant law said to conflict with ICWA (01/28)
Iowa announces foster care plan for Indian children (11/24)
Alaska opinion backs away from tribal courts (11/01)
Alaska wants to reduce tribal powers in child welfare (09/09)
Fort Peck Tribes sign child welfare agreement (09/07)
Dispute over child welfare contract continues (09/06)
South Dakota Supreme Court supports ICWA case (08/27)
Choctaw Nation helping man in child custody battle (07/06)
Foster care commission seeks tribal inclusion (05/19)
Judge cites ICWA in returning drug addicted baby (03/22)
Native children living in poor, single-parent homes (03/19)
S.D. tribes unhappy with gutting of ICWA bill (02/24)
Bill seeks study of Indian child welfare system in S.D. (02/05)
High rate of Indian adoptions in Iowa protested (01/13)