South Dakota official blames late invitation for ICWA summit

Wednesday, June 12, 2013  

South Dakota Tribal Affairs Secretary J.R. LaPlante said he didn't attend an Indian Child Welfare Act summit because he received an invitation at the "last minute."

The Great Plains Indian Child Welfare Act Summit was in the works for more than a year. But no one from the state showed up.

LaPlante, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, didn't say when he received the invitation for the summit. He told The Pierre Capital Journal that he saw a copy of the agenda after it ended and was encouraged by what he saw.

LaPlante was selected for his post by Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R), who has criticized media coverage of ICWA matters in the state.

Get the Story:
State prepares to start work with tribes on experiments for paroles on reservations (The Pierre Capital Journal 6/12)

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