1831 The Choctaw Nation began removal from Mississippi to Indian Territory, becoming the first of the Five Tribes to be forcibly removed. The law is very clear that siblings should be kept together whenever they can be and they should be placed together even if they were not initially together., VIDEO: Lexi, who is part Choctaw, is taken away from her foster family in Santa Clarita. "The Choctaw Nation has advocated for Lexi to live with her family since 2011," the tribe said in a statement. 'The tribe's values of faith, family and culture are what makes our tribal identity so important to us. 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Rusty and Summer Page were not giving up their fight to bring their one-time foster daughter back to their home. Lexi is 1.5 percent Choctaw, meaning she is considered a member of the tribe. 'Therefore we will continue to work to maintain these values and work toward the long-term best interest of this child,' it said. For the sake of Lexi and everyone in this house right now.. The emotionally wrought moment on Monday afternoon was an end for now to a longlegal battle between a Southern California foster family, which saysit has become a real one to Lexi, and the girls extended family, which intends togive her a lifemany miles away. . In fact, the only surprising turn of events is the lengths the foster family has gone to, under the advice of an attorney with a long history of trying to overturn ICWA, to drag out litigation as long as possible, creating instability for the child in question., How the stories of Native American youths made Obama cry in the Oval Office. The Childrens Court of LA County is the court that rules in favor of ICWA over the child. Lexi's father himself is enrolled with the Choctaw Nation, but was not aware of it; according to court documents, Lexi is 1/64 Choctaw. In the mid-18th century, there were 20,000 Choctaw living in 60 or 70 settlements along the Pearl, Chickasawhay, and Pascagoula rivers. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. They have come to Santa Clarita about once a month and they Skype about once a week. 'As a grandmother, it's ripping my heart. As Lexi was placed in the back of a black car with government workers, her foster mother Summer Page burst from the home screaming 'I love you, Lexi'. All parties agreed, the court agreeing that she is extremely bonded. (Pages 5, 8, 11 & 13), In mid-2012, the Department was confident there would be reunification with the birth-father, however soon thereafter his emotional state deteriorated when he separated from his wife. "The bottom line is that children subject to ICWA are second-class citizens, by law. Picture of the Choctaw Native Indian The above picture depicts Mushulatubbee, meaning "Determined to Kill" who was a Chief of the Choctaw. This message will appear once per week This fact makes it hard to understand the Choctaws recent statement: ICWA requires Lexi be given the chance to grow up with her family, with her sisters. What was their motivation 2-3 years ago when Lexis paternal siblings were NOT with the family in Utah, but instead in LA County? By age2, Lexi hadbeen placed with the Pages. Please read the uncontested facts of the case from the Court of Appeal's 2013 ruling that over-turned the trial court's erroneous decision. The Choctaw Nation, far from their seemingly harmless statement earlier in the week, stated that they advocated for Lexi's placement with the Utah family.. Were seen as being global, fair, insightful, and perhaps a bit too earnest. Bone-gatherers were notable for their distinctive tattooing and long fingernails. Her mother had substance abuse problems and her father had an extensive criminal history, according to court documents. "How is it that a screaming child, saying 'I want to stay, I'm scared,' how is [it] in her best interest to pull her from the girl she was before that doorbell rang?" 'The children are not going to understand the separation. LOS ANGELES (CN) - A California court of appeals delivered a fresh blow to a foster family seeking custody of a 6-year-old Native American girl, finding it in her best interest to live with her extended family in Utah. We want to bridge divides to reach everyone. You dont have a Christian Science Monitor Overcome with grief her turned from the crowd: 'That's all I can say.'. Heres why. At issue is the Indian . 16:21 GMT 22 Mar 2016. Order Now. The state appeals court could take up to 60 days to make a decision. The child had been placed with the Page family since she was two but was removed in March under the act. Their most important community ritual was the Busk, or Green Corn, festival, a first-fruits and new-fire rite celebrated at midsummer. Stay up to date on the news from Silicon Valley, and how to take back control of your data and devices. There has been a lot of confusion around the FACTS behind the past 5 years of Lexi's lifeat the end of the day, Veritas (truth) is critical to understanding. After drugs were found in the vehicle, Lexi took the blame and was immediately cut from the Navarro College cheerleading squad. Select stories from the Monitor that empower and uplift. There was clear & convincing evidence that continued placement with the birth-father would likely cause Lexi serious emotional or physical damage. In 1992 a group of twenty-two Irish men and women walked the 600-mile Trail of Tears, raising $1,000 for every dollar given by the Choctaw in 1847. The tribe and parents or Indian custodian of the Indian child have an unqualified right to intervene in a case involving foster care placement or the termination of parental rights . DCFS spokeswoman Amara Suarez said they try to prepare both families as well as the child for such a move to another state, including visitations. 1832 The Treaty of Payne's Landing began the process for removal of the Seminoles of . If youre looking for bran muffin journalism, you can subscribe to the Monitor for $15. Brenda speaks Spanish, Hebrew and intermediate Arabic and is the recipient of national, state and regional awards, including a National Headliners Award and one from the Associated Press News Executives' Council. The Indian Child Welfare Act is meant to help tribes keep children in tribal homes where they can learn about their culture. After telling each other that there would always be love and support between them, Lexi and Ben got into the reasoning for their split. 'As a matter of simple human decency, we implore the county not to prematurely take Lexi from her home,' Rusty said between sobs as he read from a statement. This is her family and that can all be rocked tomorrow,' Summer said. To the Pages, who say that Lexi has thrived under their care, removing her now will rob her of the very stability the law is meant to provide for children. The Indian-removal process continued. They have come to . The two regularly coll. The Choctaw Nation has advocated for Lexi to live with her family since 2011. If you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. (Submitted by Chris Daken) Chris Daken is taken aback by the outpouring of attention . According to the Los Angeles Daily News, Lexi and her . February 14, 2018. A formal letter was sent to DCFS that never made its way to the tribe. The horrifying scene came days after Rusty and his wife Summer were denied an emergency stay to keep the part-Native American child. (Page 10), The Pages were granted De Facto status in 2013, giving them a voice in the court. Due to a court order, the 6-year-old girl was taken from her home by Los Angeles County social workers to go live with extended family in Utah. Her fatherintendedto be reunitedwith her. Lexi is part Native American and was given to extended family in Utah under the Indian Child Welfare Act, but her foster parents are trying to get her back. From the legends that have been told by people to people, the Choctaw people originated from NanihWaiya. Attorneys for the Choctaw Nation did not want to speak to Eyewitness News on camera and maintained that Lexi is with loving family in Utah. ICWA gives a higher preference to family members . Lexi Hensler and Brent Rivera spend a lot of time together at work, so it's not really a surprise that they have become close friends! This website uses cookies to 'And we will, with very heavy hearts, comply with the order and we'll be waiting here for them to come take her,' Rusty said. As Lexi was being ripped away from her family, the Pages legal team filed with the California Supreme Court for emergency relief and for the states highest court to hear the case. The Pages have fostered beforebut despite accusations, had a good relationship with the biological father & had no intention of adopting. Choctaw, North American Indian tribe of Muskogean linguistic stock that traditionally lived in what is now southeastern Mississippi. 'Quite frankly, when Lexi is old enough to understand what happened to her, I think that would lead to resentment of her heritage, not embracing of the culture,' Rusty told ABC 7. It would be fairly extraordinary for an appeals court to reverse that, Banks said. The tribal authorities decided that Lexi will live in Utah . Youll get the Monitor Weekly magazine, the Monitor Daily email, and unlimited access to CSMonitor.com. Summer Page hasNative American heritage formally traced & accepted by her tribe, the Southern Band Tuscarora Indians. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has asked, Is it one drop of blood that triggers all these extraordinary rights? Indeed, the primitive concept of racial blood, recast as DNA, triggers tribal rights and extinguishes a states right to protect many childrens rights. A notable funerary custom involved the ritual removal of the bones of the deceased from the body; subsequently, the bones were placed in an ossuary. Article continues below advertisement. Nikki Haleys bogus claims about foreign aid dollars, Showdown before the raid: FBI agents and prosecutors argued over Trump, Underrecognized: Extremist murders are usually from right-wing actors. An online petitionintendedto put pressure on state authorities has more than 100,000 signatures, and a GoFundMe page has raised nearly$35,000 for the foster family. The girl has visited the Utah family regularly over the past three years, she said. 'The Choctaw Nation desires the best for this Choctaw child. Mass. SABINA GHEBREMEDHIN, KAYNA WHITWORTH, DUAN PERRIN, VIDEO: Foster Family Appeals Removal of Part-Native American Child, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And the ICWA conferred rights on tribes, rights adjudicated in tribal courts, including the right to require Native American children be adopted by Native Americans. Dont let me go, Lexis foster father, Rusty, said after the heart-wrenching moment. Lexis father himself is enrolled with the Choctaw Nation, but was not aware of it; according to court documents, Lexi is 1/64 Choctaw. On Monday morning, a crowd of more than 50 people holding signs and singing hymns still stood in solidarity with the Page family. hus till salu lextorp, trollhttan; sevrdheter vsternorrland; steelseries arctis 9x keeps turning off. The three most recent Christian Science articles with a spiritual perspective. He suffered beatings by his parents, who have been charged in his death. Because Lexi is part Choctaw Indian, officials are seeking to place her with extended relatives of her Native American father. "What happened . high court says no. Choctaw descendants numbered more than 159,000 in the early 21st century. Because of an arbitrary law its ripping her from a stable environment, he said. Lexi did feature in the early episodes of Season 2 of Cheer, but sadly, was mainly absent from the latter half of the series which focused on Navarro and TVCC's journey to Daytona.. Like many of . After a grueling court battle, a 6-year-old girl has been removed from the foster family with whom she has lived since she was a toddler to be placed with relatives of her birth father. Lexi: Directed by Victoria Vertuga. (Page 10), All parties agreed that a transition would pose a risk of trauma, including depression & anxiety (that was 3 years ago). Where is Lexi page now? Latest book reviews, author interviews, and reading trends. Lexi's foster siblings screamed 'no' over and over, crying hysterically as their sister was taken. This article was published more than6 years ago. All rights reserved. When Lexi was 17 months old, authorities took her from her birth mother, who had substance abuse issues, and her biological father, whohad an extensive criminal history, according to court records. My work in Kenya, for example, was heavily influenced by a Christian Science Monitor article I had forced myself to read 10 years earlier. Before Lexi was handed over, Rusty addressed the crowd to tell them the news. The Choctaw dialect is very similar to that of the Chickasaw, and there is evidence that they are a branch of the latter tribe. The original decision to send her to Utah was made almost three years ago, said Leslie Heimov, executive director of the Children's Law Center of Los Angeles. Where is Lexi page now 2021? Rusty choked back tears as he pleaded with Child Welfare Service not to break up his family early Monday. A dramatic scene played out on Monday as the Pages were forced to say goodbye to Lexi. Because Lexi is part native-american the Department of Children and Family Services may remove her from her current home and place her with a native american family. By The Choctaw Nation has advocated for Lexi to live with her family since 2011, the tribe saidin a statement. "The law is very clear that siblings should be kept together whenever they can be, and they should be placed together even if they were not initially together," Ms. Heimov told the Los Angeles Daily News. or call us at 1-617-450-2300. Her paternal grandmother informed the court that he was . 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The Choctaw Nation has advocated for Lexi to live with her family since 2011. The tribe added that the child had been in contact with her extended family for years prior to being placed with them. The girl is 1/64thChoctaw Native American, meaning her case falls under the Indian Child Welfare Act, a federal law that claims to promote tribal families by keeping Native American children with Native American families. There has been a lot of confusion around the FACTS behind the past 5 years of Lexis lifeat the end of the day, Veritas (truth) is critical to understanding. This ritual was performed by spiritually powerful men and women known as bone-gatherers or bone-pickers, with the departeds family members in attendance. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The History of Choctaw tribe was reported to start in the Mississippi and in some areas of Alabama. Lexi, who has only ever know the Pages as her parents, is one-and-a-half per cent Choctaw Native American. I come outside to cry and go back inside to play in the backyard with them,' he said. He later told ABC 7, Lexi and his other biological children with Summer - a nine-year-old, another six-year-old and a two-year-old - have not been told what is about to happen. 23:09 GMT 21 Mar 2016 subscription yet. Additionally you can view . Her father, who is part Choctaw, belongs to a tribe, so her case fell under theIndian Child Welfare Act. In the meantime, our clients hope that the family in Utah will follow through on their promise to keep Lexi in contact with her family in Los Angeles. She has covered a range of issues, including breaking news, immigration, law and order, race, religion and gender issues, politics, human interest stories and education. The intent behind the ICWA is to make sure that Native American children are kept not only within the family but within the tribe and within the culture, ABC News senior legal analyst Sunny Hostin explained. About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review under the charming heading of do things that dont interest you: Many things that end up being meaningful, writes social scientist Joseph Grenny, have come from conference workshops, articles, or online videos that began as a chore and ended with an insight. Equal protection of the laws? Still, Lexiscase has gained global attention. 5 Freeway through the Grapevine reopens, CHP escorting traffic, 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at Chino wedding reception, 1 dead, 1 hurt after NorCal high school stabbing, police say. Our family is so incredibly devastated, Rusty Pagesaid in a video statement. Her mother had been accused of substance abuse and her father had a criminal history, according to court records. Rusty and Summer Page are losing their foster daughter, Lexi, whom theyve raised as their own for the last four years. Mr. The courts decided that Lexi should go to live with her biological fathers relatives in Utah, Leslie Heimov with the Childrens Law Center of California told the Los Angeles Daily News. and we can't stand idly by while that happens,' Rusty told Fox 11. Save Lexi. Court documents state that the extended family members in Utah are not Native American. Minneapolis's innovative attempt to help homeless kids, Don't arrest teen prostitutes, LA County says. Can you spank kids and be foster parent? Leslie Heimov of the Childrens Law Center of California, which is representing Lexi since she is a foster child, said that the court has decided the girl should be placed with the biological fathers relatives in Utah, including the girls sister who is living with the Utah couple. Real news, real hope. She has a loving relationship with them,shesaid. Foster parents Rusty and Summer Page vowed to get the girl back, saying they love their daughter and have . Each higher court ruling is sent back down (i.e. The Choctaw tribe has decided to place Lexi with extended relatives in Utah, who are not Native Americans and will not be living on the reservation. Today, the nation is reverting in the name of social justice and equity understood as improved social outcomes for government-favored groups to a retrograde emphasis on racial identities. Because Lexi is part native-american the Department of Children and Family Services may remove her from her current home and place her with a native american family. The court decision rests on a federal law meant to protect native American children's best interests, but the Pagesargue that it has been misapplied in Lexi's case and is forcing her to be ripped from theonly family that she has ever known.. The family is planning to file a petition with the California Supreme Court to keep Lexi in California, their attorney Lori Alvino McGill told the Daily News. Save Our Lexi. Antonio was a casualty of the ICWAs form of identity politics the allocation of legal status and group entitlements based on biology. First myth to bust is that the Choctaw nation just now stepped up to address issues with the child. For roughly a century, nativechildren were routinely taken from their communities and forced to attend boarding schoolsrun by non-nativestaff trying to assimilate children into white culture, punishing them for using their mother languages and limiting contact with their families. Droves of protesters and reporters stood by helplessly as the family's screams continued to echo out into the street. Rupert Murdoch isnt sinking the Fox News legal case. Foxx has left the building, but it seems to be in pursuit of a higher calling than rock and roll. 1 talking about this. They are not strangers in any way, shape or form. Through this healing, Lexi formed a strong primary bond and attachment with the entire family, viewing them as Mommy, Daddy and siblings. Is so incredibly devastated, Rusty addressed the crowd: 'That 's all I can say '... Vowed to get the Monitor Weekly magazine, the Choctaw Nation desires the best for this child... 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