Local, USA

- We have called these hearings today to begin to define the specific problems that American Indian families face in raising their children.

- This was an unknown issue in the Congress, and we had to make it a known issue.

- Well, they always come to me and said that I wasn't, I wasn't a very good mother and everything and that my children would be better off if they were in a white home or if they were adopted out.

- They said that, but- [Cheryl] Yeah.

- Did they ever... Did- were they ever able to prove that in court or did they give anybody a specific example of why you weren't a good mother?

- It was never proven in court that she was unfit.

- We saw an issue that had to be addressed and you had grandmas and aunties gathering together and they were out there, fighting for our children.

- Several hundred Indians and their supporters walked from the Lincoln Memorial past the Washington Monument up to Capitol Hill today to support certain legislation, including one proposed law that will affect their right to decide what can happen to Indian children.

- We mounted a massive campaign to get this law through.

It was just jubilation, you know, just total jubilation.

(dramatic music) - The Indian Child Welfare Act, that was a blessing for our children.

Some of the kids were coming back from being out in foster care, and they were hurt.

Their spirit was hurt.

They didn't know where they belonged.

Their identity was gone.

You wanna make sure that your kids are safe.

Let us do our job.

Let us take care of our children, and it is our right.

It's our right to take care of them.