ND ICWA Partnership

Today we share with sadness the passing of Dr. Melanie Sage whose early leadership and contributions helped shape much of the ICWA partnership work that continues across North Dakota today.

Dr. Sage played a central role in the original ICWA audit work through the North Dakota Supreme Court’s Court Improvement Program and helped bring partners together to develop the first ICWA Tribal and State Partnership Grant awarded by the Administration for Children and Families - Children's Bureau in 2016. Her work helped lay important groundwork for the collaborative efforts that continue to support Native children, families, Tribal Nations, and systems partners today.

Over the years, she remained engaged in this work through consultation, innovation, program development, and ongoing support, even as the work evolved and grew in complexity.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband Todd, her son Kris, her family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who knew and cared for her. Her passing is a profound loss.

For those who may wish to support her family during this time, a GoFundMe link has been included. There is absolutely no expectation to contribute, but we wanted to provide the opportunity for those who feel moved to do so.

We hold deep gratitude for her contributions and the role she played in helping begin and continue this work.

With Gratitude,
The UND Grant Team

Donate to In Loving Memory of Dr. Melanie Sage, organized by Laurel Hitchcock From Melanie's husband, Todd Sage: On May 15, 2026, my wife Melanie passed … Laurel Hitchcock needs your support for In Loving Memory of Dr. Melanie Sage

We’re sharing a recent federal memo focused on making it easier to place children with relatives and kin, and recognizing family connections—including those defined by Tribal custom.

As we take a look at this guidance, we’re pausing to reflect:

👉 How are we doing here in North Dakota?

What feels aligned—and where are there opportunities to continue strengthening this work?

We welcome your thoughts and perspectives!

Updated National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards, Kin-Specific Foster Family Home Licensing Standards, and Updates to the Responsibilities and Recommendations for Licensing Agencies The purpose of this Information Memorandum (IM) is to update the National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards to reduce unnecessary administrative burden and clarify how the standards apply to non-kinship foster families as title IV-E agencies adopt kin-specific licensing standards.

Today, we honor and remember the lives of Indigenous people who are missing or have been taken too soon. We stand with families, communities, and Tribal Nations who continue to carry this grief while calling for awareness, accountability, and change.

Native children are significantly overrepresented in foster care systems. At the same time, youth in foster care are known to face higher risks of going missing or experiencing exploitation. When these realities intersect with the broader Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis, it highlights a deeper truth—our systems must do better to protect, support, and keep children connected.

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) exists to uphold those connections—ensuring Native children remain connected to their families, cultures, and Tribal Nations.

Today, and every day, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening those connections, honoring Tribal sovereignty, and working together to keep children safe.

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Training opportunity for Tribal partners! Become an ICWA QEW!!

Relatives!

Our upcoming ICWA Qualified Expert Witness Training creates space for people to learn how ICWA shapes the lives of Native children and their families. Over three days, participants settle into conversations that move at a comfortable pace and help them see how their voice can support a child in moments that matter.
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The sessions are patient and simple by design. People learn how to listen closely, how to understand what a court needs to hear, and how cultural knowledge can help guide decisions toward care and connection. The room stays open for questions, reflection, and steady learning.
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By the end, participants carry a clearer sense of how to show up for families with respect. The training helps people feel ready to step into this work with a calm understanding of what the role asks and why it is important.
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Sign up for the QEW Training:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/icwa-qualified-expert-witness-training-tickets-1985733813290
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What the QEW training includes:
https://nativeinstitute.org/qew_may2026/

We were honored to present at the Child Welfare League of America's Annual Conference today! We had a small but engaged audience and did a little sharing and learning!! Great job ladies!!

Training Opportunity!!!

Intro to Unity will be held online every second Tuesday of the month.

These trainings are meant to educate current and potential foster caregivers.

Check out this unique opportunity today :)

Happy New Year!

As we step into the new year, we’re setting a goal to share more about the work of the ND ICWA Family Preservation Partnership Grant at UND.

We’ll be posting more regularly on social media, starting with “Fact Fridays,” where we’ll share a new fact or insight each Friday related to our work and the communities we work with. We look forward to connecting with you throughout the year!

November is Native American Heritage Month — a time to reflect on the rich histories, living cultures, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples across North Dakota and the United States.

Celebrate by exploring Native art, stories, and perspectives through a national collaboration of historic institutions:
👉 https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov

Comment below — What does this month mean to you? How will you celebrate?

❤️

SWEETGRASS
The elders tell us that it takes longer for us to heal today and the reason is because the old trails our ancestors used to use to find us have been destroyed....so now our ancestors are having a hard time finding us to help us heal.
We are also told that was the first plant to grow on Mother Earth
When we harvest Sweetgrass,we get three bunches of seven strands
So there will be 21 pieces of grass,,
We do not pull it, this is the hair of Mother Earth.
We braid the three strands of seven pieces right there on Mother Earth
Then we gently cut it
If we want to state our intentions,, we can bring to***co as to bring Creator in on our words as to how we will use this
For an offering we can offer something the plant can use,, like water,
So offer the relations around it, it’s brothers and sisters,mother and father
And so on,give them a gift of water.
When we burn sweetgrass, remember these things:
Its a kindness medicine...with a sweet gentle aroma when we light it.
Its symbolic...
There are 21 strands used to make a braid...
The first 7 strands represent those 7 generations behind us~
Our parents
Our grandparents
Our great grandparents and so on for
7 generations behind us~who we are and what we are is because of them~they've brushed and made the trails we have been walking up til now...but the trails have been destroyed, we have lost our connection.
The time has come to heal and reconnect with our ancestors.
The next 7 represent the 7 sacred teachings...
Love, Respect, Honesty, Courage, Wisdom, Truth and Humility.
The elders tell us how simple, powerful and beautiful the teaching are:
1 Love: unconditional affection with no limits or conditions that starts with loving yourself.
2 Respect: due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights or traditions of other, with consideration, thoughtfulness, attentiveness, politeness, courtesy, civility, deference.
3 Honestly: have a character of integrity, and honor be free from fraud or deception, legitimate truthful.
4 Courage: bravery, permitting one to face extreme dangers with boldness withstanding danger, fear or difficulty
5 Wisdom: the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgment the quality of being wise.
6 Truth: the face of the matter, veracity, sincere, candor and genuineness
a determined in principle entirely by how it relates to things
7 Humility: freedom from pride or arrogance, being humble, when we truly understand the teaching of humility, that we are not any better then anyone else and you are not any better then me. that at the end of the day we are simply human beings, this is what makes this teaching powerful and beautiful.
The last 7 strands are those of the 7 generations in front of us~
Our children .....
Our grandchildren .....
Our great grandchildren .....
as well as those children yet to be born.
It is important because everything we do to Mother earth will one day effect them... We have lost our way, Mother Earth gives us everything we need to heal ourselves and the earth. We must go back to our roots and bloom.
Marty .

🌞Thank You for Joining our ND ICWA Partnership Design Team Summer Meeting!!🌿

We're incredibly grateful to all our partners who joined us for this summer's Partnership Design Team Meeting. Your time, stories, and continued commitment to Native children and families are deeply appreciated.

Partnership is more than just collaboration -- its a shared responsibility to protect culture, preserve connection, and uplift community. Together, we are stronger in our mission to support families in meaningful, culturally grounded ways.

Strong partnerships are at the heart of our shared mission. When we come together, we can create real momentum for lasting change.

Thank you for showing up, sharing openly, and helping us move forward with purpose. We look forward to the next one!