Tribe: Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi
§ 7.5-1 Short title and purpose. A. Short title. This code will be entitled “Children’s Code.”
B.
Purpose. Children are the Tribe’s most vital and cherished treasure. The Tribe’s future depends on the health and well-being of its children. Children have a sacred right to receive the care and guidance necessary for their spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical development. Feeling pride from their identity as Potawatomi will help them grow into strong, healthy, responsible adult tribal members. The children’s code will be liberally interpreted and construed to fulfill the following expressed purposes:
(1)
To provide for the welfare, care and protection of the children and families within the jurisdiction of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP);
(2)
To preserve the unity of the family, only separating the child from his or her parents when absolutely necessary;
(3)
To take such actions that will best serve the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical welfare of the child and the best interest of the Tribe to prevent the abuse, neglect and abandonment of children;
(4)
To provide a continuum of services for children and their families from prevention to residential treatment, with emphasis whenever possible on prevention, early intervention and community-based alternatives;
(5)
To secure the rights of and ensure fairness to the children, parents, guardians, custodians and other parties who come before the Court under the provisions of this code;
(6)
To provide procedures for intervention in state court proceedings regarding Indian children and for transfer of jurisdiction over Indian children from state and other tribal courts to this Tribal Court;
(7)
To ensure compliance with all applicable federal laws and to provide a reasonable means by which cross-jurisdictional judgments and orders may be enforced with full faith and credit;
(8)
To recognize and acknowledge the tribal customs and traditions of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi regarding child-rearing;
(9)
To preserve and strengthen the children’s cultural ethnic identity whenever possible and to protect the sovereignty of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.
(10)
To transfer appropriate cases to any traditional or alternative dispute resolution body created by the Tribe.
C.
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi believes all children deserve the following: a mother (gashe); a father (noos); identity with the traditional way of life (mno bmadzewen); to learn and speak their language (Bodewewadmi); to have a family (mezodan); know their relatives (nwemagen); to know the traditional laws, customs, and ceremonies of the people; a knowledge and understanding of the seven grandfather teachings; Bwakawen (wisdom), Debanawen (love), Kejitwawenindowen (respect), Wedasewen (bravery), Gwekwadzewen (honesty), Edbesendowen (humility), and Debwewin (truth); and the ability to live according to the practice of the traditional laws, customs, and ceremonies that govern their people.