But they also noted that Native American governments are making noteworthy improvements in their ability to maintain these vital connections. Indigenous child welfare experts across the country who discussed Thornock’s journey said tribal foster youth leaving their communities is unfortunately all too common.

It also includes a review of thousands of pages of court files and interviews with multiple members of Tulalip Tribes, Thornock’s kin, attorneys, tribal officials, judges, social workers and academics. It includes a four-day trip in March to the Tulalip reservation and dozens of in-depth conversations with Thornock by phone and videoconference. This Imprint series, Born of History, was reported over the past 10 months. “What happened to me is not something I feel any other Tulalip youth, or any child, should have to go through,” Thornock said. And working to interrupt generational patterns caused by colonization. Seeking accountability through political advocacy. But they also contributed to a new vision for how life could take shape: supporting other foster youth and parents who’ve lost children.

New insights added to the loss Thornock felt poring over these files in recent years. After Thornock became a teenager and timidly shared a new revelation about their identity, a legal guardianship was revoked - sending the high-schooler out into the world again, frightened and alone. (Provided photo)Īs a result, Thornock ended up with a non-Native, white Christian family off Tulalip lands. The placements included brief stays with relatives, but they faced financial difficulty or circumstances that were too challenging to take on an additional child. Under the watch of an Indigenous-run child welfare system, Thornock - who is Two Spirit and uses they/them pronouns - was moved through seven temporary foster care placements after being taken from their parents. They also showed how, over 15 years, chances for family reunification and proximity to kin and culture were repeatedly challenged. The documents revealed troubling details of why the young Tribal member was removed from home. Thornock, now 23, is believed to be the first former foster youth to petition the Tulalip Tribes in Washington for child welfare case files. Thick files crammed into manila envelopes filled in gaps.

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