Court Opinion

ID: 9576264
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:22:25.115775+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:03:56.480259
License: Public Domain

MILLER, Justice
(specially concurring).
Although I generally agree with the majority decision, I disagree with that part of the holding “that ICWA applies to all three children and Tribe has concurrent jurisdiction in these proceedings.”
The majority correctly notes that the record “clearly supports” the trial court’s finding that A.L. is a biological child of Caucasian parents. Further facts may be instructive. None of the parties dispute that A.L. is Caucasian, nor that this blue-eyed blond-haired child was born out of wedlock to Caucasian parents. The hospital records support that both natural parents were Caucasian. Even the adoptive father in his petition for adoption to the Kansas Court specifically alleges that the natural father of A.L. is one L.H. of Douglas, Wyoming, admittedly a Caucasian. The Kansas court in its decree of adoption held ■ that the allegations of the petition were true. (Isn’t that order entitled to some type of full faith and credit too?)
True, the tribal enrollment records of A.L. indicate that she is ⅜ Indian. Under normal circumstances we must (and quite appropriately so) give full faith and credit to tribal acts, records and proceedings. However, in this case I suggest it is not only unwise but inappropriate because the enrollment information regarding A.L. is in direct contravention of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Constitution and By-laws. Under the Tribal Constitution and By-laws, membership in the Tribe is limited to persons who have ¼ or more degree of Cheyenne River Sioux Indian blood. Obviously, A.L. does not meet that requirement. Presumably, once this matter is appropriately addressed to the Tribal Court or Tribal Council, A.L.’s enrollment status will be rescinded.
We need not ignore the obvious realities and give full faith and credit to the tribal enrollment records which were clearly issued by mistake or based upon fraudulent misrepresentations to it by others. The enrollment of A.L. is so fundamentally flawed that we need not give it recognition *238or deference. See Kremer v. Chemical Construction Corp., 456 U.S. 461, 102 S.Ct. 1883, 72 L.Ed.2d 262 (1982); Kiowa Tribe v. Lewis, 777 F.2d 587 (10th Cir.1985), and Kickapoo Tribe v. Rader, 822 F.2d 1493 (10th Cir.1987). See also Cole v. Cunningham, 133 U.S. 107, 10 S.Ct. 269, 33 L.Ed. 538 (1890), and Rodda v. Rodda, 185 Or. 140, 200 P.2d 616 (1948).