Mother Loses Challenge to Tribal Child Custody Proceedings

A Minnesota woman lost her challenge to a tribal court’s child custody proceedings for her two American Indian children.

Kimberly Watso isn’t an American Indian, but her two sons are respectively members of the the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community through their fathers.

In 2015, a medical clinic reported possible child abuse and neglect of Watso’s sons. Scott County police issued a 72-hour health and safety hold, keeping the boys at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. Consistent with Minnesota Department of Human Services policy involving the welfare of tribal-member children, county officials contacted ...