Native Village of Tununak v. State, Dept. of Health & Social Services, Office of Children's Services

STOWERS, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

This is the second appeal in a case that began in July 2008 when the Alaska Office of Children's Services (OCS) assumed custody of four-month-old Dawn 1 from her parents.2 Dawn was found to be a child in need of aid (CINA).3 Dawn's parents were Alaska Natives and thus the protections and requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) 4 applied to the CINA case.5 One of ICWA's provisions establishes preferences for foster care and adoptive placement of an Indian child with a member of the child's extended family, with other members of the child's tribe, or…