E. A. v. State

OPINION

Before RABINOWITZ, C. J., CONNOR, BURKE and MATTHEWS, JJ., and CRASKE, Superior Court Judge. CONNOR, Justice.

E. A., an Inupiat Eskimo, is the mother of C. A., age 6, and V. A., age 1. Since 1970, E. A. had frequent contact with the Department of Health and Social Services [DHSS] regarding the care and custody of her children. Beginning in 1978, E. A. had increasing problems with alcohol and her contacts with the DHSS became more frequent. On September 19, 1978, the DHSS took emergency custody of her children and placed them in the Barrow Receiving Home.

On November 22,1978, the State…