Native Village of Nenana v. State, Department of Health & Social Services

OPINION

BURKE, Justice.

The question in this appeal is whether, under the Indian Child Welfare Act, Pub.L. 95-608, 92 Stat. 3069 (1978), the superior court erred in denying an Indian tribe’s petition for an order transferring the case of an Indian child from the jurisdiction of the court to that of the tribe. We conclude that the lower court properly denied the petition.

I

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services petitioned the superior court to determine whether A.N. was a “child in need of aid” under AS 47.10.-010(a)(2)-(C). The Department initiated such action after it learned that…