I am writing this to bring attention to an unfair and traumatic situation my family has been living through as a result of gross neglect and misuse of tribal adoption. I would like to seek help in reuniting my siblings with family. We worked with the Native Village of Chuathbaluk to correct the unlawful tribal adoption of my siblings to a non-native couple, however we need further assistance to reunite the children properly.

The State of Alaska took custody of Lillian Nesbit and Samuel Nesbit on April 9, 2013 from their father Paul Nesbit Sr. During this court hearing the Native a Village of Chuathbaluk, represented by Lisa Feyereisen, intervened and claimed custody of the children. The children are not enrolled to this tribe, neither are the parents, they have no ties to this village. The State of Alaska, OCS and Lisa just asumed that because Chuathnaluk is our home town that my family was enrolled to the tribe. The State should've followed up and at least try to find out where the children were enrolled to, if they didn't have a tribe, because they are indian children, they would've then proceeded to see about placing them with other family if possible and it was.The Indian Child Welfare Act states that placement preference should be given to extended family, other members of the tribe, or other Indian families. This was not followed; the children were placed with a non-native foster family. Our mother, Bertha Nesbit, was not given due process regarding the termination of her parental rights, under the administration of Lisa Feyereisen. The adoption was processed unlawfully anyway. My mother and I wanted custody of the children but we were not included in the meetings, only the father and the foster parents. Lisa enrolled the foster father into the tribe even though he is not native and has never set foot into the village of Chuathbaluk. The Native Village of Chuathbaluk held a quorum on November 24, 2014 in which it rescinded the resolution 2013-17. I have attached both documents. To this date the children have not been returned to our mother Bertha Nesbit. She had contacted the family on December 19, 2014, in which it was stated they would not return the children without a court order. The Native Village of Chuathbaluk has also informed us that they contacted the adoptive parents in December to let them know they rescinded the original resolution.

The actions desired for resolution of this situation include: following for the Indian Child Welfare Act to have Lillian and Samuel Nesbit placed with our mother, Bertha Nesbit. We wish the rescinded document to be acknowledged and recognized by the adoptive family for release of the children and the State of Alaska escort and pay transportation for Lillian and Samuel to be reunited with their mother. We desire these actions as soon as possible.

The stated actions for resolution of this situation are needed for many reasons. First of which both the children and the parents are not enrolled to this tribe, they have no ties to this village whatso ever. My mother never gave consent to forfeit her legal parental rights and was never notified of the adoption. The former Chuathbaluk Traditional Council Administrator, Lisa Feyereisen, unfairly and unlawfully with malice and deceit placed Lillian and Samuel with the adoptive family. Lisa told me directly that my brother and sister would be better off with these foster parents because they have a lot of money and ten acres of land. She has done many other illegal things. This is not her first time breaking the law. This has caused our family so much trauma, mental anguish, and the children need to be returned as quickly as possible in order for us all to beging to heal. This was handled under the table, with negligence, favoritism and discrimination against our civil rights. The adoptive family was never issued a court order to claim custody of the children. We should be treated fairly and have the children returned without a court order. My brother and sister did not have a choice to be pulled from my mother and I, and currently do not have contact with us or our culture. If Lillian and Samuel are not given an opportunity to heal from this with our family and in our culture it will negatively affect them as adults.

Thank you for your attention. Please help me bring Lillian and Samuel home!!