In re J.B. CA2/3

Facts Pertaining to ICWA In the July 2023 detention report, DCFS informed the court that father, mother, and paternal aunt S.B. had stated they had no reason to believe J.B. had Native American ancestry. Mother and father also filed ICWA-020 forms indicating that neither had Native American ancestry. At the initial hearing, the court found it had no reason to believe ICWA applied as to father but deferred the determination of ICWA status for mother’s appearance. The court ordered DCFS to interview all known relatives. At mother’s arraignment hearing, mother indicated she may have Blackfeet and Cherokee ancestry on her maternal side. The trial court instructed DCFS to speak with mother and maternal grandmother. It stated that “it looks very likely that the Blackfoot and Cherokee tribes should be noticed on this case.” In the August 2023 jurisdiction and disposition report, DCFS stated ICWA does or may apply and “eligibility is pending.” A DCFS investigator had interviewed mother regarding Native American ancestry. Mother had again “reported possible ‘Blackfeet and Cherokee’ ancestry” and told the investigator to speak with maternal grandmother. She also provided the maternal…