WINDOW ROCK – The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) applauds the approval of Legislation No. 0114-26 by the Naabik’iyáti’ Committee, “Condemning Any Action by a State or State-Licensed Agency that Denies Navajo Children in or Entering Custody the Right to Participate in Traditional Diné Ceremonies, Prayers, and Spiritual Practices.”
The NDCFS’s Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act Program (NICWAP) and Navajo Treatment Center for Children and Their Families (NTCCF) are at the forefront in ensuring that Navajo children in state custody maintain meaningful connections to their families, clans, language, culture, and community.
The NDCFS promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of Navajo children and families, including their cultural, emotional, psychological and spiritual health. When Navajo children become involved in child welfare proceedings, they are often exposed to trauma and family disruption. Access to Diné ceremonies, prayers and forms of healing can provide a pathway to recovery and restoration of hozho for those children.
NDCFS Executive Director Thomas Cody said that the importance of maintaining cultural continuity is especially significant during childhood, since early childhood is a critical period when children are developing an understanding of their language, family traditions, and cultural identity.
“By ensuring that Navajo children maintain access to traditional ceremonies and cultural teachings while in state custody, the legislation strengthens the very protections Congress intended through the enactment of the Indian Child Welfare Act and supports the Navajo Nation’s commitment to preserving its culture, traditions, and future generations,” Cody said.
He added that NDCFS recognizes that preserving a Navajo child’s connection to culture, language, family, and traditional healing practices is essential to achieving positive outcomes for lifelong well-being and resilience.
The legislation notes that, “the absence of ceremony at the proper time and in the proper manner causes spiritual, emotional, and development harm that cannot be remedied retroactively.”
The approval of the legislation also recognizes the sovereign right of the Navajo Nation to engage in discussions and decisions that involve the well-being of Navajo children and families.
Rights related to freedom to exercise cultural and traditional teachings for children in custody are protected by Diné Fundamental Law, the Navajo Nation Bill of Rights, federal Indian Child Welfare Act, American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and state laws.
The legislation was approved by the Naabik’iyáti’ Committee on June 25, 2026.
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