The "Baby Veronica" Case Through the Eyes of One Adult Adoptee
I have been watching the "Baby Veronica" case for some time now. I have witnessed the reporting slants of various news outlets; the outrage of concerned citizens; the shock and grief of fellow adoptees; and the powerful replies of the First Nations. I have observed some tout adoption as the right decision--not because little Veronica's father, family, and tribe are unavailable options--but based upon who legally out-maneuvered whom. In fact, her father, family, and tribe are capable and fighting to care for her yet they have been rendered legally disenfranchised. My heart is broken. Recently reviewing literature on the matter, I was sad to find that unmarried fathers and original fathers are the least represented, the least researched, the least legally protected, the least considered and supported, the least heard from, and the least understood parties within adoption. This case has exposed numerous policy gaps; Father's Rights being just one of them....