Parents have the responsibility to make decisions and perform other parental functions necessary for the care and growth of their minor children. In any proceeding between parents under this chapter, the best interests of the child shall be the standard by which the Tribal Court determines and allocates parental responsibilities. The Tribe recognizes the fundamental importance of the parent-child relationship and that the relationship between the child and each parent should be fostered unless inconsistent with the best interests of the child. The interests of the child are served by a parenting arrangement that best maintains a child’s emotional growth, Tribal and cultural ties, health and stability, educational needs, and physical care. The best interests of the child are ordinarily served when the existing pattern of interaction between a parent and child is altered only to the extent necessitated by the changed relationship of the parents or as required to protect the child from physical, educational, mental or emotional harm.

A determination of the best interests of the child should include consideration of the rights of the child as a Yurok and the interest of the Yurok community and Tribe in retaining its children in its society; political membership in the Tribe and the attendant benefits such as hunting and fishing rights; the child’s cultural heritage; and the opportunity to participate in the ongoing customary life of the Tribe and maintain the connection that each Yurok has with the Yurok territory and their extended family. [Ord. 50 § 5.1, adopted, 3/23/2017.]