In traditional American Indian culture, the extended family fulfilled the role of providing foster care to children.

It's not necessarily so now. Distance from a network of relatives can impose isolation on young people who need to be in the care of a family.

Virginia Grantier's report in Tuesday's Tribune highlighted the need for area American Indian people to take on the foster parenting role when the kids needing care also are Native American.

A pilot project to sign up willing caregivers is on in Burleigh County currently.

The need is acute. Grantier reported that in any given year, 60 to 70 Indian kids are candidates for placement, while there's only one native family here registered to provide a foster home. So the children are placed with non-Indian foster parents.

Some people's reaction is, "So what?"

True, the ability to love and nurture young people is not governed by ethnicity. The simple truth is that if it's the children that matter most in the situation, their American Indian heritage deserves to be nurtured. That can be done best by people who can keep them connected to their culture.

It's not a snap for people to qualify for licensure as foster caregivers. They must apply through a county or tribal social service agency. Screening is followed by required training. A foster care living situation needn't be perfect; none of us or our homes are. There should be stability. There should be love in the home.

One idea should be put to rest, that people make a bunch of money by being foster parents. No one gets wealthy by giving foster care. They get financial allowances in keeping with the needs of the child or children.

It's a serious commitment that adults make. It may be to take in a youngster temporarily or for several months, according to the Web site of the local organization that is working to encourage American Indian people to become licensed to give foster care. It's www.nativefostercare.com.

The task force is hopeful that American Indian people in our area will respond to the keen need of children to be in their care. At two gatherings in Bismarck in June, people will be on hand to explain the process to those willing to open their homes and hearts. (Details are presented on the Web site.)

The need is for Indian foster parents to maintain kids in the native culture. Otherwise, reaching out to kids who may be hurting and taking them into a good home has nothing to do with race.

The heart can understand the universal human language, the sound of a child crying.