The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) recognizes tribes' rights to exercise authority over the welfare of Native American children. Although the ICWA was passed more than 20 years ago, its implementation in Minnesota has been uneven. A conference was held to rectify that situation, and these proceedings provide, among other things, information on negotiations, based on relationships of respect and equity, that have been accomplished between a number of tribes and their county affiliates. The first presentation, by John Red Horse, discusses the concept of sovereignty and its significance for ICWA. Valerie Lane gives a national perspective of critical considerations on the interface between the ICWA and the permanency planning required by the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA). Next, Georgia Wetlin-Larson presents a Minnesota perspective on this interface, followed by a rural county perspective given by Fran Felix. The fifth presentation is a roundtable discussion on sorting out the relationship of the tribal courts and the state court system. Roundtable participants included Anita Fineday, Herbert Lefler, and James White. Examples of best practices from the field are given by Fred Smith, Susan Ault, Julia Jaakola, Don Bacigalupo, Gertrude Buckanaga, and Mary Renville. The final presentation addresses strengthening the infrastructure of the ICWA, and is presented by a panel consisting of Rose Robinson, Rose Andrade, and Georgette Christensen. Three appendices present a summary of Department of Human Services guidance, data on Minnesota's American Indian children, and Minnesota's timeline for Indian child welfare cases. (TD)