Protection of Native American sacred places fact sheet -Native American Indian Tribes - Over 2,000 articles on native american indians, their culture & traditions.

Over 2,000 articles about native americans of the US and Canada First Nations.

Privacy Policy

Any information collected on our site is used for internal purposes only and will not be shared or sold to third parties!

Your transactions in our store are secure

Videos of the Week

Shoshone-Bannock History in Idaho
PART I OF II: 2008's historic Idaho Democratic Convention, held in Boise, ID, June 12-14, invited Idaho Native American Tribal members from the Shoshone-Bannock/Fort Hall, Shoshone-Paiute/Duck Valley, Nez Perce, and Coeur D'Alene tribal communities to take an active part in the convention activities. On June 12th, the Idaho AFL-CIO hosted a Democratic picnic for convention goers. Mr. Ted Howard, Cultural Resource Director, Duck Valley, spoke to picnic participants about the Shoshone-Paiute-Bannock history in the Boise Valley area. 9:49 minutes.

Part II-Grand Entry, Flag Ceremony and Recessional
All convention tribal members participated in the grand entry at the beginning of the June 13th Idaho Democratic Convention gathering followed by a flag ceremony and presentation by Mr. Lee Juan Tyler, Council Member, Shoshone-Bannock/Fort Hall community. Fort Hall and Duck Valley singers and drummers played songs for the grand entry, flag ceremony and recessional.
9:59 minutes

Native American Prophecy
Narrated by the late Floyd RedCrow Westerman 6:36 minutes

7 Generations
Elder Orin Lyons talks about preparing for the next 7 generations. 8:43 minutes

Law->Religion: Protection of Native American sacred places fact sheet

Posted on Tuesday, June 25 @ 05:15:49 CDT

KEYWORDS: protection of native american sacred places traditional religions Native American religions Civilization Regulations Native American sacred places American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 traditional Native religions American Indian Eskimo Aleut Native Hawaiians Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Executive Order on Indian Sacred Sites National Historic Preservation Act Archaeological Resources Protection Act National Environmental Protection Act

AUTHOR: Suzan Shown Harjo, Columnist, Indian Country Today

Native American sacred places are where Native Peoples who practice their traditional religions go to pray for the good day, the precious earth, the blessing waters, the sweet air and peaceful life for all living beings the world over.

Native American religions were outlawed under the federal "Civilization Regulations" from the 1880s to the 1930s. Traditional Native Peoples were not allowed to go to or pray at their sacred places. All of the traditional religions were driven underground, some to the point of extinction.

Stumble It!

Myriad Native American sacred places have been destroyed.

Today, far too many sacred places are being desecrated or threatened by development, pollution, poisons, recreation, looting, vandalism and by federal or federally authorized undertakings.

The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 was intended to change the policy of the United States from one of outlawing and disrespecting traditional Native religions to one of protecting and respecting them. The Act states:

There are numerous existing laws intended to protect Native American sacred places and even more that can be used to do so, but most of these laws are being ignored and flaunted.

Among these existing legal authorities are the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Executive Order on Indian Sacred Sites, National Historic Preservation Act, Archaeological Resources Protection Act, National Environmental Protection Act and other environmental and cultural laws.

There are no existing legal protections for certain categories of sacred places and none that provide a specific cause of action to defend sacred places against desecration or destruction.

Native Americans often are pressured to define the sacred when we talk about our religious freedom and protection of sacred places. No other religious leaders or practitioners are pressured to define the sacred in their religions or to identify what is central or indispensable to their beliefs and ceremonies.

Native Americans are pressured to reveal the details of our exercise of religious freedom, when no other religious leaders or practitioners are forced or required or urged or even asked to reveal details.

Many Native traditional religious matters cannot be discussed or revealed. Some Native traditional religious matters must remain private and confidential because disclosure would violate the tenets of the religions themselves. Other Native traditional religious matters must remain private because many Native leaders and practitioners still fear that such disclosures would lead to another federal Indian "civilization" era.

It has been the experience of Native Americans that disclosure about the location, nature or use of sacred places leads to assaults on them. Many of these places are fragile and have been destroyed by too many visitors or vehicles or activities.

The following description of Native American sacred lands is taken from the President's Report to Congress on American Indian Religious Freedom, August 1979, pursuant to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, P.L. 95-341:

SOURCE:

Prepared for the Coalition to Protect Native American Sacred Places
by Suzan Shown Harjo of The Morning Star Institute
611 Pennsylvania Ave., SE #377
Washington, DC 20003
Ph.(202) 547-5531

Ms. Harjo is a columnist for Indian Country Today.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Sacred lands are a serious issue