I'm re-posting this....
Repost from Willow Jack
Passing the word on to you guys..........
Mar 16, 2009 7:15 PM
Hello everyone,
I have been following this since some friends of mine were raided last week. It has been part of an ongoing investigation for two years and anyone, ANYONE who does feather work is being targeted. Other targets are those who trade or give feathers to any of these feather-workers. From what I have noticed, the main targets have been N.A.C. peeps. Now the Eagle Act says bartering of feathers is illegal, so NO-ONE TRADE any feathers. The FEDS are really watching. Don't even openly give away any feathers.
I think those who have been involved need to contact the Native American Rights Fund. This is a form of "policing" how we handle our own sacred items. Now, I am not overlooking the fact that there were some feathers poached by individuals but many of the people targeted don't even kill eagles, they trade.
Whoever 's feathers were with them people caught at the time, HAVE LOST their feathers!!!
Now if the FEDS want us to be required to carry documents, what is happening to our religious freedom and our sovereignty? What is next, peyote? More loss of sacred sites and sacred practices? I really think we should pay mind to things like this because, as one friend said "YOU WOULD NEVER SEE THEM CONFISCATING CROSSES OUT OF A CHURCH".
So if you know of anyone involved, take a stand and perhaps file a class action lawsuit or gather leaders to advocate for their people. We cannot act like this is nothing because the decisions made by the FEDS affect each and every one of us.
THANK god I have papers for my feathers and fans, they all came from the National Eagle Repository, But what about our old old feathers? I know my fam carries a warbonnet from a battle in 1867. How do we protect feathers given to us by our elders or feathers we have gotten from family members who have passed? We don't bury those things, they are sacred and must live on to carry them prayers out.
Anyway, sorry for the rant but so far the case has been building for two years, the FEDS have pics of powwow peeps and N.A.C. peeps. They have someone on their side who knows people and they are keeping tabs through snowballing.
They even have pics of peeps at Denver March last year!
IF YOU KNOW of anyone who has been raided, make sure they take names of officers, ask for a list of items taken and be as careful as they can. I suggest a class action law suit and I suggest action be taken by our tribal leaders. Do not allow the FEDS to tell us how to be, we know how to be and do not need more paternalism than we have as Indigenous people.
Aho,
Willow Jack
Native American Rights Fund
1506 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 447-8760
Fax: (303) 443-7776
The Native American Rights Fund, a national non-profit law firm, has been dedicated to providing the highest quality of legal services in our representation of Native American interests since 1970. Fees are negotiable.
Our practice areas include:
* Jurisdictional and Tribal Sovereignty Issues
* Land Claims
* Water Rights
* Environmental Law
* Economic Development
* Tribal Codes and Constitutions
* Hunting and Fishing Rights
* Trust Lands and Trust Responsibility
* Treaty Rights
* Recognition
* Education
* Indigenous Voting Rights
* Religious Rights
If you have a legal matter that involves federal Indian law and would like to request legal assistance from our organization, please send your request in writing to the Litigation Management Committee. Attention: Clela Rorex, Law Office Administrator.
Litigation Management Committee
* Kim Gottschalk
* Natalie Landreth
* Melody McCoy
Native American Rights Fund
1506 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 447-8760
Fax: (303) 443-7776
Repost from Willow Jack
Passing the word on to you guys..........
Mar 16, 2009 7:15 PM
Hello everyone,
I have been following this since some friends of mine were raided last week. It has been part of an ongoing investigation for two years and anyone, ANYONE who does feather work is being targeted. Other targets are those who trade or give feathers to any of these feather-workers. From what I have noticed, the main targets have been N.A.C. peeps. Now the Eagle Act says bartering of feathers is illegal, so NO-ONE TRADE any feathers. The FEDS are really watching. Don't even openly give away any feathers.
I think those who have been involved need to contact the Native American Rights Fund. This is a form of "policing" how we handle our own sacred items. Now, I am not overlooking the fact that there were some feathers poached by individuals but many of the people targeted don't even kill eagles, they trade.
Whoever 's feathers were with them people caught at the time, HAVE LOST their feathers!!!
Now if the FEDS want us to be required to carry documents, what is happening to our religious freedom and our sovereignty? What is next, peyote? More loss of sacred sites and sacred practices? I really think we should pay mind to things like this because, as one friend said "YOU WOULD NEVER SEE THEM CONFISCATING CROSSES OUT OF A CHURCH".
So if you know of anyone involved, take a stand and perhaps file a class action lawsuit or gather leaders to advocate for their people. We cannot act like this is nothing because the decisions made by the FEDS affect each and every one of us.
THANK god I have papers for my feathers and fans, they all came from the National Eagle Repository, But what about our old old feathers? I know my fam carries a warbonnet from a battle in 1867. How do we protect feathers given to us by our elders or feathers we have gotten from family members who have passed? We don't bury those things, they are sacred and must live on to carry them prayers out.
Anyway, sorry for the rant but so far the case has been building for two years, the FEDS have pics of powwow peeps and N.A.C. peeps. They have someone on their side who knows people and they are keeping tabs through snowballing.
They even have pics of peeps at Denver March last year!
IF YOU KNOW of anyone who has been raided, make sure they take names of officers, ask for a list of items taken and be as careful as they can. I suggest a class action law suit and I suggest action be taken by our tribal leaders. Do not allow the FEDS to tell us how to be, we know how to be and do not need more paternalism than we have as Indigenous people.
Aho,
Willow Jack
Native American Rights Fund
1506 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 447-8760
Fax: (303) 443-7776
The Native American Rights Fund, a national non-profit law firm, has been dedicated to providing the highest quality of legal services in our representation of Native American interests since 1970. Fees are negotiable.
Our practice areas include:
* Jurisdictional and Tribal Sovereignty Issues
* Land Claims
* Water Rights
* Environmental Law
* Economic Development
* Tribal Codes and Constitutions
* Hunting and Fishing Rights
* Trust Lands and Trust Responsibility
* Treaty Rights
* Recognition
* Education
* Indigenous Voting Rights
* Religious Rights
If you have a legal matter that involves federal Indian law and would like to request legal assistance from our organization, please send your request in writing to the Litigation Management Committee. Attention: Clela Rorex, Law Office Administrator.
Litigation Management Committee
* Kim Gottschalk
* Natalie Landreth
* Melody McCoy
Native American Rights Fund
1506 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 447-8760
Fax: (303) 443-7776
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