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May 12,
2003 Khwe...Khwe.... I am Ishgooda of the Wendat Confederacy. I speak for no one but myself. I am writing in response to the current meetings addressing exploitation of plains peoples Spirituality that appears to be seeking federal enforcement options to protect these ceremonies. I am very concerned about approaching any federal authorities for assistance on regulating Native religion. The Wendat Confederacy, for example is comprised of two Canadian bands that are not recognized as Indian by the US government simply because they are Canadian. One has standing in Canada and is located at Wendake , Quebec. The other is seeking recognition from Ottawa and are the descendants of the residents of the Anderdon Reserve in Ontario. Of the two US bands, one is state recognized and the other is federal. Any law that would inhibit participation based upon federal recognition would disallow three quarters of our confederacy from practicing our spirituality on US soil. The Confederacy one hundred percent recognizes each other as Wendat and legitimate. The potential harm from federal intervention would result in a situation that could be disastrous for our people. The existing law that protects our right to practice our religions per our traditional ancestral cultures addresses this freedom for all the Nations within the continental US. While Lakota and Cheyenne traditions have been the most sought after and exploited by non-natives, any law connected with the existing law of necessity would address this situation for all of us. The problems that are being addresses are also currently enforceable under existing law. molestation is illegal whether in a false *shaman's* expropriated lodge, or any other setting. Pursue and expose them under current laws. Set up a "National Indian" registry along the lines of the current Megan Laws that is available for all to see. When exposed, their popularity will be sure to evaporate. If tribal law states that only existing Elders have the right to declare practitioners of that nation's spirituality..sue the exploiters for false advertising. If their fraud costs them more than their fake seminars, they, too, will evaporate. Laws exist that can be used to protect our Nations' spiritual practices in ways that won't negatively impact other nations. The history of US relations with our peoples is not condusive to trusting them not to amend this to suit their own purposes. The current right wing evangelical Christian regime would like nothing better than an opening to eliminate all of us. Ish Please go to the following pages to get the reactions of the Little Feather Center and other members. Updates
complements of the Friends of Little
Feather Center, Pipestone MN. All copy in the interviews and letters are not the work of the Little Feather Center but the authors of each piece we are just collecting them in one place for educational purposes. |
