Handbook of American Indian Religious Freedom

By: Christopher Vecsey

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824510674
• ISBN13: 9780824510671
• Release Date: June 1991
• Publisher: Crossroad Publishing
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Major Step to Multicultural Understanding

In Spring of 1988 a number of scholars gathered at the Newberry Library in Chicago for the American Indian Religious Freedom Act Conference, co-sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Inc. This book is derived from those papers given, some of which were revised to reflect 1990 data. The objectives of this book are: 1) to identify specific areas in which Indians religious practices are undermined by federal, state, and local policies and by private enterprises; 2) to help non-Indians understand the conceptual bases for American Indian religious practices; and 3) to suggest practical ways to protect the free exercise of Indian religions. In the prologue, Vecsey asks what constitutes "traditional" Indian religions when one-third to one-half of contemporary Indians identify themselves (at least nominally or partially) as Christians. To hundreds of thousands of Indians, Christianity is a portion of their traditional religious configuration. Sharon O'Brien summarizes that courts have been inconsistent in the interpretation of AIRFA. In some cases, security and an agency's agenda superseded the use of peyote by Native Americans. In another case, the court accepted the headband as a sacred symbol, analogous to the Christian cross or medal. Indians have proven most successful in protecting their religious practices when they exhibit parallels such as this to the courts. While Judeo-Christian beliefs are linear in concept and revere religious personages, Indian religious beliefs and practices are spatial. Omer Stewart's essay on "Peyote and the Law" gives a history of the interference from 1620 to 1934. Much of this essay emphasizes or dwells on the legal affairs of the Native American Church. Walter and Roger Echo-Hawk, two members of the Pawnee tribe, then address the treatment of human skeletal remains, and the expropriation of Native religious property. The role of museums is examined with both positive and negative effects stated. They believe it should be possible for museums to educate the public about Indians without violating cultural or religious integrity of Native Americans. A case study of an Indian burial outlines important facets of Indian religion. "Death and burial have always been deeply religious matters for all peoples." In "Sacred Sites and Public Lands," Steven Moore gives detailed excerpts and analysis of AIRFA, with case studies. Agencies have been short sighted, consulting their staff archaeologists instead of cultural anthropologists on AIRFA matters. Deward Walker then systematically reviews major features of American Indian religious practice and proposes an alternative standard of integrity that seeks better protection for American Indians' sacred geography. He points out that hunting tribes do not have shrines at a central point like Jerusalem; he compares and contrasts Indian religion with Judeo-Christianity. The natural environment becomes an altar or church. He also