RETURNING ‘FREE EXPRESSION’ OF RELIGION

The free expression of religion is central to individual liberty, and to try to exclusively "protect" religious ceremonies among one group or groups is precisely what the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution proscribing "the establishment of religion" was written to prevent. For the government to proscribe religious beliefs and practices is a clear violation of citizens’ fundamental right to practice religion without government interference. And blood quantum, as defined and used by the federal government and the various “recognized” tribes to ensure “sovereignty,” is not only arbitrary, inconsistent and inherently meaningless as a standard of what makes an “Indian,” but it is the very definition of racism, imposing institutional discrimination through force of law that has no place in modern America.

How many more ways can the U.S. government contravene the very fundamentals of the U.S. Constitution and international agreements on religious liberty it has signed?

It's important to note that all who practice Native American Spirituality are protected in the free exercise of their religion under law and through the courts. This is true for "Indians" and non-Indians. But, as long as some have more "rights" than others, then all "rights" are subject to interpretation, qualification, restriction and revocation, not as "rights," but as powers reserved by the federal government.

ALL PICTURES COPYRIGHTED BY; RAVEN, BECKY, STANDS_ALONE, AND RICH