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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2012)
Courtesy photo Siletz Elder Chewescla DePoe dances at the Morongo, Calif., pow-wow. Photos by Diane Rodriquez Destiny Matthews and Gaven Patrick win the canoe race, coming in ahead of Savanna Rilatos and Clarinda Black, during the Siletz Tribal Youth Conference held at the B’nai B’rith Camp near Lincoln City, Ore., on Oct. 12-14. Other activities included an Amazing Race-style challenge course and a round dance. Bud Lane leads a Feather Dance demonstration at the Youth Conference in October, joined by Halli Lane-Skauge, William Whitehead, Clarinda Black, Frankie Rilatos II, Savanna Rilatos, Treigh Parr, SuSun Fisher and Ebyn Jackson. Other activities during the conference included presentations by Gerry RainingBird on Native True Colors: Chiefs, Tricksters, Warriors and Healers; Ken Miller on youth trust accounts; Sharla Robinson on the Healthy Traditions project; Dean Azule on suicide prevention; members of the Change Team on the LGBTQ/Two-Spirit community; and a Youth Council/Tribal Council session. eagle, con’t from page 1 to striking the right balance in enforcing our nation’s wildlife laws by respecting the cultural and religious practices of federally recognized Indian Tribes with whom the United States shares a unique government-to-government relationship.” The department is issuing this policy to address the concerns of Tribal mem- bers who are unsure of how they may be affected by federal wildlife law enforce- ment efforts and because of a concern that this uncertainty may hinder or inhibit Tribal religious and cultural practices. The department first announced it was considering formalizing a policy on eagle feathers in October 2011 and sought Tribal input at that time. The department held formal consultations with Tribal leaders in June, July and August 2012. “From time immemorial, many Native Americans have viewed eagle feathers and other bird parts as sacred elements of their religious and cultural traditions,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice has taken a major step forward by establishing a consistent and transparent policy to guide federal enforcement of the nation’s wildlife laws in a manner that respects the cultural and religious practices of federally recognized Indian Tribes and their members.” “The Justice Department’s policy balances the needs of the federally recog- nized Tribes and their members to be able to obtain, possess and use eagle feathers for their religious and cultural practices with the need to protect and preserve these magnificent birds,” said Donald E. “Del” Laverdure, principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian Affairs.“Its reasoned approach reflects a greater understand- ing and respect for cultural beliefs and spiritual practices of Indian people while also providing much-needed clarity for those responsible for enforcing federal migratory bird protection laws.” “This policy helps to clarify how fed- eral law enforcement goes about protecting these special birds and also should reas- sure federally recognized Tribal members that they do not have to fear prosecution for possessing or using eagle feathers for their religious and cultural purposes,” said Brendan V. Johnson, U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota and chairman of the Native American Issues Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. “Eagles and other native migra- tory bird species are a vital part of our nation’s natural heritage and we remain dedicated to providing every American with the opportunity to experience them in the wild,” said Dan Ashe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director. “This new policy honors the past while looking to the future, contributing to the preservation of these species and ensuring that Tribal members can continue their religious and cultural practices for generations to come.” The policy provides that, consistent with the Department of Justice’s tradi- tional exercise of its discretion, a member of a federally recognized Tribe engaged only in the following types of conduct will not be subject to prosecution: • • • • Possessing, using, wearing or car- rying federally protected birds, bird feathers or other bird parts (federally protected bird parts) Traveling domestically with federally protected bird parts or, if Tribal mem- bers obtain and comply with neces- sary permits, traveling internationally with such items Picking up naturally molted or fallen feathers found in the wild, without molesting or disturbing federally protected birds or their nests Giving or loaning federally protected bird parts to other members of fed- erally recognized Tribes, without compensation of any kind • • Exchanging federally protected bird parts for federally protected bird parts with other members of federally recognized Tribes, without compen- sation of any kind Providing the feathers or other parts of federally protected birds to crafts- persons who are members of federally recognized Tribes to be fashioned into objects for eventual use in Tribal religious or cultural activities The Department of Justice will con- tinue to prosecute Tribal members and non- members alike for violating federal laws that prohibit the killing of eagles and other migratory birds or the buying or selling of the feathers or other parts of such birds. The policy expands upon longstand- ing Department of Justice practice and Department of the Interior policy. It was developed in close coordination with the Department of the Interior. The Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work closely with the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs on enforcement of federal laws protecting birds. To view the policy and a fact sheet on the policy, visit justice.gov/tribal. November 2012 • SiletzNews • 7
