Some imp of perversity makes me think that it is a bit funny when two darlings of political correctitude seem to go up against each other.
And anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I am a "science guy" who is respectful of religion.
But this is just stupid. If Indians can kill eagles without limit-- or kill anything else whenever and however they wish-- why have game and conservation laws at all?
"The Northern Arapaho Tribe and a man accused of shooting a bald eagle on the Wind River Indian Reservation say the federal government should make it easier for American Indians to apply to kill bald eagles for use in religious ceremonies.
"The tribe has filed a "friend of the court" brief in the case of Winslow
Friday, who allegedly shot the eagle without a permit in March 2005. U.S.
District Judge William Downes was scheduled to consider the tribe's
arguments at a hearing Monday."
(Snip)
"...there was no evidence that Friday was selected to hunt an eagle or that he had purified himself before shooting the eagle, which is
necessary for ceremonies.
"Also, [prosecutor] Healy pointed out that besides providing permits for tribal members to kill eagles, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a repository in Denver of eagles shot illegally or killed by cars or power lines."
Fly Rod and Reel columnist Ted Williams will write about the story here. I don't always agree with Ted but I suspect we will on this!
Another story here.
Thanks to Anne Pearse Hocker for various links.
2 comments:
Well, since I sent this to you I'll go first. After years of supporting the sovereignity and cultural freedoms of our Indigenous People, I've hit a wall with this issue. If using cigarettes (filtered or not) as tobacco offerings in ceremonies is ok, what's the problem with feathers from a bird that was not shot out of the sky by a so-called medicine man or smothered by cornmeal after being tethered to a perch for months? Sorry, all the usual refuges for my normally tolerant religious attitudes have slammed shut. My ancestors probably felt blood sacrifice of virgins and first-borns was important too, but we got over it. I have found myself on the other side of the fence from many long-time friends on this, but with so many issues of health, gaming consequences, teen suicide and gangs occupying many tribal councils today, why would they find this jerk's crime a cause for solidarity?
What she said. Go Anne!
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