SACRED SITE THREATENED
Manataka American Indian Council
501-627-0555 * manataka@sbcglobal.net
* www.manataka.org
|
Officers and Elders Charles Doc Chanter Davidson David Quiet Wind Furr Lee Standing Bear Hurvie Waka Hucha Chisum Jim Path Finder Bonnie R. Cloud Becky Owl Woman Moore, Women’s Council Robert Woableza LaBatte, Spiritual Elder Chief Jim Gray Wolf Henson, Honorary Elder |
Committee and Senior Leaders Charles Lonewolf Black, Warrior Society David Avery, Lodge Keeper Jennifer White Feather Attaway, Dance Keeper Col. John Mountain Wind Outler, Counseling Leisha Six Fires |
Honored Spiritual Brothers & Sisters:
Manataka desperately needs your help.
We respectfully ask that you immediately begin prayer ceremonies for the sacred site, Manataka (Place of Peace). We also ask that you write a brief letter from your heart stating that Manataka is a sacred American Indian site. You should clearly identify yourself, your tribal affiliation or organization and your qualifications as a spiritual elder and/or tribal leader and give us permission to distribute your letter.
(Important: See Sample Letter and Instructions)
We
expect to receive many such letters from across North, Central and
Background
As
you may know our people have gathered for prayer ceremonies at the base of
sacred
In
1803, President Thomas Jefferson commission Lewis & Clark to find the
From
Desoto to
Before
the time of the genocide by relocation Removals in the 1830’s, when indigenous
people were forcibly removed to
In
the early 1900’s a group of full blood and mixed American Indians and local
white businessmen formed the Manatakau Indian
Association in
About
the time the Manatakau Indian Association ceased to
exist, a lone ‘Keeper of Manataka’ emerged who single
handedly created a bridge between the previously hostile and bigoted local
community and American Indian spiritual leaders who came for prayer
ceremonies. Benito Altaha Grayhorse, a Chiricahau Apache, sometimes referred to as ‘Chief Gray Horse,
moved to
A number of American Indian ‘Keepers of Manataka’ followed Grey Horse in quick succession until 1979, when Lee Standing Bear Moore moved to Hot Springs and formed a friendship with Louise Henrietta Napanee Grayhorse that lasted until her death in 1992. In 1997, Bear helped to form the Manataka American Indian Council (MAIC) who immediately began hosting Summer and Fall Gatherings at Manataka that have continued until this year.
In
October 2004 MAIC was denied a permit to gather in the Gulpha
Gorge Campground by Jose Fernandez, formerly of
Government Intention and Actions
The intent of the NPS is clear. They want all American Indian religious activities at the sacred Manataka to stop – forever.
Because we were refused a permit to Gather on November 6, MAIC held an unofficial “Ungathering” where individual families rented dozens of camp spaces and ceremonies were performed between the campsites because we were forcibly prevented from going to the fire circle. NPS officials threatened members and their families with federal arrest if anyone went to the sacred fire circle for prayer ceremonies. They encircled the families (mostly women and children) with patrol cars with glaring flashing lights. They video taped participants and sent plain-clothed officers into our midst to record our conversations. They stopped vehicles without just cause and generally harassed our members and guests in an attempt to disrupt our ceremonies. While all this was going on, NPS Rangers allowed a white Christian group, who were not campers and did not have a permit to enter the fire circle and conduct a meeting. We call this selective enforcement.
For many years, the NPS has continually harassed our members and violated our constitutional rights with over-zealous and selective enforcement of park rules. Illegal stop and searches have been commonplace. Segregating individual members off from the group for intensive interrogation happens frequently. Vehicles are searched with no probable cause. One friend of MAIC was charged with ‘destruction of park property’ when her four-year old daughter carried a dried leave off of the mountain. A Park Ranger has called us “pagans” and other names.
We refused to become angry for the sake of peace and did not empower them with our objections. This may have been a mistake.
Reasons why they do want our people there, in a public place, are not so obvious to the casual observer and NPS bureaucrats refuse to put those reasons in writing. The first reason is bigotry. During a meeting in October, the new superintendent compared American Indian religious beliefs with “pagan and witches”. In public, the superintendent now denies making this statement, but she has made other questionable statements to members of the community about American Indian culture. The second reason is they are fearful American Indians will attempt to reclaim these grounds. There may be solid legal basis for doing so, but that is absolutely not our intention. No tribe ever claimed rights over these sacred grounds (with the possible exception of late-coming Western Cherokee). We do not own it nor do we wish to control it. All we want to do is pray and perform our ceremonies. The third and forth reasons must be withheld at this time to allow the bureaucrats to reveal themselves to the public.
Another
basis of the denial is found at the bottom of the letter where NPS employees
claim that Manataka (now called the
NPS employees have dissected activities during the Gathering into two categories: Non-First Amendment Rights Activities and First Amendment Religious Activities.
They say the Manataka Medicine Lodge teepee is a “display” and a separate permit must be obtained but will most likely be denied because it falls into the first category.
The Manataka Medicine Lodge contains sacred objects brought to Manataka by spiritual elders over the course of many years. It contains an altar and fire circle. All activities conducted in the lodge during gatherings are ceremonial and religious in nature. Who are they to judge whether the Lodge is religious or not?
They say our “seminars” following ceremonies are not religious and a special permit and $100,000 liability bond is required.
Special presentations are part of our religious tradition to teach the people. For example, during the Manataka Gathering in June, two programs were presented, “Healing Medicine Herbs” and “Sacred Drumming” – both very much religious in nature.
NPS bureaucrats also consider the Bear Dance Ceremony, singing and drumming as “music and entertainment” and will force us to remove these elements from the Gathering.
Anyone who knows American Indian culture understands that these activities are very much a part of our religious observances.
If
It is our opinion that continual ‘suggestions’ by NPS superintendents over the years to move our religious activities elsewhere has permeated down through NPS ranks and has become accepted unofficial ‘policy’ and as a result, some employees have been overzealous in their efforts to enforce campground rules.
It is our sincere wish that further action is not necessary. We believe in the wisdom of the Creator, your prayers and the simple words of truth contained in your letter will be sufficient to regain access to the sacred Manataka for ceremonies.
We hope a nationwide petition campaign and legal battle in federal courts is not necessary. We do not seek media attention or angry demonstrations. We do not want anyone to become angry with NPS bureaucrats or take any other action outside of writing a letter at this time. We do encourage you to contact other respected spiritual elders and tribal leaders and ask that they write a similar letter.
We are available to answer your questions or listen to your advice – day and night. Thank you for giving our request your heartfelt consideration.
Respectfully,
For the Elder Council,
Charles Doc ‘Chanter’ Davidson
David Quiet Wind Furr
Lee
Standing Bear
Hervie Long Legs Chisum
Rebecca Owl Woman Moore, Women’s Council
Jim
Path Finder
Bonnie R. Cloud
Ready to start writing? (Important: See Sample Letter and Instructions)
TWO PAGE LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Ready to start writing? (Important: See Sample Letter and Instructions)
Response to the October 18, 2004 letter
received by the Manataka American Indian Council from
Jose Fernandez, Superintendent of the Hot Springs National Park Service:
In the letter, Superintendent Fernandez cites seven (7) charges and reasons for denying MAIC a Special Use permit for the November 6, 2004 Fall Gathering.
1) Quiet time violations (36 CFR 2.11,
Park Compendium, permit conditions and posted signs.) [NPS specifically
pointed out during the meeting that a generator was running past
MAIC specifically and emphatically denies there were ever any violations of the Quiet Time rules at the Gulpha Gorge Campgrounds during any event sponsored by the Manataka American Indian Council.
Park Rangers received no complaints from any camper during
past years and organizers of the event were never informed of any such
violation during any event. Park Rangers
never issued written citations for any alleged violation to the organizers and
MAIC never received any formal written or verbal notification of any alleged
violations prior to a meeting on
During this meeting NPS officials raised this issue for the first time. No assurances about future violations were given during this meeting because MAIC was not aware of any alleged violation, with the exception of the Bill Barbour incident explained below:
A generator was operated by a private individual,
Chief Bill Little Horse, 97 of
During music played during the Bear Dance Ceremony at
the June 2004 Gathering ended at
2) Resource
disturbances and damage (26 CFR 2.1)
MAIC specifically denies there was any violation of
the Resource disturbance and damage laws at the Gulpha
Gorge Campgrounds during any event sponsored by the Manataka
American Indian Council.
During the meeting in October, NPS officials
displayed pictures of what appeared to be two small stone circles and alleged
members of MAIC disturbed NPS property by removing stones from various
locations and placing them into the circles.
During this discussion, the NPS superintendent cited a report from a
Park Ranger allegedly written on or about the time of the June event in which
he observed 40 people at the location of the stones on top of the mountain but
failed to speak to any of those persons about being off the trail and the
movement of stones because he was fearful for his safety.
MAIC has good reason to believe a person or persons who are not members of MAIC moved the stones sometime prior to the June event.
None of the participants from any of the four groups
of 17 to 19 people each saw a Park Ranger on the mountain that night. In order for the Ranger to see a number of
people at the exact location of the stones, the people would have seen the Ranger
as well. None of the four groups went
anywhere near the area in question.
After the October meeting, MAIC closely inspected the
area and the stones themselves three times.
It was apparent that metal tools had been used to clear away brush.
MAIC closely observes every person, including members
and campers who walk across the creek to the trail leading up the mountain
during times of sponsored events from the permitted area. At no time during any event has any member or
camper been observed carrying shovels, rakes, saws or axes.
Other pictures showing feathers hanging from trees and alleged to have been placed there by MAIC members during events is correct. Some members have hung feathers in trees around the area of prayer ceremonies. However, as NPS officials pointed out during the meeting the feathers were removed after the ceremonies and the feathers were not NPS property.
This incident is a prime example of the extent to which Park Rangers will go to make it appear MAIC or its members broke park rules. The evidence is clear the NPS Ranger lied in his report.
There are over 75 witnesses!!!
3)
Presence of unauthorized L.E. vehicles (Exclusive Jurisdiction of the park)
During the meeting, MAIC was shown once a picture of
a single vehicle with a sign on it reading “Law Enforcement”. The picture was obviously taken off NPS
property at a location several blocks away.
At no time did MAIC neither authorize any other law
enforcement authority to enter the grounds nor did MAIC officers witness the
presence of the vehicle in question. No
citations or knowledge about the presence of this vehicle were ever
communicated to MAIC during the event or prior to the October meeting. No citations were ever issued.
Because the National Park campgrounds are public, MAIC has no control over the presence of any vehicles that may enter the area during a sponsored event. NPS lame attempt to blame MAIC with the alleged presence of a law enforcement vehicle is ridiculous at best.
4)
Vehicles parked on grass (36 CFR 2.1 and permit conditions)
During past sponsored and permitted events, MAIC has
used volunteers’ greeters who remind drivers to park off the grass. However, after Park Rangers asked that our
volunteers not tell drivers where to park, MAIC
was left with no means to assist with parking issues.
MAIC uses volunteers to shuttle our members to and from an area off NPS property to reduce parking congestion. We publish warnings about parking on the grass in our newsletters, website and on flyers and make periodic announcement during the event.
MAIC cannot be held responsible for drivers parking
on the grass, especially non-members, tourists and local on-lookers because we
are prevented from assisting drivers to do otherwise by NPS officials.
5) Unauthorized
livestock (horses) in area. (36 CFR 2.16)
For many years past, MAIC hosted events where a horse
was used as an integral part of religious wedding ceremonies. MAIC did request and receive permission for
this activity in the past from Park Rangers.
No citations or verbal warnings about this activity have ever been given
to MAIC. After the new Park
Superintendent informed us that this would no longer be permitted, all
references about this activity were immediately removed from all published MAIC
information and assurances were given, both verbally and in writing that MAIC
would not encourage horses to be brought to the campgrounds.
6)
Interpretation conflict/displacement (Representative discussions park personnel)
We have no idea as to what this means. We cannot respond to a charge with nebulous meaning. Does anyone outside NPS bureaucracy understand this charge?
7)
Interference by MAIC members with Rangers performing lawful duties (36 CFR 2.32)
This charge is totally incorrect on the surface and nefarious in its substance. The one single instance referenced by Fernandez during the meeting involved the sacred Bear Dance ceremony when one its dancers laid down on the grass as he was instructed to do by his elder. A non-member (NPS employee?) misinterpreted this to mean the dancer was injured or sick and caused another person to call for emergency service.
When emergency personnel arrived, two of the men
quietly moved around to the rear of the sacred fire circle and began discreetly
talking with the dancer as ceremonies continued. An NPS officer arrived and literally jumped
into the sacred circle and loudly proclaimed his presence. He was approached by two women elders and
asked to move around to the rear of the circle (where the dancer was located)
and to respect the ceremonies. At no
time was he physically blocked or prevented from carrying on his duties.
Instead of being quiet and respecting the ceremonies,
the NPS Ranger immediately began a loud tirade about ‘doing his job’ and
crossed in front of the fire and physically pushed the women elders in the
process.
Yelling at people in the sacred circle had nothing to
do with doing his job, pushing elders had anything to do with his job neither
did the fact that he placed himself between the fire (representing the Creator)
and the elders and other members.
After the incident was over and it was determined the dancer did not want nor need medical assistance, the two emergency response people were thanked and praised for their actions by our members. The third was shunned in an obvious way. It is the third NPS officer who wrote his report in such a way as to make it appear he did nothing wrong and the two old women interfered with his duties. He lied. We have nearly a hundred witnesses to prove this is true.
Summary
While recognizing that activities associated with the exercise of First Amendment Rights may be “reasonably” regulated to protect “reasonable” government interests. However, Fernandez states, “…We will regulate the time, place and manner where these activities are conducted…”
MAIC has no objection to assertions that the NPS has limited authority over religious activities on government property, we however, emphatically demand equal treatment under the law and that selective enforcement cease immediately. We also demand that access to the Manataka sacred site is not unreasonably limited by loose interpretation of bureaucratic rules.
MAIC does absolutely object to assertions of NPS authority with regard to the manner in which our ceremonies are conducted. Fernandez has absolutely has no right, no authority and no expertise to dissect our ceremonies and make nebulous determinations about what she considers religious or non-religious activities.
Permit Denial
MAIC was denied a permit because we refused to complete two separate applications. By demanding that MAIC complete two permit applications, Fernandez uses no discernable standard to define which MAIC activities are religious in nature and which activities are not. MAIC will not complete two permit applications because we will not deny the holy and sacred nature of any part of our ceremonies to satisfy the personal whims and opinions of individuals and power mongering bureaucrats. If MAIC were to submit an application solely to satisfy the personal whims of NPS employees, we would be denying our own religious beliefs.
· The Manataka Medicine Lodge teepee is not a display – it is a religious place.
· Drumming, singing and dancing are not entertainment – they are religious expressions.
· MAIC sponsored seminars are not secular speeches – they are religious teachings.
· The consumption of food is not a picnic – it is a feast celebrating the blessings of the Creator.
Manataka Sacred Site
Fernandez further states that NPS has “…no record of
such [sacred site] designation made by a recognized Native American Tribe or
by an appropriately authoritative representative of an Indian religion of
the existence of such a site within the land managed by the National Park
service at Hot Springs National Park…”
Yet, Fernandez also states in the same letter, “…In
the past you have asserted a special religious relation between the land
managed by Hot Springs National Park and your organization and/or members. What?
Is this bureaucrat double speak?
From one side she says the government has “no record”
and from the other side she says we have a “special religious relation”.
The federal government is in possession of records
which clearly show that many American Indian nations prior to the invasions and
subsequent subjugations designated the area now know as Hot Springs National
Park as sacred grounds. The federal
government is aware of the many old American Indian stories about this area. And, moreover local government bureaucrats
are knowledgeable of dozens of highly recognized American Indian religious
leaders and spiritual elders who regularly visit ‘Manataka’
to perform ceremonies and seek spiritual guidance.
Therefore, Fernandez’s statement and the government’s
feigned ignorance of history and the present is an indication of its strong
desire to manipulate government resources to suit the biased opinions of a few
bureaucrats. The motivation for this
obvious exploitation of American Indian religious freedoms and rights was
quietly buried many years ago for fear that the indigenous nations would one
day reclaim their most sacred place – The Place of Peace.
A ‘suggestion’ to move our religious ceremonies to
another location off Manataka grounds by previous
park superintendents and repeated by Fernandez during our meeting is not
reasonable or practical. The only other
places the event could take place is on the mountain itself or in the middle of
downtown
Appeal
It is our opinion that continual ‘suggestions’ by NPS
superintendents over the years to move our religious activities elsewhere has
permeated down through NPS ranks and has become accepted unofficial ‘policy’
and as a result, some employees have been overzealous in their efforts to
enforce campground rules.
Truth of the government’s motivation behind the
denial of a permit to allow American Indians to gather again will become
obvious to the world in time. The louder
they become in their denial, the louder the wind will bring truth.
The funny thing about the fears of local bureaucrats
is that not a single American Indian tribe ever ‘claimed’ these sacred grounds
(with the possible exception of the Western Cherokee). A person or people may occupy the land or
worship on the land, but we never have dominion over the land or its
inhabitants. Therefore, there will never
be an effort to ‘reclaim’ these sacred grounds of Manataka
for the sake of control. Ownership
belongs only to the Creator.
Federal laws and executive orders are specific about
governmental entities’ treatment of sites that are considered sacred by tribes
and interested Native Americans, whether recognized or not; in fact, it is
specifically directed that governmental agencies work with local groups to
preserve sites, remove impediments to practicing ceremonies and not restrict
access by Native Americans.
All we wish to do is go to the Sacred Manataka, perform our ceremonies of thanksgiving to the
Creator and pray.
Will you help us? Will you allow us to do this please?
SEE RELATED ARTICLES:
American Indian Sacred Sites and the Dept. of Defense
American Indian Sacred Sites and the Dept. of Interior
SAMPLE LETTER
From the desk of:
John J. Jacobs
Anywhere,
MAIC
TO
WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I
am John J. Jacobs, an enrolled member of the Beothunk
Nation and Spiritual Elder of my tribe.
I am also a member of the Native American Indian Church and the National
Chaplin’s Association. I was given
training by the Cheltal elders of our people.
It
is with honor and respect that we say Manataka (
This letter may be copied and distributed as needed.
Respectfully,
John J. Jacobs
1. Be familiar with the issue. Read the full text above
2. Go to the ‘Example Letter’ above
The format of your letter should follow the general outline shown.
3. Please include the following elements in your letter:
o Full Name and Address
o Religious or Tribal Credentials
o Short Statement
o Permission to Distribute
o Signature
4. Please send as soon as possible to:
Manataka American Indian Council
Post Office Box 476
Questions: 501-627-0555 EMAIL
We are most grateful for your prayers, time and energy in helping Manataka!
We
are not asking for donations.
Can you get more than one letter?
Please.
Have a wonderful day!