Indianz.Com > News > Charmaine White Face: Indian inmates continue to fight for their rights
Fighting for Religious Freedom…again
Friday, May 21, 2021
Only forty-three (43) years ago, in 1978, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) was passed in the United States Congress. That’s not that long ago.
Many of us were adults who remember this. The fact that such a Bill had to be written in the first place, and then ultimately passed was astonishing because it exposed the hypocrisy of the United States. The establishment of the United States and the U.S. Constitution were based on Religious Freedom, as long as it was Christianity. That is not Freedom.
So in 1978, after more than 100 years of religious persecution in the middle of North America, AIFRA was passed. Now, American Indians could pray and practice our spiritual beliefs openly. This author was an outlaw prior to 1978, practicing our old spirituality (life philosophy) for years and teaching my children…in secret.
NATIVE SUN NEWS TODAY
Support Native media!
Read the rest of the story on Native Sun News Today: Fighting for Religious Freedom…again
Charmaine White Face (74) is Oglala Tituwan Oceti Sakowin, a great-grandmother, scientist, and writer. She can be reached at cwhiteface@gmail.com
Note: Copyright permission Native Sun News Today
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
Native America Calling: One fan’s vision to share his collection of Native music
Native America Calling: Confronting persistent racism in North Dakota high school sports
Native America Calling: Successful strategies to reduce bullying
KUNC: Gila River Indian Community charts own course when it comes to water supply
AUDIO: Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe / Becerra v. Northern Arapaho Tribe
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation fights for clean water in Oklahoma
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Native America Calling: Remembering Seward from the Alaska Native perspective
Native America Calling: The Exxon Valdez oil spill
Native America Calling: Western tribes weigh in on Colorado River water sharing
Native America Calling: Native hoops highlights
Native America Calling: Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa
Cronkite News: Congress takes up ban on popular TikTok app
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation focuses on needs of our children
More Headlines
Native America Calling: Confronting persistent racism in North Dakota high school sports
Native America Calling: Successful strategies to reduce bullying
KUNC: Gila River Indian Community charts own course when it comes to water supply
AUDIO: Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe / Becerra v. Northern Arapaho Tribe
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation fights for clean water in Oklahoma
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Native America Calling: Remembering Seward from the Alaska Native perspective
Native America Calling: The Exxon Valdez oil spill
Native America Calling: Western tribes weigh in on Colorado River water sharing
Native America Calling: Native hoops highlights
Native America Calling: Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa
Cronkite News: Congress takes up ban on popular TikTok app
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation focuses on needs of our children
More Headlines