This is a sticky one. The requirement are found in the Code of
Federal Regulations -I can't recall the exact cite. But the gist is that
you must prove that you are :
1) A enrolled Indian of a Federally recognised tribe
2) That you need the feather/part for a religious purpose
3) That you are recognized as being able to participate in
that religious ceremony
To my knowledge the BIA and the Fish & Wildlife do not have a form
for this, rather many tribes have their own form with a buch of signatures
blocks. The form requires that you fill out all kinds of Id infor and the
part or feather(s) you require and how you intend to use them. The their
is a place for your tribal official to sign that says you are a tribal
member. Then a place for the BIA guy to sign that says the tribe is fed
recognised. Then a place for a religious leader to sign stating that you
need the feather forthe purpose you state and that you are entitled to use
it for that purpose. Then there is a federal form that your send it to
the Fish&Wildlife folks. There may be more to this I can't remember. It
has been so long.
Anyway this wierd process is the reason why most Indians just
aquire feathers as needed from other family memebers and Medicine Men who
aquire the feathers through a number of means. I can tell you that there
is a federal freezer in Boise Id with hundreds if not thousands of Eagles
that could and should be in the hands of Indian People, but the process is
such a pain. Eagles are really not threatened at this point, and the
Federal Gov should (IMHO) make it easy for Indian People to access the
feathers and body parts. Clinton said he would do so, he signed some form
of exec order, but I don't see things as any better.
Sorry about the rambling diatribe, but I just finished sewing my
old fan back together -- I need a new wing, but it ain't worth the problem
of the Fed Gov and I have not got the time to wait.
regards
Jay
Cecala Ptehincalaska -Calf
-------------------