To Whom It May Concern:
We are writing to your organization asking for written support in regard to
Freedom of Religion for Native Americans. Please take a few moments to read
this letter concerning our cause. We feel it is essential to reach as many
sensitive people as possible, in order to provide proof of public support
for this issue.
Fourteen years ago, ANPO Inc. ( Anpo meaning daybreak or a new day, in
Lakota) was issued a special use permit for a Spiritual and Cultural
encampment of approximately 20 acres by the U.S. Forest Service on ceded
Tribal land, in the Mt. Hood National Forest in North Central Oregon. The
area was chosen by a Lakota Spiritual leader and acknowledged by the
Traditional Elders of the area as a sacred site.
The encampment was founded to provide Native people, from Oregon, Washington
and Idaho, with a deeper understanding and relationship to their cultural
and spiritual values, and a chance for many urban Indians to participate in
cultural and spiritual practices, never before experienced. This camp has
helped many people who struggle with personal pain and hardships. Each year
over 500 people, many traveling great distances, come to pray and
participate in cermonies and gatherings at this sacred site. Our youth are
especially vulnerable to negative influences and pressures. Within the
camp, they find solidarity, guidance and strength, which gives many of them
the ability to resist alcohol and drugs.
In 1982 permission and guidance was given by Frank Fools Crow to Devere
Eastman to bring the sacred Sun Dance Ceremony to Mt. Hood. Permission and
prayers were also given by the traditional Elders of this area. Many other
sacred ceremonies and teachings are also practiced during the year. Our
camp is considered our church. The ground is seen as sacred, and the trees
are considered our spirit relatives. Many prayers have been said, and
placed in the trees and in the earth at this special site.
We now find our camp threatened by logging, archeological digs, and roads.
Over the last few years, the relationship we have had with the Forest
Service has deteriorated. We also find ourselves increasingly frustrated,
dealing with more restrictions and required paper work than ever before!
What once was a friendly interaction, has turned into a conflict due to the
fact the Forest Service plans to selectively log our camp. The road they
propose to use in removing the trees within, and beyond, the camp area will
take logging trucks within 30 feet of our Sacred Sun Dance Arbor. We have
asked them to find an alternate route for these trucks, since it is
unacceptable to drive them through our ceremonial grounds. As of this date
we have not been notified of an alternate road for these trucks. Last
summer several holes were dug throughout the camp in relation to an
archeological study needing to be done, so we were told. Our board of
directors was sent a letter from the Forest Service that we would be
notified and could be present at the time of the dig, yet we were never
contacted with this information and the digs happened without our approval
or supervision. The holes measured 1 meter x 1 meter x 1 meter. One was
dug at the most sensitive and sacred area within the camp! All were left
open, showing even further disrespect and creating a potential hazard. We
filed for disclosure of information regarding the digs, but were denied any
information on what was or was not found.
The trees marked for cutting are small trees, and will go to make paper
products. We have tried many times to explain to the Forest Service how
sacred the camp is to us, and asked them to look at trading one area for
another, since it is such a small piece of land. They tell us this is not
likely to happen, but it is also not impossible. The timber company doesn't
care what trees it cuts. They have told us they are sensitive to our needs,
but it is up to the Forest Service to propose the trade. The District
Ranger of the Forest Service wrote us stating "this permitted area is not a
"spiritual site" and cannot be treated as such".
The camp sits more than half a mile from the main road. There are so many
trees that have been cut from a previous timber sale coming into the camp
area, that traffic from the road is now heard. Huge slash piles, with a
great deal of usable wood are slated to be burned soon. We are told we
cannot have this wood, which we could find many uses for.
We stand on our right to Freedom of Religion and preservation of our sacred
site. Some things in life are non-negotiable, and we believe with all our
hearts that we cannot compromise the integrity of our Ceremonial Grounds,
without compromising our spiritual selves. This is OUR church! It is not
okay to dig it up, cut down the trees or bring logging trucks through our
ceremonial areas. It is very hard to be told we must arrange for special
permits and then pay the going price for things we gather on ceded Indian
land, in order to hold our ceremonies.
Because our organization is made up of many different tribal affiliations,
and not just one tribe, the Forest Service refuses to recognize us as a
community of Native people who have the right to claim our encampment as a
sacred and spiritual site. Why does the Forest Service have the right to
tell us our area is not a spiritual site? The Creator, our Elders, our
hearts, and our prayers tell us it is. ANPO is supported by private
donations and small grants, we do not have money to spend fighting this
battle in court. We ask that your organization support us in writing which
will help build a stronger case in regard to our rights. Please write in
support of our camp remaining intact and free from the desecration and
destruction it is facing. Your letter of support as soon as possible is of
utmost importance, since the Forest Service is looking at mid August or
September of this year to begin logging. Please send your responses to the
address listed below.
Thank you for your concern,
_________________________
Patricia M. Jordan
ANPO legal committee
1603 9th Ave. #3
Lewiston, ID 83501