EAGLE PERMIT APPLICATION DRIVE

[blackcrowheart]

I am supporting this great cause regarding eagle feathers, will you??

Posted by: "Amisa Yellowbird" [e-mail] ayellowbird2
Sun Sep 3, 2006 12:12 pm (PST)

I hope this post is o.k. for our list here. I am so concerned about
what has been done to so many Indian people regarding possession of
eagle feathers. We are being discriminated against and our civil
liberties are being violated. So are our first amendment rights.

Please take a few minutes to go to read this material and go to
their site to see what this lawyer is doing to right this wrong. I
would suggest that you look at everything on that site. I have been
in contact with them and they are working hard on this important
issue. I hope you will support them.

There is also a place to download pamphlets and other info to
distribute. If I lived back home, I would set up a booth to put this
info to the public if that booth is allowed. Otherwise, I will pass
along this info to all lists and to all people I can.

Thank you,

Amisa

Here is the info, and I hope it all copies here:

Link:
www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw/eagle.feather.application.ht
ml

Link to download pamphlets and other material to be handed out:
www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw/downloads.eagle.html

EAGLE PERMIT APPLICATION DRIVE

In our efforts to defend the religious freedom and racial equality
of those affected by federal wildlife laws, RFR is launching an
Application Drive to encourage everyone to apply for a federal eagle
permit.

While we don't expect the USFWS to approve applications for those
who are not enrolled members of federally-recognized tribes,
completing the application is an important step towards religious
freedom and equality:

- STAND AND BE COUNTED: Completing the application gives officials
an idea how many people are adversely affected by the law;

- SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF: Completing the application tells officials
that you care about religious freedom--even if your race or ability
to prove your race are not on the "approved list";

- CHALLENGE RELIGIOUS & RACIAL PREJUDICE: Should you ever have your
feathers confiscated and want to defend your rights, sending in your
application gives you a legal right to challenge the confiscation of
your feathers and the disruption of your cultural and spiritual
life;

- DEFEND YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS: Sending in your application gives you
the legal right, should it be denied, to challenge the application
process and the laws upholding it--giving you legal right to have
your voice, opinion and experiences be heard;

- STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: Sending in your application allows you to
join with others across the country who have had their applications
rejected--allowing us to file a joint lawsuit to defend our civil
rights, religious freedom, and legally challenge 50 CFR 22 and the
eagle feather permit application and process;

- IT'S THE LAW: Even if you are not a member of a federally-
recognized tribe, for whatever reason, even if you are told your
application will be rejected or you will not be allowed to complete
an application, federal law requires everyone to complete an
application for eagle feathers. Completing the application is a
necessary first step for everyone and provides record that you are a
law-abiding citizen--even if your rights are not being protected.
The application is quick to complete and is available online at:
www.fws.gov/permits/forms/eaglereligious.pdf

APPLICATION SUGGESTIONS:

- Be sure your application is complete, clearly legible, with up to
date contact information;

- Keep clear copies of all materials you send to the USFWS and
maintain records of all communications you receive regarding your
application;

- So that applications are not rejected due to being "incomplete,"
having "incorrect information", or being "improperly completed,"
please be sure to correctly fill-in all and only those sections to
be completed by the applicant. If you are not a member of a tribe or
are not genetically Native American (e.g. you were adopted into a
Native family), you might make a note of this in an attached letter
to be enclosed with your application (there is no part of the form
that allows this information to be included otherwise);

- Should your application be returned to you as "incomplete" (for
example, if you are unable to have a tribal official fill-in
the "Certification of Enrollment" page of the application because
you are not a member of a federally-recognized tribe), please verify
that all the information you are able to provide has been provided--
and attach a note (such as from a sticky-pad) explaining your
cultural/religious identification, the necessity of feathers in your
religious practice, that you are a follower of Native American
spirituality/lifestyle;

- If possible, have tribal members and religious/spiritual leaders
write a letter of support for your application. This provides
tangible evidence to government officials that the law harms the
practice and protection of bona fide Native American
cultural/religious customs.

From their home page:
NEXT STEPS:
If you are not a member of a federally-recognized tribe you will
likely receive a letter from the USFWS stating that your
application, or a portion of it, are being returned to you (most
likely for the "Certification of Enrollment" portion of the
application being "incomplete", if you're not able to provide this
information or have a tribal official complete it for you). Federal
law allows you forty five days to return the application with new
information. Should you wish or be able to provide additional
supporting materials, please do so.
If your application is rejected, please let us know your background
and the details of your application and the rejection. Please let us
know if you'd like to defend your rights and challenge the decision,
or even if you just have some questions or comments about the
application or the application drive. We can be reached via email at
[e-mail]
If your application is approved, please let us know your background
and the details of your application.

Do you believe in freedom?

Eagle feathers are like the Bible, rosary, or crucifix to many
Native Americans. Laws governing the use of eagle feathers serve to
ban religious freedom on the basis of skin color & certifiable
ethnicity --harming traditional indigenous values & practices in the
process...
(read more)
About Our Work
& How You Can Help
RFR's letter campaign, petition to congress, public and
organizational outreach and more. Read more about RFR's activities
(here)

Latest News

RFR launches Application Drive.
(read more)
Native American in Texas has eagle feathers confiscated!
(read article) (watch video)
Bald eagle recovery stimulates reopening of public comment period to
remove bald eagle from Threatened Species list. (read article)
(requires Adobe)
Heard something new? Tell RFR!

History, Culture, Religion, and "Race"
The definition and centrality of "race" has varied widely over the
course of colonial and American history�reflecting shifting
political priorities and the evolution of public sentiment...
(read more)

Critical Minds
A number of critics bring up important issues that deserve
consideration in changing federal wildlife laws. Here we examine
those arguments...
(read more)



Online Community
Join online discussions about religious freedom, racial equality,
and changing eagle feather laws.
(click here)
Talk to us!

We want to know how eagle feather laws affect you personally.
(click here)
The Human Face of Eagle Laws
Read personal accounts of how eagle feather laws have affected
people across the country.
(click here)
Ever wonder what a government sanctioned racist attack on religious
freedom looks like? Click (here)
(Note the logo at bottom?)
Petition
Since March 15, 2006 the RFR Petition has been signed by people in
22 states enrolled/affiliated with 20 tribes in the United States
and Canada. Thank you! (Full list here)

Supporters
RFR would like to express its appreciation for the support of these
individuals and countless others as we work towards racial equality
and religious freedom.
(click here)

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