Smoke-Free initiative vs. Sacred smoke

[blackcrowheart]

Initiative 901, the Smoke-Free initiative, was approved by voters and
enacted on December 8, 2005. As a consequence of the definition of
'smoke
or smoking' and 'public', it is now illegal to smudge or use the sacred
pipe
in a location defined as 'public'. It will affect ceremonies (such as
weddings and funerals) held in rental spaces, restaurants, granges,
community centers, funeral homes, etc off reservation lands. It will
particularly impact indoor powwows held at schools, universities,
Daybreak
Star, Seattle piers, etc. First offense is a warning and then $100
fine
for both the person smudging/doing a pipe ceremony and for the owner of
the
facility. The greatest concern is not the fine, but the denial of
access or
use of a facility, and as importantly, our cultural and spiritual
activities
are now illegal outside of a reservation or our homes.

In response to these issues, both the Washington State Senate and House
of
Representatives is considering amendments to the law. Senate Bill 6213
has
been scheduled for public hearing by the Senate Labor, Commerce,
Research
and Development Committee on Tuesday, January 24th, 10:00 am, in Hearing
Room 4, Cherberg Building. House Bill 2652 has been assigned to the
House
Health Committee and a public hearing has not yet been scheduled.

If you are a Washington State resident, please call or email Jeanne
Kohl-Welles, Chair,Senate Labor, Commerce, Research and Development
Committee to urge support for SB 6213 (contact information below). Sen.
Kohl-Welles is also a sponsor for our bill, so also please thank her for
her
efforts on our behalf. Please also leave a message for your district
legislators at the toll-free number below, asking for support for the
Senate
and House bills.

Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Chair, Senate Labor, Commerce, Research &
Development
Committee
Email: [e-mail]

Toll-Free Legislative Hotline: [phone]

Link to Senate Summary of the Bill:
www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/6213.SBR.pdf


Link on How to Find Your Legislator:
apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

In addition, the hearing is open to the public and if you are available,
please consider attending the public hearing. There will be sign-up
sheets
outside the hearing room where you can sign in to express your support
for
passage of the religious exemption to the smoke-free law. Due to time
constraints, there can only be a limited number of people testifying and
that number has already been reached. However, we DO need support in
the
gallery and that can be done by attending the hearing and signing in
showing
support or by leaving a voice mail or email for the committee chair.

If you have questions, please email me at [e-mail].

Storm Reyes