Hello!
The purpose of this blog is to document
the trials and tribulations that come with my attempt to understand the world
of feather repositories. One such repository exists in my hometown of
Scottsdale as part of a two year pilot program with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Services. I have been volunteering at Liberty Wildlife for some time and I am
eager to learn more. Liberty Wildlife provides a legal way for registered
Native American tribes to obtain feathers and other parts of migratory birds. A
fascinating and complex topic, a delicate balancing act is required between species
protection acts and the first amendment right to practice one’s own religion.
I
hope to greater understand the history of religious feathers in Native American
culture and their importance today. Additionally, I hope to study the treatment
of protected wildlife and Native American rights in order to analyze the best
way for both parties to be satisfied. I would like to see if this relationship
can work more efficiently and amicably or if this program is the solution that
more states need to implement. I have many theories and quandaries that I hope
to resolve over the next twelve weeks as part of my studies. One initial
hypothesis of mine tentatively wonders whether wildlife educational courses
that places like Liberty Wildlife already offer would help to encourage Native
American support of feather repository programs. Yet, I also would entirely
understand if there was objection purely on principle. As Northern Arapaho leader
Nelson P. White puts it, “How would a non-indian feel if they had to get their
Bible from a repository?”
My
quest to find insight from confusion begins here by providing a blog that
offers trustworthy information in order to better educate myself and anyone
else willing to go on this journey with me from behind their computer screens.
To
be continued…
CG
