American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978
Public Law 95-341 - August 11, 1978 -- 92 Stat. 469
95th Congress * Joint Resolution
American Indian Religious Freedom
Aug. 11, 1978 [S.J. Res. 102]
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That henceforth it shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent fight of freedom to believe, express and exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including but not limited to access to sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional rites.
American Indian Religious Freedom. 42 USC 1996.
MTBW Note:
Until this law was passed in 1978, it was illegal for Native American Indians to exercise their spiritual beliefs, traditions and ceremonies. The First People of this land, had to conduct their spiritual beliefs with the fear of facing arrest and imprisonment. In this country. One nation "under God," but for Native American Indians, they were denied that right and freedom as a means to further the act of genocide of this nation's original and first inhabitants.
It is ironic that the newcomers to this land came from Europe to escape religious persecution and to be able to live free, yet the same newcomers and their descendants denied this Sacred Right to the native peoples of North America.
Teach your children the truth.
Read the 1994 Amendment to this Law
1994 Amendment to Law
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Last updated on March 25, 2006
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