Eagle feathers confiscated

Thursday, March 30, 2006 Updated: 03:16 PM

Local Native American tribes upset

McALLEN – Native Americans see golden eagle feathers as a gift from the spirits but some have been confiscated by federal agents.

An agent for U.S. Fish and Wildlife went undercover at a local pow-wow, working to expose the illegal use of eagle feathers.

Federal agents say it is against the law for people to have the feathers unless they are a member of certain tribes. The agent who confiscated the feathers said, “It is a serious thing. The government has me here to investigate. These are protected animals. They are protected under state and federal laws.”

Native Americans say the feathers are considered a gift from God. Roberto Soto is a Lipan-Apache Indian. The agent took feathers that have been in his family for generations.

“It would be like someone telling me I can't worship god; like someone taking the bible and saying it's illegal; like I can't pray, or carry a cross,” Soto said. “In many ways, we've been stripped of who we are as native people.”

Only members of federally recognized tribes are allowed to use the feathers. There is only a handful of recognized tribes in the state, and none in the Valley.

Soto said, “I might never see the day of our tribe being recognized. There's a lot of paperwork, a lot we have to prove.”

Until their tribes are recognized, the feathers are off-limits. Native Indians say that means they will be having their pow-wows in secret.

Link to Report

Robert Soto Statement Regarding Confiscation of Eagle Feathers by Federal Agent

Related Reports

Death of an Eagle

Access to Eagles and Eagle Parts Report

Federal Eagle Feather Permits for Religious Uses

Special thanks to Glenda Deer for the lead on this report.

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April 2006 Reports

Last updated on April 1, 2006