Feather laws (fact and fiction)
This section of this web site is in exercise of our first amendment rights of the U.S. Constitution of the United States of America. This section of this web site is dedicated to the preservation of the religious rights and spiritual and cultural freedoms of the Indigenous Peoples of North America and is provided as a community service, that is clearly needed.
We of Lightning People Productions totally support the appropriate and rational protection of Wildlife and do not advocate or support the breaking of any laws (be it physical or spiritual laws), or the killing of birds or animals for their parts. This kind of behavior and blatant disrespect should be dealt with appropriately and swiftly.
There are a lot of misconceptions about what the feather laws are in Indian Country all over this continent. There is what the actual laws are, then there is what the Feds want Indigenous People to think the laws are by bluffing them out of their rights as an Indigenous Person. The actual laws yield to the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of North America to use Eagle feathers and parts, and other migratory bird feathers and parts as they see fit in accordance to their rights and freedoms and laws as set forth in the beginning of time by the Great Creator. The Feds want to muddle up the clarity of these issues and laws to lure people into entrapment through lack of understanding of their rights as Indigenous Peoples. By the so called "Regulations" and "Laws" of the federal government even a member of a federally recognized tribe under certain circumstances can be prosecuted for eagle feather possession. The reality is the Federal Government of the United States has no jurisdiction over Eagle feathers or other migratory bird feathers if you are an Indigenous Person.
Fact
The actual rights of the Indigenous Peoples of North America are this;
#1 Indigenous People have the right to ceremony and to freely practice their spirituality and culture without "undue burden", or restriction, which includes to have, use, carry, loan, and exchange all migratory bird feathers and parts in accordance to their spiritual and cultural needs as they see fit.
#2 Indigenous People have the LEGAL (and Human) right to find a feather on the ground and keep it, if finding such a thing is a part of their spirituality. This is dealt with by identifying it as a holy object and declaring and claiming it a part of their sacred state, end of discussion with any Fed who wants to shove their nose into the Indigenous person's spiritual, religious and cultural business at that point.
#3 Indigenous People have the right to have spiritual items without having to have "Legal documentation" or numbers on or with them, as this defiles the spiritual value of such items by defacing them either physically or metaphorically, or with having "Legal Documentation." This numbering process was also done to the Jewish People in World War 2, by the same people. This is a bureaucratic, governmental regulatory process and is in direct violation of Indigenous Peoples rights to freely practice their spirituality and culture, and in direct violation of the separation of church and state.
Fiction
NOW Here is the Laws that they want Indigenous people to think are in effect;
#1 It is illegal to possess an Eagle feather if you are not a member of a "Federally recognized tribe*."
#2 It is a federal crime to find a feather in Nature and keep it because it does not have the verification/documentation of where it came from.
#3 Every feather in circulation must be documented and traceable, including family heirlooms.
*This is not true, We have been told by some Feds that State recognized tribal members can carry Eagle feathers (we have federal court documents to prove this as fact) if they are gifted them from a "Federally Recognized Tribal member" who got them from the federal feather repository, if they also give with the feathers a copy of the original permit that came with the feathers and a letter of gift (we suggest you get the letter notarized).
The feds also claim a person has to have a copy of the hunting license to go with any antlers, claws, furs, teeth, bones etc... That may be in a persons possession, for proof that the animal was not poached, in how a person obtained such items. In other words, if a person uses antlers in sweat lodge they have to have a copy of the hunting license that was used in obtaining those antlers ATTACHED to the antlers that are being used!
Nazism is alive and well in the U.S.A. And they call America the land of the free...
Photo Credits
Richard Bartz - Golden Eagle
Wsiegmund - Bald Eagle, One Year Old
Zoo Ostrava - Subadult Golden Eagle
