by Jade Princess

Created on: January 18, 2009

LET NATIVE AMERICANS WORSHIP IN PEACE, IT'S THE LAW! Back in 1975 or 74 the Freedom of Native American Religion Act was passed by congress, giving Native American's the right to openly pracitce thier religiose ceramonies without harassment. Unfortunately most Missionary groups seem to be ignorant of this act or why it was nescessary and continue to overwhelm small villages with unrelenting massive "attacks" both nationally and internationally, ignoring civil and soverieghn rights in the process. Please consider how you feel when the 1ooth telemarketer calls insisting that he has something new for you. Do you really care what he or she has to say? Or are you feeling "harassed" and invaded and your privacy violated? Native people are not so different from the rest of us. Think how your small town would feel if group after group after group did door-to-doors? Many white people live in quiet communities with strict regulations over who can come in, to avoid disruptions. But of course, the polite considerations don't seem to count for Native communities, which smacks of disrespect and racism.

In my community, Catholics don't disrupt protestants on Sunday with leaflets, threats, or confrontations, nor do Baptists confront Catholics or Jews. Such harassment would be considered bad taste. Amazingly when it comes to "Missionary work" often "bad taste" is the norm. Many missionaries have little or no understanding of the civil or soverieghn rights of Native People and assume that just because one church "invited" them that they are really welcome. In many situtations, the Churches present on Native land forced themselves on the people, did atrocities and because the people are not really free to do otherwise are barely tolerated. Most good hearted missionaries have good intentions but are terribly misinformed. The only way you are really "invited" is if the Tribal Council and Headman or Chief extends such an invitation. Previose Churches and groups have entered these places under the duress of the villagers and may not be really welcome. You also may be following the "footsteps" of pedophile pastors and priests, which was RAMPANT in Indian Country. I have traveled all over Canada and the U.S and have heard stories of beatings, starvings, and sexual abuse in about 70-80% of the Native population, which makes this the single greatest coverup of the the20th century. Most whites will say that is all in the distant past or it doesn't include my church, thus denying the widespread

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