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Wednesday, June 18, 2003Ashland News Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:04:42 -0700 Ashland, Oregon Monday, June 9, 2003 Unauthorized Sun Dance Ceremonies Draw Anger of Tribal Leader A tribal leader of the Northern Cheyenne is speaking out against what he says are unauthorized sun dance ceremonies, including an event involving eagle feathers and peyote that took place last week near Williams. Bernard Red Cherries, sun dance priest for the Northern Cheyenne of Montana, says about 300 ceremonies like the one near Williams are being conducted this year around the country by non-Indians, new age adherents and American Indians who do not have ceremonial authority. The illegitimate rituals, he says, are desecrating the sacred traditions of seven Plains tribes including his own. "We are the only sun dance nations," said Red Cherries, who visited Southern Oregon last week to spread his message. "These other groups need to understand that they don't have a ceremonial right to do this." Red Cherries said the sun dance was given to the tribes by the Creator and is used as an annual renewal ceremony involving specific songs and an ancient language not known by non-Indians or members of other tribes. Red Cherries visited the site of last week's sun dance. He said that he told attendees of his concerns, but that they weren't respected. "The message shot over their head," he said. "They know they are doing wrong and thought that we were there to shut them down." Among other things, Red Cherries said the group taking part in the Williams sun dance ate food, drank water, and took breaks. He said that in traditional ceremonies handled by Plains tribes, members go without food and water for four days as part of the renewal process. The Williams sun dance went from Monday through Thursday with a peyote ceremony on Friday. Peyote is part of the mescal plant, a cactus that has hallucinogenic effects when ingested. Red Cherries told a state Fish and Wildlife trooper that he believes the group was illegally using eagle feathers as part of the ceremony. Eagles are sacred to some tribes, and possession of feathers is illegal except for American Indians who obtain permits to have them for religious purposes The man who allegedly organized the Williams sun dance was not available by phone on Thursday, Friday or Monday. Last October, Red Cherries and leaders of the Northern and Southern Arapaho and Southern Cheyenne nations signed a declaration requesting federal protection of their sun dances and other "sacred healing ceremonies" now being conducted by outsiders. The declaration, which is being sent to President Bush, asks that the request be granted by amending the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978. Red Cherries hopes the government holds consultation with Plains tribes' spiritual leaders and asks how their own their ceremonies can be protected. He calls Oregon "a hub of new age activity" and said people who "want to play medicine man for the weekend" have planned two more sun dances this summer in the Rogue Valley. "We're not being stingy with our ways," Red Cherries said. "We just don't want people going out and abusing our ways." Reach reporter Jack Moran at 474-3723 or jmoran@thedailycourier.com posted by Webmaster@ AIM Support 5:59 PM Last updated:
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