Dine' Medicine Men's Association said Arizona legislation could open the door to state control of Native American ceremonies
Statement from Sen. Albert Hale, Navajo, regarding Native American practices bill
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
STATE
CAPITOL, Phoenix – A bill to regulate the use of traditional Native
American practices off of Indian Nation lands will not be heard
Thursday, Feb. 11 by the Senate Committee on Government Institutions at
the request of Sen. Albert Hale, Dist. 2, the sponsor of the bill.
"I
asked to have the bill held at the request of the Diné Medicine Men
Association. After a lengthy discussion with the Association it appears
that they still have significant questions about the bill. I explained
to the Association that the bill intends to direct the Arizona
Department of Health Services, in conjunction with the Arizona
Commission on Indian Affairs, to develop rules to regulate the
off-reservation practice of Native American traditional ceremonies by
non-Indians or others, and did not apply to ceremonial practices on
Indian reservations.
“The state does not have jurisdiction to
regulate or apply its laws on Indian reservations. I further assured
them that an amendment was to be considered to make clarifications. The
amendment would clarify that the bill did not apply to ceremonies
performed by enrolled members of an Indian tribe for another enrolled
member on or off Indian Nation lands.
“The Diné Medicine Men
Association were opposed to the bill in its present form and wanted
further discussion of the bill. I understand and appreciate the fear
that these regulations may open the door to state regulations of Native
American ceremonies. Pursuant to the Association's request, I request
the bill to be held and it was subsequently removed."
Media Contact:
Jeanette Tejeda de Gomez, Director of Communication
Senate Democratic Caucus
602-926-4477, jtejeda@azleg.gov
.
Note
from Censored News: Albert Hale served as Navajo Nation president,
1995--1998, before being forced to resign when faced with criminal
charges. Later, Hale was elected to the Arizona Senate in 2004, while
living in Albuquerque. Hale was born in Klagetoh, Arizona.
Related: News from Pechanga Net
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in Native News > Crime & Justice
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