tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544799987499995638.post8199869007702076942..comments2023-05-12T03:00:57.208-07:00Comments on Singing to the Plants: Who is an Indian?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544799987499995638.post-63239336050412340392009-04-07T03:10:00.000-07:002009-04-07T03:10:00.000-07:00I do not know much about James Mooney. He apparent...I do not know much about James Mooney. He apparently claims to be a member of the Oklevueha Band of Yamassee Seminole Indians; federal authorities claim that his membership card was fraudulently obtained, and that the Band requested he return it. As far as I know, the Oklevueha Band is not a federally recognized tribe — that is, one of the 562 entities officially recognized by and eligible to receive services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. <BR/><BR/>In 2004, the Supreme Court of Utah, where Mooney is domiciled, unanimously held that, under Utah law, the religious exemption for the use of peyote by bona fide members of the Native American church extended to church members who were not members of a federally recognized tribe. <BR/><BR/>Federal authorities say that is not the case under federal law. In 2006, the Utah legislature passed a bill that limits the religious exemption for peyote use to members of federally recognized tribes. In the same year, Mooney agreed to stop using peyote in his ceremonies in return for the dropping of the federal indictments then pending against him and his wife. <BR/><BR/>I do not know whether James Mooney is preserving or diluting an embattled culture. I have never spoken with him or attended one of his ceremonies. I have no idea what is in his heart. I would suggest that you write him and ask him.<BR/><BR/>I think there is a deeper issue here, in exactly the same way there are deeper ethical and constitutional issues underlying the question of <A HREF="http://singingtotheplants.blogspot.com/2009/03/eagle-feathers.html" REL="nofollow">eagle feathers</A>. There are good reasons to try to curtail the appropriation of indigenous ceremonies by outsiders to the tradition. And, under both the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, there is every reason to accommodate Native American religious use of peyote. At the same time, there are legitimate questions raised by restricting that accommodation to a group defined first in racial terms and then by a quintessentially <EM>political</EM> act of regulatory legitimation.Steve Beyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06176285779096780805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544799987499995638.post-6861590154925455792009-04-03T10:03:00.000-07:002009-04-03T10:03:00.000-07:00I have a question about Oklevueha NAC. Is the fou...I have a question about Oklevueha NAC. Is the founder, James Mooney, actually Native American? I realize that this question further fuels the reaction and responses in the aritcle above. Yet I do think the question is still important and relevant. As an Asian Indian, I occasionally do find myself annoyed when I'm corrected on the pronunciation of "namaste" by a yoga instructor, or more to the point, when I come across a distorted/diluted/appropriated version of buddhist/hindu teachings. To quote Daniel Pinchbeck "its easier to tattoo buddhist symbols on you ass than it is to follow the eightfold path". While I'm glad that people are finding things of value in my spiritual heritage that furthers them along their path in life, I'm rankled by the misappropriation of it. If there is truth in it though, I believe it should be shared with all regardless of race/gender/whatever. I just hope that another's culture isn't being appropriated and misrepresented for personal gain. There are a billion Asian Indians on the planet, Native Americans have not fared so well. Therefore, I can understand and appreciate their strong motive to preserve their spiritual heritage against dilution and bastardization. I apologize for rambling. I just want to know if James Mooney is preserving or diluting an embattled culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544799987499995638.post-54231252202071643072009-03-31T12:11:00.000-07:002009-03-31T12:11:00.000-07:00I've recently tried Peyote. I'm not Native Americ...I've recently tried Peyote. I'm not Native American, but Indian-from Asia. Well, actually Chicago, but genetically from the subcontinent. My experience was astounding and terrifying and beautiful. After it was over, I felt a degree of peace and power that I had never felt before. It strikes me as strange that Native Americans would want to keep this amazing cactus away from others. I think I would want my historical oppressors, who continue to wage war around the globe and destroy the planet, to experience that peace and humility that accompanied this experience. It might result in a better world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3544799987499995638.post-64497011898517485962007-12-15T20:03:00.000-08:002007-12-15T20:03:00.000-08:00I like how you got out of that thicket. Few people...I like how you got out of that thicket. Few people are willing to discuss identity and indigenous in the same paragraph. I've worked on the genetics side of it somewhat (see my site <A HREF="http://www.bauuinstitute.com" REL="nofollow">Bauu Institute and Press</A>). There is still a ton of work that needs to be done concerning working out the genetic (biology) and cultural relations.<BR/><BR/>There is a quote similar to the one you referenced in the last sentence by Peter Tosh that states a lot, "I am, that I am, I am."Peter N. Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06754567458187117270noreply@blogger.com