President Johnson's March 6, 1968 statement to Congress speaks to the unmet need for Indian self-determination. It is a fitting preamble for the national legislation the NAC seeks.

... the Federal government can best be a responsible
partner in Indian progress by treating the Indian
himself as a full citizen, responsible for the pace and
direction of his development. But there can be no
question that the government and the people of the United
States have a responsibility to the Indians. In our
efforts to meet that responsibility, we must pledge to
respect fully the dignity and the uniqueness of the
Indian citizen.

That means partnership--not paternalism.

We must affirm the right of the first Americans to remain
Indians while exercising their rights as Americans.

We must affirm their right to freedom of choice and self-
determination.

... And we must assure the Indian people that it is our desire and intention that the special relationship between the Indian and his government grow and flourish. For the first among us must not be last (Prucha 1990: 249). The NAC urges all Americans to join us in asking Congress to honor its trust responsibility with first Americans, and simultaneously fulfill our First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty for citizens of all creeds and cultures. The national legislation we propose is imperative to establish First Americans as fully American.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aberle, D.F. The Peyote Religion Among the Navajo. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co., 1966.

Anderson, Edward F. Peyote: The Divine Cactus. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1980.

Dorrance, David L.; Janiger, Oscar; and Teplitz, Raymond L. "Effect of Peyote on Human Chromosomes." Journal of the American Medical Association 234 (1975): 299-302.

Fikes, Jay C. Huichol Indian Identity and Adaptation. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms, 1985.

Fikes, Jay C. Carlos Castaneda, Academic Opportunism, and the Psychedelic Sixties. Lanham, MD: Madison Books, 1992.

Franklin, Virgil. "An Overview of the Native American Church from its Inception To The Present Date." Essay reprinted from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Bulletin. Distributed on March 9, 1991 to the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs.

LaBarre, Weston. The Peyote Cult. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1989.

Prucha, Francis P. Documents of United States Indian Policy.

Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990.

Slotkin, J.S. The Peyote Religion: A Study in Indian-White Relations. Glencoe, IL.: Free Press, 1956.

Stafford, Peter. Psychedelics Encyclopedia.
Tarcher, 1983.

Los Angeles: J.P.

Steinmetz, P.B. Pipe, Bible, and Peyote Among the Oglala Lakota.

Knoxville, TN.: University of Tennessee Press, 1990.

Stewart, Omer C. Peyote Religion: A History. Norman, OK.: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NACNA does hereby endorse
and fully support the efforts of the Native
American Church of Navajoland to seek the under
standing and support of the National Conference
of State Legislatures in an effort to secure

Federal legislation to protect our Native
American Church by amending the American Indian
Religious Freedom Act for the purpose of protecting
our sacramental use of Peyote in our bonafide
religious services and ceremonies.

CERTIFICATION

I, the undersigned, certify that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by an affirmative vote of 10 for, O against, and O_abstaining, by the duly called Special Sumdt Conference and Officers Meeting held on August 3, 1991. at Winnebago, Nebraska.

ATTEST:

Hope B. Smith

Hope B. Sdth, Secretary

Native American of North America

Dougla. Long, President
Native American Church

Resolution of the

Native American Church of North America

Resolution # 1

Whereas, in the recent Oregon V. Smith decision the U.S. Supreme court continued its attack of Native Americans right to freedom of religion under the First Amendment, in a ruling that has chilling implications for all religions

Whereas, The Rehnquist Court for lack of spiritual enlightenment withdrew constitutional protection for the sacramental use of the divine herb, Peyote in the Native American Church

Whereas, The court ruled that the Constitution does not exempt any religious practices from state laws that don't single out a particular religion or practice for regulation

Whereas, this ruling could eventually affect mainline faiths, it is now an immediate threat to the Native American Church and other minority faiths

Whereas, the Native American Church is a Christian church that uses the divine herb, Peyote, as a sacrament in the same way that other churches use bread and wine

Now therefore be it resolved that the Native American Church establishes the Native American Religious Freedom Project to work to alert, educate and organize religious and moral leaders, and the media in this country, around this clear and present threat to the very existence of the Native American Church, and to basic religious freedom for all.

Be it further resolved that the Native American Church actively solicits the endorsement and the support of all national and international religious, human and civil rights organizations to assist in this process.

Be it finally resolved that the Native American Church emphatically asserts that the American public must expand its awareness of the positive and beneficial uses of the sacrament Peyote among Native American Church Members, and enact laws which reflect that expanded awareness.

Certification

This Resolution is approved by a vote of 17 for and against at a duly called meeting held on May 11, 1990 at the Denver Indian Center in Denver, Colorado with two Executive officers, six Delegates-at-large and thirteen chapters officially represented.

Signed

wetter Biss..

Jeanette Rice,

Recording Secretary

We, members of the Native American Church of Navajoland, Inc. contend that our human rights shall be guaranteed and protected by the Bill of Rights through the United States Constitution.

The Native American Church of Navajoland, Inc. further contend the use of such items as the sacrament 'peyote', eagle feathers, sissortails, feathers of other spirtual birds and sacred objects necessary to the survival and preservation of Navajo religion and culture.

We believe, our sacrament peyote as being an integral part of the Navajo culture which is protected by P.L. 95-341, 92 Stat. 469 (American Indian Religious Freedom Act); P.L. 91-513 (Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention & Control Act of 1970); Texas Controlled Substance Act of 1983 and Title 17, Section 394 (c) of the Navajo Tribal Code.

It is to no surprise that we, the Indian people still maintain a rich heritage, culture, language and tradition in our everyday lives. Our belief in religion has linked us to tie these richness together to firmley believe in our religious ceremonies. It is for this purpose that our use of the sacrament peyote has become an integral part of our traditional religions.

The Native American Church of Navajoland, Inc. have shared their legends of the, "Fifth Sacred Herb" known as the sacrament peyote. We have shared this legend with the honorable Chief Justice of the United States, William Rehnquist in March, 1990. It is our hope that we will bring a better world of understanding to others including the federal government to know and trust in our belief of the sacrament peyote as a bona fide religious ceremony.