Native Americans have deep, rich sprirituality Published Nov. 5, 2010 By Albert Garlick 60th Security Forces Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- I was honored when I was asked to do a reading at the Travis AFB National Prayer Luncheon recently this year. Unlike many faiths, Native Americans do not have a Bible or similar written teachings. Most of our teachings are oral in nature and many of these teachings are very similar to those in Christianity. I often forward some elder meditations sent to me from a Native American support group, the White Bison. The meditations are three part; quotations made by prominent elders from the various tribes followed by an explanation to get you thinking, and then a short daily prayer. Even though I don't like speaking in front of an audience, I believe it went rather well. A couple hours later I ran into a couple of gentlemen who attended the luncheon. One shook my hand and said, thank you for speaking. The other obviously had no clue when he stated he didn't know Native Americans had a religion. I had to chuckle and then began educating the gentleman about our religion, the Red Road. This, as well as a push from a friend, led me to this writing. Why don't a lot of people know that Native Americans practice their religious ceremonies? Why is it so difficult to find a lodge? Sadly, the history of U.S. policy toward the religious practices of Native Americans contrasts sharply with the image of the U.S. as a refuge from religious persecution and domination. Beginning in the early 19th century, the federal government supported the "civilization" and "Christian education" of Native Americans. Congress financially supported mission activities, including 200 mission schools (boarding schools) which prohibited students from practicing their traditional religions. Children were taken from their families, from their reservations and sent to these boarding schools where they were forbidden to practiced their ceremonies or speak their language. The Dawes Act of 1887 prohibited Native American religious ceremonies and the practices of traditional religious leaders. From 1887 to 1978, Native American religious ceremonies were practiced in secrecy. Many who were caught practicing their religion were prosecuted and sent to jail. The U.S. government forcibly dislocated Native Americans from their religious, tribal and cultural identities. Following this oppressive period, Native Americans continued to suffer serious violations against their freedom to religious practice and expression. In 1978, a congressional report found that state and federal laws continued to hamper and interfere with Native American religious practices. Later that year, the U.S. Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, ending a dark era of American history. This was less than a year prior to my high school graduation. The law underscored and extended the basic constitutional principle of freedom of religion to Native Americans. AIRFA "protects and preserves the inherent right of freedom of belief, expression and exercise of traditional religions...including but not limited to access to sites, use and possession or sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional rites." The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 were enacted by the U.S. Congress in 2000, in an effort to correct the constitutionally objectionable problems of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Bottom line: Federal institutes that had on site churches were required to give Native Americans an area to build a sweat lodge. Fortunately for me, after several years at Travis, I found an elder to guide me who was a spiritual leader at the local prison. I became a volunteer at the prison and now conduct ceremonies on the weekends. Between the two prisons near Travis, there are five sweat lodges where purification ceremonies are conducted twice a week. In most cases, ceremonies at home are conducted on an average of once a week or as needed if a person is in mourning or preparing for various ceremonies such as the sundance or vision quests. Ceremonies are also conducted for people leaving to go to war or returning from war to ensure they are cleansed. Unfortunately, Team Travis Native Americans that deploy need to return home before and after deployment to attend their purification ceremony. The Red Road is sometimes a difficult one as we are unable to pick up a phone and call the local congregation. Two recent examples come to mind. An Airman assigned to Team Travis had to travel six to eight hours to attend the closest Purification Ceremony that she could find. Obviously, this could not be done as often as she would have liked had there been accommodations on or near Travis. Fortunately, she had attended a Native school and became acquainted with many California Natives so she at least had those contacts. The other were two Army Soldiers who were getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan and needed a purification ceremony before they left. Without the contacts or knowledge of the area, they were forced to find an area where they could build their own lodge and run their own ceremony. Luckily, the post was rather large and the ceremony was not interrupted. Some day it is my dream to open a sweat lodge for purification ceremonies for Team Travis and Native Americans assigned or transiting through.