"the People's Paths!" NAIIP News Path! - Have You Got Your Permit To Pray?

Have You Got Your Permit To Pray?

Guest column by ACP
Apaches for Cultural Preservation
the People's Voice ~ Friday, January 5, 2001

Once again our fundamental beliefs are challenged and offered for public scrutiny in a court of law. On the 30th of August, 1997, one of us, Wendsler Nosie Sr., went to Mt. Graham to prepare for his daughter's upcoming Sunrise ceremony. As he was walking down the mountain he was cited by a University of Arizona (UofA) police officer for Criminal Trespass. The court hearing was scheduled yesterday in Safford, Arizona. A ruling is expected by next week.
Did Wendsler obey the posted signs of no trespass or was he obeying someone greater than any force reckoned with on Earth? The UofA will tell you that he was in a place where he was forbidden to be (trespassing without a permit) and they had to authority to prosecute him accordingly. Prosecutor Perkins argued yesterday, "Did his brain register that he knowingly went there?"
Why should our religious expression need permission from any authority other than God. Do Catholics need a permit to go into the confessional? Did Moses need a permit to retrieve the ten commandments from Mount Sinai?
Yet an Apache Indian needs one to ask for blessings for his family and people.
As Wendsler took the stand, one could see in his face all of us that ever prayed. It could have been anyone of us on trial yesterday. This effects everyone, today and in the future. At present, we have various problems in our government and community, but the greatest issue facing us is our religious freedom, this comes before all else.
Tribal member, Ernest Victor, who attended yesterday's proceedings, stated "The people need to know what's going on, if nothing is said, the State will come and shut you down." That is why we need to come together and make a stand for our God given right to pray. We need solidarity as a people, not to be divided, but to be united. No one has the right to prevent a prayer. No one can fight the power of a prayer.
On behalf of Apaches for Cultural Preservation, our gratitude to Chesley Rogers for his testimony yesterday on cultural issues; Ray Apadoca, for his contribution to the proceedings and for his many years of service to our tribe; Ernest Victor, in his capacity as translator; Dr. Keith Basso, for his taped deposition; and our Defense team, Gil Venable, Jeff Bouma, and William Foreman for their understanding and commitment to the truth. Thank you to the tribal members who attended and to those who have shown their support.
If you have any questions or would like further detail regarding this issue, contact Bradley Allison, Chairperson Apaches for Cultural Preservation, P.O. Box 550, Peridot, Arizona 85542, phone (520) 475-2494.