Eastern Shoshone Tribal leaders on Friday voiced agreement with a directive of the Northern Arapaho Business Council that outsiders can’t conduct “recurring ministries” on the reservation without authorization.
The Eastern Shoshone Tribe’s statement follows more than three weeks of bitter controversy over a pastor who condemned some Sundance rituals as idolatry.
Foundations For Nations Pastor Sarah Lucas delivered that message July 5 in the church, which sits on private land within the Wind River Indian Reservation’s exterior boundaries.
She had preached that “a pipe cannot hear your prayers” and “we know that Jesus is enough,” to a congregation containing several Northern Arapaho tribal members — and as the tribe finished its Sundance ceremony.
Foundations for Nations sits on the more Arapaho-concentrated side of the two-tribe Wind River Indian Reservation. Numerous Arapaho tribal members erupted into fury at the message, saying Lucas had condemned and misunderstood their traditional ways.
On Friday, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe’s Facebook page published an unsigned letter under the tribe’s letterhead, voicing solidarity with its neighbor tribe.
“The Eastern Shoshone Tribe has both the responsibility and the authority to protect the health, welfare, cultural identity, governmental integrity, and traditional ways of life of the Eastern Shoshone people,” says the letter.
“Therefore, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe calls on the Foundation for Nations church and any affiliated representatives to immediately stop all efforts directed at persuading Native children and families to reject traditional practices," it adds.
The letter urges the church to “engage in governmental consultation and authorization directly with the Eastern Shoshone Business Council (ESBC) before continuing or expanding any recurring ministry activities, especially where it concerns tribal member children.”
It says the tribe is adopting a co-existing policy requiring outside organizations seeking to conduct recurring ministries, charitable services, outreach programs, or other organized activities on lands under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe to consult with and seek government authorization from the tribe first.
Is It Legal?
It’s unclear if that move is lawful.
The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 subjects tribal governments to First Amendment restraints, to protect people’s religious and speech rights.
The U.S. Supreme Court has not found an inherent right of tribes to regulate non-Indians on private lands within reservations, but it’s made two exceptions to that rule.
Those are: When the nonmembers enter consensual relationships with the tribe or its members; or when the non-Indians’ conduct threatens the tribe’s political integrity, economic security or health and welfare.
“It is a profound abuse of trust for any outside institution to be welcomed onto the Reservation, endear itself to our community, and then use that access to insult, diminish, or erase the people who offered that welcome,” the letter says. “Hospitality must not be repaid with contempt.
"No organization should enter tribal communities under the appearance of service or fellowship while working to culturally cleanse tribal members of their ceremonies, teachings, or spiritual identity.”
Lucas told Cowboy State Daily in a past interview that she is sorry the message came off as an attack, but not sorry for preaching from the Bible.
The letter says the Eastern Shoshone Tribe “respects the individual constitutional rights of all people to practice their faith” but finds troubling the “use of religious expression as a cover for targeted efforts to undermine coexisting beliefs.”
Lucas did not return a request for comment by publication.
Meanwhile …
Meanwhile, controversy between Arapaho members and Foundations for Nations continues.
A protest outside the church Sunday grew from about a dozen tribal members to more than 20 during the service. U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs vehicles sat, lights on, on roadsides at both ends of the protest.
Alice Thomas organized the protest, and told Cowboy State Daily that she had called BIA for standby and informed the Fremont County Sheriff of the protest.
Thomas said her issue isn’t with the whole church, it’s with Lucas.
“I’m personally protesting Sarah Lucas, and for the blatant disrespect that she had for our people, and our traditions,” said Thomas.
Thomas said she’s also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and hasn’t been told “by any of the higher-ups” that the tribal traditions clash with God.
Within the church that day, Lucas gave an anecdote that would later spark more consternation.
“We were in prayer Friday night as a team,” began Lucas, according to the church’s YouTube video of the service. “Somebody had said in that prayer meeting — and I’m not saying this to boast in any kind of way about who I am — the Lord had said to one of the people: ‘For God so loved the reservation, that they sent Sarah.’ And that spoke to my heart.”
Lucas went on to say that she loves the community.
The comment appears to be a reprise of the famous Gospel verse John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
‘Blasphemy'
Darci Quiver, Thomas’ sister, delivered a strongly-worded critique of Lucas’ anecdote.
“Sarah has No Respect for God or herself,” said Quiver in a Friday message to Cowboy State Daily. “Blasphemy comes to mind. Her opinion of herself is high as if she sits at Gods (sic) side. Even if she didn’t say it she repeated it.
"She’s boasting because she loves the attention. Mocking her own faith. Sarah doesn’t speak for God.”
Regarding the Shoshone Tribe’s letter and Quiver’s criticism, Lucas declined Friday to comment to Cowboy State Daily.
Lucas had declined to allow Cowboy State Daily to report on the church service Sunday, citing the advice of her attorney.
She told congregants that Andrew Wommack Ministries was in the church filming that day.
In the Northern Arapaho Tribe, the flat pipe is associated with the Creator, and some sun dance rituals center on the pipe and treat it as a sacred object.
Cowboy State Daily has received conflicting statements from tribal members on whether they pray to the pipe, or through it.
Another Battle
The Eastern Shoshone Business Council that was regularly elected is in a court battle to retain authority, as the Shoshone General Council — a democratic gathering of adult tribal members — voted in January to oust them and replace them with Wade LeBeau and other new governors.
LeBeau confirmed Friday to Cowboy State Daily that the legal battle between the council he leads and the one he calls the “ousted” is ongoing.
He also said the “ousted” are beyond their authority by taking legislative action as an executive branch, and is in violation of a court order commanding them not to act as the ESBC during the ongoing challenge.
The panel’s spokeswoman did not respond by publication to an email request for responses to those statements.
As for the order itself, LeBeau said, “It’s against constitutional law. They’re violating the constitutional rights of these people.”
LeBeau theorized that the Northern Arapaho tribal leaders urged the Shoshone panel to enter the controversy so that the Arapaho have more legal grounds.
The Eastern Shoshone Tribe won the Wind River region via treaty in 1868. LeBeau has long said the Arapaho don’t have treaty rights to the region.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
