Save Sacred Sites on this Solstice

June 21 is the summer solstice, a sacred day in Native American cultures, often observed with ceremonies. This is the fourth year it is also the occasion for prayer vigils in support of endangered Native sacred sites throughout America.

According to the Sacred Land Project, Vigils will be held at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, at the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder, CO, and across the country. Among the endangered places being desecrated are Mount Graham and the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona, Bear Butte in South Dakota, the Medicine Lake Highlands in northern California, Ocmulgee Old Fields in Georgia, the Petroglyphs in New Mexico, Snoqualmie Falls in Washington, the Haskell-Baker Wetlands in Kansas, and the Missouri River in the Northern Plains.

From the Morning Star Institute: "Native and non-Native people nationwide are gathering to honor sacred places, with special emphasis on those that are endangered by actions that can be avoided," said Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Muscogee), President of the Morning Star Institute, organizer of this national prayer day.

"Many Native American sacred places are being damaged because Native nations do not have equal access under the First Amendment to defend them," said Ms. Harjo. "All other people in the United States have the First Amendment to protect their churches. Only traditional Native Americans cannot get into the courthouse through the Freedom of Religion Clauses. That simply must change as a matter of fairness and equity."

In 1988, the Supreme Court told Congress it had to enact a statutory right of action, if it wanted to protect Native sacred places. "Eighteen years have passed without Congress creating that door to the courthouse for Native Americans," said Ms. Harjo, "and some of these places cannot withstand many more years of legal and physical onslaughts.

"Native and non-Native people are gathering, again, to call on anyone who will listen to help protect these national treasures and to do something about this national disgrace that threatens them."

For details on times and places of vigils to protect Native sacred sites, go here.