From Deseret News archives:
Feather confiscation has family fuming
Conflict in Uintah pits federal law against freedom of religion
Because it's illegal to possess feathers from the protected bird, the conflict pits federal law against freedom of religion.
"It was correct to take them because only members of federally recognized tribes can have them," said Karen Corts, acting director of Ute Tribe Fish and Game. Even then, possession of eagle feathers is only legal if the tribal member holds a special permit.
Terresa Gardner isn't a tribal member and doesn't have the required permit, but she and her family maintain that eagle feathers are an integral part of their religious beliefs. The two small feathers were given to Terresa and her husband, Roger, by her father-in-law, Darrell Gardner, to serve as protection.
"We hang them in our vehicle because we have been having a lot of trouble up in our area with gang activity, and he blessed them and blessed the vehicle," said one family member. "We have got to protect ourselves, and he looks towards the Creator to protect his grandson and his wife."
Terresa's father, Barry Atkins, of Whiterocks was standing by her car when Ute Tribe Fish and Game officer Lee Allen Blackhair reached in and removed the feathers.
"He said she could not display the feathers because she is not an enrolled tribal member," said Atkins. "He said those were from an endangered bird . . . on the reservation that was a federally recognized bird."
But Terresa Gardner said she wasn't cited and now can't even find out what happened to the eagle feathers that were taken by Blackhair, who did not return calls for comment. Everett Manning, director of Fish and Game for the Ute Tribe, was away and unavailable for comment but had reportedly told a member of Gardner's family earlier that he had never seen the feathers.
However, Corts said a formal complaint may be in the works.
"What they may be doing is determining what action they will take at what point," said Corts.
Not only does the confiscation raise questions for Terresa Gardner about what happened to the eagle feathers but again brings up the issue of whether the feathers are legal for religious purposes.
Comments
- Soccer MVPs know how to win 1:56 a.m.
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009 1:56 a.m.
- High school soccer: Past MVPs 1:37 a.m.
- Senators want food tax restored 1:27 a.m.
- Utah women lag in higher education 1:16 a.m.
- Hatch empathizes with Muslims 1:14 a.m.
- Matheson gets no thanks from GOP 1:13 a.m.
- Mitchell seeks to block witnesses 1:12 a.m.
- Party insiders may take on Bennett 1:11 a.m.
- Input sought on nondiscrimination 1:11 a.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- Matheson gets no thanks from GOP
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- House passes health care bill
228 - TCU showdown has big implications
183 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
118 - Thousands protest health bill
114 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
97 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
Sounds like a good option if you can't or won't switch to AT&T for the...
I worked with and around Bill Sederburg for 5 years while he was at...
hand. He needs to work on his moves to the basket and rebounding. Lateral...
play Fez or Koufos tonight. He went with a smaller line up and Boozer, Okur...
I've met Bennett before and he is a nice man. He also knows the Constitution...
That's never been a secret. Everyone will pay for it except those that don't...
I agree with NonMormon. I am active LDS, and I enjoy Ash's articles, and I...
I kept saying don't resign Milsap, especially after Portland offered that...
BYU is the slowest team that has ever been in the top 25. Utah will put up a...
i think u have the cowboys ranked too low! at least an A- LOL nice work!


You can be the first to comment on this story.