Rescind the Order to Dismantle the Piscataway Nation's SweatLodge
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Superintendent John Hale
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Capital Parks-East
1900 Anacostia Drive, SE
Washington, D.C. 20020
Dear Superintendent Hale,
We are writing to urge you to rescind the February 2, 2001 order to the Piscataway Indian Nation to remove the sacred sweatlodge at the Tayac Burial Site in Piscataway National Park. The dismantling of the sweatlodge is a violation of constitutional religious freedom and a desecration to the sacred ancestral burial grounds at the Tayac Burial Site.
As you know, the sweatlodge at the Tayac Burial Site, known to the Piscataway Indian Nation and to the National Historic Register as Moyaone, has been used by American Indians for over 22 years. The late Chief Turkey Tayac, who is buried at Moyaone (also known as Ossuary 2, Accokeek Creek Site) by a 1979 Act of Congress, constructed the first sweatlodge. In accordance with their ancient spiritual traditions, the Piscataway have prayed in ceremonies in the Moyaone sweatlodge during each of the four annual gatherings. The National Park Service has issued permits for these religious Piscataway ceremonies for over 20 years.
We also remind you that the Piscataway Indian Nation and the National Park Service, National Capital Parks - East, signed an agreement for your agency to provide wood and water for ceremonies. Please do not violate this agreement, and restore these services to the Piscataway Indian Nation during their annual ceremonies at Moyaone in November, February, April, and September. You provide services to other groups utilizing National Parks and must not discriminate against American Indian groups including the Piscataway Indian Nation.
We ask that you engage in a dialogue with the Piscataway Indian Nation to establish a mutually agreeable arrangement for vehicular access across the road that joins Bryan Point Road to the Accokeek Creek Site in Piscataway National Park.
We hope that you will join us in upholding the American ideals - and laws, of religious freedom, and in treasuring American Indian cultures. Do not dismantle the sweatlodge at the Tayac Burial Site in Piscataway National Park. To do so will be a national disgrace.
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Capital Parks-East
1900 Anacostia Drive, SE
Washington, D.C. 20020
Dear Superintendent Hale,
We are writing to urge you to rescind the February 2, 2001 order to the Piscataway Indian Nation to remove the sacred sweatlodge at the Tayac Burial Site in Piscataway National Park. The dismantling of the sweatlodge is a violation of constitutional religious freedom and a desecration to the sacred ancestral burial grounds at the Tayac Burial Site.
As you know, the sweatlodge at the Tayac Burial Site, known to the Piscataway Indian Nation and to the National Historic Register as Moyaone, has been used by American Indians for over 22 years. The late Chief Turkey Tayac, who is buried at Moyaone (also known as Ossuary 2, Accokeek Creek Site) by a 1979 Act of Congress, constructed the first sweatlodge. In accordance with their ancient spiritual traditions, the Piscataway have prayed in ceremonies in the Moyaone sweatlodge during each of the four annual gatherings. The National Park Service has issued permits for these religious Piscataway ceremonies for over 20 years.
We also remind you that the Piscataway Indian Nation and the National Park Service, National Capital Parks - East, signed an agreement for your agency to provide wood and water for ceremonies. Please do not violate this agreement, and restore these services to the Piscataway Indian Nation during their annual ceremonies at Moyaone in November, February, April, and September. You provide services to other groups utilizing National Parks and must not discriminate against American Indian groups including the Piscataway Indian Nation.
We ask that you engage in a dialogue with the Piscataway Indian Nation to establish a mutually agreeable arrangement for vehicular access across the road that joins Bryan Point Road to the Accokeek Creek Site in Piscataway National Park.
We hope that you will join us in upholding the American ideals - and laws, of religious freedom, and in treasuring American Indian cultures. Do not dismantle the sweatlodge at the Tayac Burial Site in Piscataway National Park. To do so will be a national disgrace.
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Goal
1,000 signatures
Goal: 1,000
Latest Signatures
15 February 2016
1000.
Al C
|
This is in violation of both agreements with the Park Service and the First Amendment. You would not tear down a Christian church against the members consent. This is a clear double standard and religious discrimination.
24 January 2016
10 January 2016
10 January 2016
997.
Dr Elizabethm
|
The National Park Service needs to model respect for First Nations traditions.
City, State or Province
CA
9 January 2016
8 January 2016
995.
Rachel C
|
Ignorance is forgivable as long as you open yourself to education, correct your mistakes and make amends. I beseech you to take a positive role in fostering harmony and justice, respect and love. We reap what we sow.
City, State or Province
Cape Cod
6 January 2016
994.
Victoria W
|
We are all related and deserve respect of opinion and religious practice.
City, State or Province
Beaumont CA, USA
4 January 2016
993.
Waya Decker
|
I find it typical that the gov't is again not allowing one segment of our society to practice their own spiritual beliefs
20 December 2015
992.
Christina V
|
horrible that it would even be considered to dismantle it...
City, State or Province
NY, NY USA
15 December 2015
991.
Michael O
|
we need to protect the right to 'Freedom of Religion'
City, State or Province
Craven, Saskatchewan
2 December 2015
26 November 2015
22 November 2015
988.
Robin R
|
Let there be peace, these people and there tribes have nothing wrong to deserve this!
City, State or Province
West Virginia
19 November 2015
18 November 2015
986.
Mike Lg
|
Showing respect for our heritage on our true home land is not a request!!!
City, State or Province
Oklahoma
15 November 2015
985.
Robert Millerhewhothinkslikeab
|
If the park service and Mr. Hale which to do something useful with the sweatlodge, then "LEAVE IT BE!" How would you feel if we came along and tore down one of your holy sites?
City, State or Province
Clayton, Georgia USA
9 November 2015
3 November 2015
2 November 2015
23 October 2015
22 October 2015
980.
Mdavalos Farrell
|
we were given these rights, again another broken treaty?
City, State or Province
usa
22 October 2015
22 October 2015
20 October 2015
19 October 2015
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