Opinion ID: 213533
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Promoting Native American Culture

Text: The district court first attempted to answer whether allowing permits only to members of federally recognized tribes forwards the government's interest in promoting Native American religion and culture. The court found that it simply could not answer that question either way: Native American religions are neither hierarchical nor homogenous, and there is considerable disagreement among tribes holding eagle feathers sacred regarding the appropriate roleif anyof persons who are not tribal members in tribal worship. Id. at 1315. While some tribes welcome non-Native American adherents in their worship, others regard members of other races playing Indian as a threat to Native American culture. See id. at 1315-18. With respect to the interest in promoting Native American culture, the court noted that [w]hatever policy it chooses, the government will have furthered its compelling interest with regard to some tribes and frustrated it with regard to others. Id. at 1318.