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Old Ground And New Directions At Sacred Sites On The Western Landscape, Kristen A. Carpenter
Old Ground And New Directions At Sacred Sites On The Western Landscape, Kristen A. Carpenter
Publications
The federal public lands contain places with both religious and secular value for American people. American Indians, in particular, hold certain natural features to be sacred, and visit them for ceremonies and worship. Simultaneously, non-Indians use the same places for economic, recreation, and many other purposes - and conflicts arise between these groups. In the past twenty years, a body of constitutional jurisprudence has developed to address questions of religious freedoms and public access rights on these lands that are owned and managed by the federal government. This article outlines the relevant First Amendment framework as well as recent statutes …
The Interests Of "Peoples" In The Cooperative Management Of Sacred Sites, Kristen A. Carpenter
The Interests Of "Peoples" In The Cooperative Management Of Sacred Sites, Kristen A. Carpenter
Publications
This essay contends that there is a structural element of federal law and policy that sets up legal battles over American Indian sacred sites. The Supreme Court has held that whatever rights groups may have at sacred sites, the federal government's rights as owner and sovereign of the public lands ultimately prevails. Federal agencies can, if they choose, accommodate various interests on the public lands, but such decisions are left to fluctuating executive policy and the discretion of land managers. This approach reflects well-established doctrine in public lands law, but leaves various citizens and groups clamoring for the federal government …