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March 15th, 2012
10:33 PM ET
Feds grant Native American tribe permit to kill bald eagles for religious purposesBy Eric Fiegel, CNN Washington (CNN) - It's the symbol of America, and for the first time, the U.S. government has granted a Native American tribe a permit to kill two bald eagles for religious purposes. The permit application was filed in 2008 by the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming and, after years of review, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued it on March 9.
"They did make a case for why the take of a bird from the wild was necessary," Matt Hogan, Denver regional director for the Fish and Wildlife Service, told CNN. Last year, the tribe filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the federal government for denying the application, saying it "unreasonably burdens the religious rights of tribal members," court documents stated. The case is pending. Hogan, who was in charge of granting the permit, says the lawsuit was not the reason the permit got approved when it did. He says it took time to make sure all the criteria were met and that the permit was in accordance with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which allows bald eagles to be used by Native Americans in religious ceremonies. The eagle "flies higher then any other creature. It sees many things. It's closer to the Creator," said Robert Holden, deputy director of the National Congress of American Indians. Holden said he was bothered by the comments he was hearing: that this permit would lead to a mass killing of bald eagles. "How stupid can that be?" he said. "It's a religion. It's what we do. We're more concerned about the eagle population than any culture in this Western Hemisphere. Why would we want to kill all the eagles?" Hogan said the permit's issuance will have little effect on the powerful raptor. Taking two eagles from the wild "will not in any way jeopardize the status of the eagle population, either in the state of Wyoming or nationwide," he said, "and the good news is bald eagles are doing quite well." That wasn't the case some 70 years ago, when the species was threatened with extinction, leading Congress to pass a law prohibiting the killing, selling or possession of the bird. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the threatened and endangered species list. Hogan said applications for a permit to kill or capture a bald eagle are rare. Native Americans often have to get bald eagle feathers for their ceremonies from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife national feather repository in Denver. Hogan said it can take years for the tribes to get the feathers this way, because demand often exceeds supply. Holden, who is part Choetaw/Shickasaw, sought to put some perspective on the situation: "If someone ordered a Bible or some religious artifact and they had to wait for a long time, how fair is that?" The permit is good until February 2013, and Hogan said he knows of no other applications being filed. As part of permit, the tribe has to notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within 24 hours once the bald eagles are killed or captured. Hogan said he is still waiting for that word. soundoff (1,883 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Can I get a permit to kill Portuguese water dogs ?
Yes.
I feel sorry for the American Indians who feel this is the only way to pay tribute to their ancestors. No only does America lose but the two birds who will die for nothing more than their feathers. Shameful. So where do the Casino's fit in to all of this?
They will be stuffed and put in the gift shop.
Once again, religion is killing our nation.
Two eagles have to be killed for "religious" purposes? Wow, we've really evolved as a species, haven't we?
Sure we have, now religion is getting applications from the government instead of the other way around.
Time for these indians to change their religion. Disgusting, nasty request.
Maybe the indians should kill more pilgrams.
Same twisted reasoning that opposes killing the barred owls that are harming the endangered spotted owls or the sea lions that are decimating threatened salmon species. Let the wildlife managers do their job. Sometimes that means LESS of 1 animal to make room for more of the other.
This is probably for some Satanic ritual that will guarantee Obama's re-election.
You mean it's *not* a leprechaun conspiracy?
could be!!! tomorrow is St. Patty's day, afterall!
My Moron count is doing great today.
williamsj32
This is probably for some Satanic ritual that will guarantee Obama's re-election.
One more time:
Killing for religious purposes? That just adds more credence to the significant stupidity of all religions.
There is something symbolic about the federal government killing off its own symbol.
We have power within us. We don't need to kill animals or people to be powerful. Until human beings replace fear and killing with love and kindness this planet will stay in the lower vibrations.
lower vibrations?
...a lesser known Beach Boys song.
lower vibrations...is that anything like the low end of the gene pool?
My religion says that any bank I walk into has to give me as much money as I want at the time.
Do I have to get on my knees or wear funny underpants to join?
Do I have to get on my knees or wear funny underpants to join?
Only if your name is Mitt.
"They did make a case for why the take of a bird from the wild was necessary," Matt Hogan, Denver regional director for the Fish and Wildlife Service, told CNN
OK Matt, what was this great case? Was it what was quoted later in the article?
The eagle "flies higher then any other creature. It sees many things. It's closer to the Creator,"
or this...
"It's a religion. It's what we do."
Holden was wrong about the bald eagle being the highest flyer, it is actually the bar-headed goose Anser indicus. They can actually fly over the Himalayas. This whole story is bogus on so many levels!!!
I love how the article explains every single detail EXCEPT the most relevant and important one – WHY? Why in the heck do they need to kill two bald eagles for their religious custom? It was never explained what this accomplishes. As most of us are not Arapaho tribe members, curious minds want to know.
I thought that was the point of the whole discussion about eagle feathers and how long it takes to get them from some government agency in Denver.
In response to the taste inquiry, Bald Eagle taste a lot like Manatee...Better on the grill as compared to fried however.....
Next, will we allow them to sacrifice virgins, if it is for religous puposes? How about all first born sons?
I hope the permit fee is about $1 billion per bird. Then it might be worth it.
I believe that virgins are on the endangered species.
@Whaaaa?
Well said. LOL
Religous reasons? WHAT?
So if my religeon requires human sacrifice do I get a permit?
this comment by Hogan says it all, "How stupid can that be?" he said. "It's a religion. It's what we do. We're more concerned about the eagle population than any culture in this Western Hemisphere. Why would we want to kill all the eagles?"
exactly, why would you want to kill them? you want to protect them, but yet, you are requesting "permits" to murder them. how exactly is that protecting them? how is that showing concern for the eagle population? if you have to request permission to kill something for religious beliefs, I think it is time to reconsider the thoughts that what your beliefs have been and are need to be re-evaluated and reconstructed.
Hitler was a vegetarian.
Some comments have no purpose.
Just look how far we have come as a human race. Still killing animals and for that matter people for religion. Hard for me to make any sense out of any of it and I consider myself somewhat religious.