Duane Champagne: Protecting sacred sites, sacred places

Many tribal nations remember and perform ceremonies at sacred places that are not on their reservations. Do Indians have any spiritual claims to their ancient lands? Is it possible for Indian people to restore their spiritual relations to lands no longer within their legal and political control? Despite the U.S. government’s legal claims to land off reservations, Indian nations continue to believe they are bound by religious tradition to provide stewardship to all the land bestowed upon them by the creator.

In a deep spiritual sense, land is part of the cosmic give and take within which Indigenous Peoples live and carry out their personal and collective national spiritual goals. Land was sacred and holy, and, in many worldviews, a gift and responsibility. When Indian peoples occupied their spiritual and national territories, they maintained reciprocal relations with the spiritual powers of the land and cosmic order. Exchange, reciprocity, respect, and ceremonial communication were means to engender and maintain healthy relations with the spirit peoples.