Native American Church Member Wants Seized Peyote Returned

James "Flaming Eagle" Mooney is starting a letter-writing campaign to Congress in his attempt to get back from federal authorities some 15,000 peyote buttons that were seized from his Oklevueha Earthwalks church in Benjamin, Utah. (See prior posting.) In 2004, the Utah Supreme Court threw out a prosecution against Mooney, holding that Utah law permits the use of peyote by adherents of the Native American Church, even if they are not members of a federally recognized Indian tribe. (See prior posting). Federal law, however, limits peyote use to members of recognized tribes. Subsequently a federal lawsuit by Mooney seeking damages from the United States and the state of Utah was dismissed on sovereign immunity grounds. Friday's San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Salt Lake City says that in ending the federal lawsuit, Mooney and his wife agreed that they will not possess or use peyote until Mooney qualifies as a member of a federally recognized tribe or a court rules that federal law permits his use of peyote. Mooney is relying on 1991 New Mexico federal district court decision that held limiting peyote use to recognized tribe members is a free exercise and equal protection violation.