Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tribe Says Use Permit Requirement For Powwow Violates Religious Freedom
Yesterday's NWF Daily News (Ft. Walton, FL) reports that the ACLU is challenging a decision by Santa Rosa County (FL) requiring the state's Echota Cherokee Indian Tribe to obtain a permit to hold a powwow on private property. In a letter to the county division of zoning and planning, the ACLU said that the powwow is a seasonal outdoor ceremony during which participants sing, dance, worship the creator, and strengthen tribal bonds. The ACLU says requiring a use permit violates the religious freedom of the Indian tribe, and that nothing in the county zoning law calls for their obtaining a permit. However county officials say that the powwow is partly commercial. It draws 2000 people and includes commercial food, art and craft vendors. As a compromise, the county is looking at the possibility of creating a special events permit to deal with gatherings such as this.