From the USA Today
Cherokees to hold school-sponsored prayer
08/27/00- Updated 02:21 PM ET
CHEROKEE, N.C. (AP) — School-sponsored prayer will continue before high school
football games on the Cherokee Indian reservation say tribal leaders, who
contend a Supreme Court ruling does not apply to their sovereign nation.
''We've always done it and we always will,'' Kathy Wolfe, a member of the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' school board, said Friday. ''It's a
sovereignty issue.''
The decision to broadcast a Christian prayer over the school's public address
system prior to home games appears to have widespread support among the tribe's
12,500 members, most of whom belong to Methodist or Baptist denominations.
The U.S. government encouraged and supported the missionary work that resulted
in the conservative faith now strong on the reservation, tribal member Missy
Crowe said.
''Now, they're going to say, that's wrong? There are those Indians again,
bucking the system?'' Crowe wondered.
The Constitution, treaties and court decisions recognize that Indian tribes kept
many of their rights to govern themselves when they agreed to give up most of
their land to the United States. Yet the scope of Indian sovereignty remains one
of the most contentious between Native Americans and the federal government.
The decision comes as schools across the country kick off the first games of
football season since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that school-sponsored
prayer at sporting events are a violation of students' constitutional rights.
The tribe's Office of the Attorney General determined that the high court's
decision does not apply to the Eastern Band or other Indian tribes.
Other North Carolina schools, including neighboring Swain County, will obey the
court decision.
''The ruling is very clear,'' Swain County High School principal Sharon Hoppes
said. ''No student-led prayer over the PA system. We will observe a moment of
silence.''
Civil liberties groups questioned the tribe's action.
''I'm not aware of any other cases like this,'' said Robert Boston of Americans
United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C.
''I do believe this interpretation is a bit off base,'' he said. ''I think this
is an attempt to elevate a federal law above the Constitution. I would not
assume a Native American school would have the right to open with prayer before
football games.''
But even those Cherokees who practice a more traditional Native American spirit
worship approve the point tribal leaders are making by continuing to permit
Christian prayers before games.
''They're making a point about sovereignty. I think it's good. We need to do
that,'' said Lisa Montelongo.
The Eastern Bank of Cherokee would be willing to fight any federal move to cut
off funds for the reservation's schools, said Teresa McCoy, a member of the
Cherokee's governing Tribal Council.
''Funding or not, I believe the tribe would take a stand and defend public
prayer,'' she said. ''I think some things are more powerful and important than a
Supreme Court ruling. Prayer is good medicine.''
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