I am forwarding this ONLY as a topic of discussion.
I am NOT endorsing this.

It is my understanding that it is illegal to possess any part of a bird (except domestic
fowl and non-native (introduced pests) - even feathers. Can anyone elaborate on
that??
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "Kevin Martin" <kmartin at co.apache.az.us>
To: <jbroadus at seanet.com>
Subject: Feather appeal
Date sent: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 17:10:55 -0700

Dear Jerry,


By way of introduction my name is Kevin Martin a Native American from the Ft
Peck Indian Reservation in Montana . I am Ehunktuwan (Yankton Sioux) and am
one of the Ceremonial Bonnet Wearers for our tribe, having been given the
proper ceremony as such. I am a Sundancer, Pipecarrier, and Roadman for the
Native American Church. I have recently acquired the ceremonial right to run
healing ceremonies along with my wife and her parents. We as traditional
people have a high regard for birds of all kinds and use them in our
ceremonies. In our traditional views we believe that all creatures are given
spiritual intelligence and have an order of responsibilities and gifts of
knowledge that may be called upon. So it is, with the birds under your care.
We believe that birds are close to humans by their own choosing and
understand our emotional, physical and spiritual being. We seek to have
their understanding and guidance as well, for they can speak without shame
to a holy being, and they know our faults better than we.We prefer that the
prayer fans that we use are not taken from dead birds rather are alive and
have families of their own. I am disappointed in my native relatives
throughout the nation of late as they have taken up the habit of selling
ceremonial items or look alike for monetary gain. I do not endorse that
habit, rather I am from a small collection of traditional people that wish
to use our spiritual practices with the respect that is supposed to be
there.

To that end I have a request, I am in need of feathers of all types. We use
bird feathers for ceremonial prayers and fashion them into fans in order to
assist us in healing the sick in spirit and body. We have teachings based on
the natural order of the birds and of the elements founded in the natural world.
Feathers are representative of the purity of the divine creation and the sacred
and spiritual trust that the Creator has gifted the species with. I am a
teacher, and yet barely make enough money to survive day to day. I have need for
ceremonial fans yet no resources to acquire them. I would love to use the
feathers that I receive to help the patents that I work with, as well as for
myself and my family. I am just starting out and have few feathers since my
biological family went through an intense bout with alcoholism starting at about
the Boarding school era.

I appeal to you and your friends, to donate any dropped feathers to help us as a
family repair our culture and those that are still lost to our beautiful
heritage. I appeal to your kindness and I assure you that I am not interested
in commercial aspects of the gifts that you would give. Any feathers are
welcome, but tail feathers and body feathers are my priorities, as it takes a
while to assemble like feathers for a fan. We will say a prayer for the birds
and god bless you as well for caring for these beautiful relations of the sky.


If you so choose to donate, be assured that we pray for the birds that we use
and we will say prayers for you and yours as well. The main feathers that we
use are the tail feathers ( Even small birds) . The body feathers are sorted and
used for decorating the shaft of the tail feather. Feathers of color, pattern,
Iridescence are desired. . Baggies for body feathers may help as I envision an
explosion of body feathers when opening a box of loose ones. It takes a while to
collect like feathers because of damage, size, color etc..

Should it be required, I can provide proof of my Native enrollment (CIB) and I
have a Native American Church membership card as well. I have some records in
the Department of vital statistics in Helena MT. denoting my Vice president
status as a charter member from the Ft Peck Reservation in Eastern Montana. I
have other means as well, so once again I humbly ask you for you help, and
thank you for your time.. call me at (928) 656- 4177wrk 8-5:30 M- Fri

Current Mailing address:

Kevin Martin
Po Box 843
Montezuma Creek Ut . 84534



------- End of forwarded message -------Clarice Clark
Puyallup, WA. 98371
mailto:jbroadus at seanet.com