Essay on The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) is published for informational purposes only. The free papers are not written by our writers, they are contributed by users, so we are not responsible for the content of this free sample paper. If you want to buy a quality essay paper on Essay on The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) at affordable prices please use our essay writing services offered by EssayEmpire.

The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 states, in part: "On and after August 11, 1978, it shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise the traditional religions of the American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiians, including but not limited to access to sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonials and traditional rites" (42 U.S.C. 1996). At one time, the policy of the federal government was to assimilate Native Americans into the mainstream of American society, and the suppression of native religions played a central role in achieving this goal. Tribes were systematically assigned to specific mainstream religions to aid in this process, thereby supplanting the traditional native religions. By the 1930s, federal policy changed substantially and the practice of actively suppressing native religions ended.

Despite the government's shift in policy, it was not until 1978 that AIRFA was passed. And even with AIRFA to support them, the ability of Native Americans to exercise these rights has been uneven. The act provides for federal review of any and all policies that deprive or impede access to traditional Native American sacred grounds. However, this has not led directly to greater levels of protection for native religious practices. Agencies are only required to review their policies for potential conflicts, but the act does not require any substantive changes in policy if conflicts are found. The problem is even greater at the state level, where state governments are free to deny tribes access to religious areas, the right of state prisoners to engage in traditional ceremonies, and children the opportunity to obtain excused absences from school to attend religious ceremonies. . .

Free essays are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can order a term paper, research paper or custom essay on Essay on The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) at our site which offers professional essay writing services. Get your high quality custom paper at affordable price. EssayEmpire is the best solution for those who seek help in essay writing related to Essay on The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) and other relevant topics.