As part of Mainstreet Radio series "Broken Trust: Civil Rights in Indian Country,” MPR’s Bob Rhea reports on the fight for religious freedom of Native Americans, including those incarcerated.
Most people take for granted the right to pray, or worship as they choose. But for many years, Native Americans were denied that right. In 1890, as part of the U.S. government's assimilation policy, American Indian religious practices were outlawed. Eighty-eight years later, in 1978, Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, restoring religious freedom to Indian people. But even now, some Indians—those in jail—are denied the opportunity to practice their religion.
Today, many American Indians live in two worlds. Off the reservation they are guaranteed all the rights of a U.S. citizen. On the reservation, those federal rights disappear, replaced by the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, enforced by tribal governments. Many Indian people in Minnesota and the Dakotas say they've come to expect injustice both on and off the reservation.
This is part six of eight-part series "Broken Trust: Civil Rights in Indian Country."
Click links below for other parts of series:
Awarded:
2001 NBNA Eric Sevareid Award, first place in Radio - Large Market - Continuing Coverage category
2001 Minnesota AP Award, Best in Show - Radio Class III category
2001 PRNDI Award, second place in Division A - Series category
2002 RTNDA Murrow Award, Radio - Large Market, Region 4 / News Series category