The Silenced Native Religious Rights Fatimah Alhomeidany
Originally written for Study in Religious Text with Dr. Clatterbuck at Montclair University The Ramapough Lenape Nation is a tribe located near the Ramapo Mountains in New Jersey that have faced several obstacles in an attempt to righteously practice their freedom of religion. A plot of land, located in Mahwah, N.J. between the Ramapo Hunt and Polo Club Association, has been heavily argued about in regards to who owns it and what it should be used for. The Ramapough primarily use it to practice their culture and religion, while the gated community that it is located in, known as the Polo Club, have expressed their disinterest in letting the Ramapough people express their religious customs as they find them to be very loud and disruptive. The Polo Club say this land is legally a residentially zoned plot and should not be used for religious ceremonies. Meanwhile, the Ramapough state that they should be able to express freedom of religion without fear of receiving race-based discrimination.
These concerns for the safety of their land and their identities prompted them to band together as a community and protest against these oil pipelines. Luckily, their efforts did not go in vain. It was announced in July 2020 that the Dakota Access Pipeline would be shut down for environmental review, and would be completely emptied from oil by August 5. Needless to say, this was a success for the Ramapough Nation. Going back to the fight for maintaining the SRS Prayer Camp, the Ramapough people have received multiple fines and have been involved in lawsuits claiming the land is not theirs to use. Neighbors have been reporting the Ramapough to the police because they saw signs posted on what is believed to be private property and vans parked in prohibited areas. Tensions between the township of Mahwah and the Ramapough people have increased since, with allegations stating the Ramapough do not have the necessary permits to move soil and build teepees, and the township possibly removing their teepees by force. This proves that the neighbors were abusing their privilege to eradicate the Ramapough and dismiss their rights as human beings.
The space that is being debated, known as Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp, has seen many battles in regards to rights and religious freedom. Around April 2016, #nodapl was trending on Twitter to protest the possible oil pipeline, known as the Dakota Access Pipeline, that would cross the camp and ruin their water supply. On top of that, the threat that President Trump and his campaign posed on the tribal community could affect their living conditions since Trump is seen as an opponent to the Ramapough. This is the second time a proposed pipeline intersected with the SRS Prayer Camp. Back in 2014, Pilgrim Pipeline Holdings planned to create a pipeline that ran from Albany, N.Y. to Linden, N.J. to supply more petroleum to places that do not have direct access to it. This was a huge risk for the Ramapough because of the potential safety hazards that could come as a result, along with tainted drinking water. Beyond environmental impacts, the Ramapough have spiritual concerns as well. Their spiritual connection to the Earth provides them with an obligation to keep their lands and waters safe.
These zoning laws make it especially hard for Native Americans to practice their beliefs. Needless to say, both sides went to court and the jury was in favor of the Ramapough nation. However, this is not the only example of the lack of freedom of religious expression amongst the Native American community. Ask yourself this: if we as a society have collectively claimed that today’s world is more advanced and accepting of people from different cultural backgrounds compared to colonial times, why are Native Americans still unable to fully engage in their religious ceremonies without having to fear repercussions? What can the general public do to raise (Con nued on page 21)
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