#  Native Americans Need Prayer Permits on Mt. Graham 

 





August 15, 1998

 

 

Source: The Arizona Republic

On August 15, 1998, *The Arizona Republic* published anarticle about the new University of Arizona policy to require prayerpermits of Native Americans if they want to cross near theuniversity's $200 million telescopes on Mt. Graham, a 10,700 footpeak which is a part of the Pinaleno Mountains. The San CarlosApaches and other native peoples hold the Pinaleno Mountains ofsoutheast Arizona as sacred. Many Native Americans feel the permitsare an attack on their religious freedom and some have plannedunauthorized ascents of Mt. Graham in protest. Michael Cusanovich,University of Arizona vice president for research and graduatestudies, defends the permit policy: "We made a policy to make itclear to the public...that if they want to come in, we encouragethat, but that we would make permits available to them....It's notmeant to be restrictive. It's meant to be inclusive." Plagued by whatCusanovich calls "monkeywrenching" of construction efforts byenvironmentalists, the telescope project on Mt. Graham was onlyallowed because of special exemptions to the Endangered Species Act.Wendsler Noise, a noted opponent to the telescope project and a SanCarlos Apache, was arrested for trespassing on Mt. Graham whilepraying, but was later acquitted. He stated: "I don't think I shouldhave a permit. We are the original inhabitants of this land. We arenot going to vandalize their telescopes. They know that for all these(hundreds) of years, the Apaches have gone there to pray. I can't seewhy we need permits now."



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Discrimination/Accomodation ](/news-stories/discriminationaccomodation)
- [ Native Traditions ](/religions/native-traditions)
- [ Civic ](/tags/civic)
 
 

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