1883 law outlawed Native American religion during mound investigation

1883 law outlawed Native American religion during mound investigation. The 1883 Act to Suppress Native American Religion was passed This law made it illegal for Native Americans to practice their ancestral religions The law lasted until 1970

The 1883 Religious Crimes Code (part of the Courts of Indian Offenses) made practicing ancestral religions illegal until 1978, when the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed. This came ~50 years after the Trail of Tears. The timing coincided exactly with efforts to discredit Native culture and force adoption into boarding schools. A stark historical context for the Smithsonian investigation.

Key facts claimed:

- The 1883 Act to Suppress Native American Religion was passed

- This law made it illegal for Native Americans to practice their ancestral religions

- The law lasted until 1978 (corrected from 1970)

- This occurred ~50 years after the Trail of Tears (1830s)

- The timing of the Smithsonian's investigation coincided with efforts to discredit Native American culture

Key Facts

• The 1883 Act to Suppress Native American Religion was passed
• This law made it illegal for Native Americans to practice their ancestral religions
• The law lasted until 1970
• This occurred 30-50 years after the Trail of Tears (1830s)
• The timing of the Smithsonian's investigation coincided with efforts to discredit Native American culture
• The law was part of a broader effort to suppress Native American language and force them into boarding schools

Source: Ep. 4 - The Shaman and the Philosopher - Vincent Barrows: Part 2 by Institute for Natural Philosophy