FARMINGTON – The UMF Religion and Philosophy Club will sponsor a public presentation concerning the teaching of Native American religion from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, in Thomas Auditorium at UMF.

The presentation will also address the recent land-rights action filed by the Onondaga Nation in New York state.

Lisa Poirier, Miami University, will speak on teaching, a presentation titled, “Adjust Your Lenses: Issues in the Study of Native American Religions.” Philip P. Arnold, Syracuse University, will present materials relating to the Land-Rights Action. His presentation will be titled, “The Onondaga Nation’s Land-Rights Action and Religious Freedom: The Hope of Restoring Haudenosaunee Lands.”

The land-rights action is a potentially precedent-setting phenomenon in which the Onondaga Nation are claiming 4,000 square miles of land that was taken in violation of treaties made between the Haudenosaunee and the U.S. government, that was under the direction of Pres. George Washington.

Instead of wanting casinos or fostering short-term economic goals, the Onondaga Nation is demanding the cleanup of Onondage Lake and others of among 92 SuperFund sites throughout upstate New York.

The land-rights action, as opposed to land claims by other groups, represents a shift toward principles of Thanksgiving and making decisions today that will affect people “seven generations” in to the future, according a press release for the event.

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