Court fails to grasp that protecting Indigenous peoples’ freedom of religion requires protecting their sacred lands

Indigenous spiritual practices are fundamentally tied to their sacred lands. That has profound implications for protecting their freedom of religion: The right to practice their religion without interference.

Blocking Indigenous peoples access to their sacred sites is the definition of interference. Yet U.S. courts don’t get it, as can be seen in the recent ruling in Apache Stronghold v. The United States of America.

The decision could impact many other religions, too.