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Presidential Memorandum

Policy Concerning Distribution of Eagle Feathers for Native American Religious Purposes

This 1994 presidential memorandum directs all federal land-managing agencies to recover and transfer eagle carcasses and parts to the National Eagle Repository for distribution to Native Americans for religious purposes. It prioritizes Native American religious use in permit allocation, streamlines application processes, and tasks the Department of the Interior with coordinating interagency efforts and issuing implementation guidelines.

Federal Register 59 FR 22953
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Impact dates

  1. Agencies to immediately adopt policies after receiving guidelines

  2. Interior to simplify permit application process quickly

  3. Secretary of Interior to issue guidelines for eagle shipment

Key directives

  • All federal land managing agencies must recover salvageable eagles and ship promptly to National Eagle Repository
  • Secretary of Interior shall issue guidelines for proper shipment of eagles to Repository
  • Agencies shall immediately adopt policies/practices/procedures after receiving guidelines
  • Interior shall ensure priority distribution for traditional Native American religious purposes first, then other uses
  • Interior shall simplify eagle permit application process quickly
  • Interior shall minimize delay and ensure respect/dignity in distribution
  • Interior shall expand tribal involvement in distribution process
  • Interior shall ensure adequate refrigerated storage space
  • Interior shall coordinate interagency efforts
  • Interior shall work with State fish and game agencies and local authorities

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Agencies directed to reexamine practices to accommodate Native American religious practices
  • Federal land managing agencies directed to recover and ship salvageable eagles to Repository

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of Interior to issue guidelines for eagle shipment
  • Agencies to adopt policies/procedures after receiving guidelines
  • Interior to simplify permit application process

Long term

  • Ongoing interagency coordination by Interior
  • Continued Repository improvements
  • Expanded tribal involvement in distribution process

Risks & tensions

  • Vague timing: 'immediately' and 'quickly' lack specific deadlines for guidelines issuance and permit simplification
  • Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Endangered Species Act constraints create legal tension with religious accommodation goals
  • Interagency coordination burden on Interior without enforcement mechanisms
  • Scarcity of eagle carcasses may limit practical impact regardless of procedural improvements
Presidential Memorandum: Policy Concerning Distribution of Eagle Feathers for Native American Religious Purposes · Executive Orders