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Native Americans Need Amendment To Move Smudging Ceremony Back To Illinois

By Howard M. Friedman

The Smoke Free Illinois Act that became effective January 1, 2008 broadly bans smoking in any building open to and used by the public. Smoking includes not just cigarettes and pipes, but also "carrying ... any kind of lighted ... weed, herbs, or any other lighted smoking equipment." The statute has no exemption for religious ceremonies. Yesterday the Hancock County (IL) Journal-Pilot reported that all of this has led a group of Native Americans to move their annual Standing Bear Winter Gathering from Illinois to Iowa. An important part of the Gathering is performing the "smudging ceremony." The ceremony involves holding a small bowl with a light amount of smoke coming out of it, and using a feather to guide the smoke over a person being ritually cleansed. Participants want Illinois to follow Iowa's example and enact an exemption from the no-smoking law for religious ceremonies. Spokesman Larry Cooper says that without the exemption, the law would also apply to incense used in Catholic and Hindu services.

SB 1685, creating an exemption for "smoking that is associated with a recognized religious ceremony, ritual, or activity," was introduced in the Illinois legislature on Feb. 19. So far it has only had its first reading in the state Senate.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 26, 2009 (boomark / email).