ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the Comanche Nation, established a two-year pilot,
non-eagle feather repository to provide Native Americans with a permitted source to obtain non-eagle feathers from federally regulated migratory birds for religious and cultural use.
For decades Native Americans have used various natural resources and wildlife for subsistence, as well as for cultural and religious purposes. Feathers remain one of the most sought after items by tribal cultural and religious practitioners. To assist in legal acquisition of federally regulated migratory bird feathers, the Service established the National Eagle Repository in Denver, Colorado. This repository serves as a legal source of eagles and eagle feathers for qualified, federally enrolled, tribal members for use in religious ceremonies.
At one time, this repository also distributed other protected and regulated migratory birds, like hawks and falcons. However distribution of these non-eagle species was discontinued in the late 1990s. Since then, the Service has looked for ways to help meet tribal needs for non-eagle feathers.
In cooperation with the Comanche Nation, the Service is issuing a permit to establish the first Native American-managed non-eagle feather repository. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and a permit were signed today enabling the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative (SIA) based in Cyril, Okla., to receive and distribute regulated migratory bird feathers, deceased birds and parts from zoos, falconers, rehabilitators and other permitted sources to federally enrolled tribal members across the country. This pilot project will be in effect beginning today and evaluated for two-years. The permit and MOA do not allow for the take of any protected migratory birds. The majority of feathers will be obtained through birds that naturally molt feathers.
“Establishing this tribally managed repository demonstrates our commitment to working collaboratively with tribes to promote natural resources conservation activities that honor Native American culture and religion,” said Benjamin Tuggle, Regional Director for the Service’s Southwest Region.
Various protected migratory birds, feathers and parts will be authorized for transfer to this new repository by Service bird rehabilitators, zoos, falconers, and other Service-permitted entities. Based on the process used by the Service’s eagle repository in Denver, federally enrolled tribal members will now be able to apply for, acquire and possess non-eagle federally regulated migratory bird feathers and their parts for religious and cultural use through SIA.
For more information on this new repository, contact Bill Voelker, Director of the SIA at (580) 464-2750, or visit his website at http://www.comancheeagle.org, You may also contact the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Native American Liaison, Joe Early, at (505) 248-6602, or