Readdressing Raging Bear's federal case

In round tabling with Sachem Graves, something struck me that she said about an incident where someone had pointed at a federal case filed by Michael Rex "Raging Bear" Mooney in Hawaii in regards to his churches sacraments being seized seeking the return of the plant medicines and damages for his churches sufferings for having had them illegally seized them.

Those of you whom are not familiar with him, Michael Rex "Raging Bear" Mooney is one of the biological son's of ONAC founder James Warren 'Flaming Eagle' Mooney whom had sought and was entrusted as spiritual leader of a church that was known as "Oklevueha Native American Church of Hawaii."

While leading the church, a package was seized that contained both peyote and cannabis sacraments. At the time that Raging Bear's package was seized" by a company called "Fed Ex", Raging Bear was viewed as being "armed" with THREE very important things:

A. Confirmation that he himself was a "Valid Member in Good Standing with Oklevueha Native American Church",

B. "Blessed with the position of spiritual leader of "Oklevueha Native American Church of Hawaii";

C. He and ONAC-HI had the full support and blessing to initiate such an action as an ONAC.

While this case was dragged through the court system, allegations began emerging that put Raging Bear's conduct into question, as a member and too, reflecting himself especially publicly as a spiritual leader deserving of honor and trust. When a situation such as this occurs, it is the procedure of Oklevueha to initiate an investigation internally into the allegation in search of the honorable solution.

Based on what is found in each individual situation, action is then initiated by the "Mother Church" of Oklevueha - "Earth Walks" which usually begins with an informal confrontation and request of correction, again what degree or how any informal confrontations depend on the individual situation, it's important that people understand that. If this proves ineffective, then a formal notice is issued by Earth Walks to them calling for the correction. If this proves ineffective then they are Usually issued a formal "Notice of Distrust" which will Allot them a "Grace period" if you will for lack of a better descriptive term, to correct but then too become formally obligated to right those who were affected by there wrongs also. If no effort is made within a reasonable period of time OR if the conduct or such conduct continues, ultimately they are excommunicated from the whole of Oklevueha Native American Church.

Such actions came for Raging Bear and ultimately he was excommunicated from ONAC which is the MAIN REASON that he ultimately lost his case it's last go round in federal court.

We know that many of you out there who have looked at Raging Bear's case feel that the reason for his case was in that he nor any ONAC of other "church" have gained the conclusive legal right of protection over cannabis as a sacrament. ONAC KM will say that in essence this is more true than not in that there has yet to be a point blank legal ruling honoring cannabis as a sacred sacrament and granted it exemption from persecution or prosecution in "law" But, Oklevueha Native American Church has again THREE things which "other churches" don't have in that

1. Oklevueha got the direct ruling in our favor An exemption when using "A schedule 1 substance",

2. Oklevueha has a DEA issued "Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Exemption #" issued To our church, and

3. In that case Oklevueha was recognized on record by the state supreme court as having right "To utilize all earth-based healing sacraments."

Now before anyone jumps up screaming about how the other Native American Churches also have the right to peyote, and that ultimately the case Oklevueha points to in Utah Was a peyote Case because you're right and everyone already knows that and no one including we dispute it, it's a given. We don't know whether or not the other NAC's have the exemption number issued to them by the DEA or not, but we know Oklevueha does have one issued and valid and that ultimately it's why many seek out membership in our church, to gain THAT protection which thus far as we know it, only We have and are Willing to extend in effort of honorably protecting our brothers and sisters and assisting in the preservation of there rights.

To our knowledge, no other church has been acknowledged in such ways in a court nor told they recognize our right as creation To Creator's creation, specifically all of the earth based medicines, to us that was the greatest blessing gifted Oklevueha out of it all, but even Earth Walks and the founders didn't even realize it's magnitude. Peyote was and remains the primary focal medicine of Earth Walks, but it was never the ONLY "earth based healing sacraments" that they used. Because we have this acknowledgement, in time, Earth Walks would come to be willing to extend the shield of protection gained to those who know and willing to attempt to Honorably defend the rights of there focal medicines.

In Raging Bear's case, there was both peyote and cannabis he claimed and declared his churches sacraments. Oklevueha stood in support of that, Until Raging Bear knowingly and intentionally continued to disregard his correction warnings until ultimately by the last hearing, his own attorney right out the Gate announced to the court that Raging Bear's church was "No longer in association with Oklevueha Native American Church." - we are providing you a Link to a Video fro that actual last hearing so that you Yourself can hear and see it for yourselves that this is the overlooked truth and fact of the matter and will hear it confirmed in there asking if he had any Other credential declaring him an official "church" - to which he did NOT have - no other credential Or Blessing... BAM!

The secondary issue in regard to "How" Raging Bear ran his church and practioned ceremonies in Dishonorable way only further solidified to ONAC that our Mother Church was Right in having taken the disciplinary action they had against Raging Bear though too, for the sake of the goal, ONAC remains sorrowful that it had to happen when, where and how costly to all that it did. We're referencing to his attorney Michael Glen explaining in great detail as to how it is Raging Bear's church felt believed and even insinuated that they have conducted improper ceremony purposefully is alarming to ALL NAC no just ONAC alone. When Glen point-blank said that Raging Bear's church would "Substitute cannabis for peyote" as a "Generic Substitute" - oh how many people were Outraged, from cannabis activists and medicinal practitioners of cannabis medicines to ALL the NAC's (including especially us) and too, to all our Tribal brothers and sister who practition Honorably - you CANNOT "Substitute" peyote in peyote ceremony and to even Suggest so is sacrilegious as far as we and many others are concerned, very disrespectful and dishonorable!

Here is that video (and link) for your review and interpretation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m2cyfuJV-A&t=713s

You'll hear how they tried like hell to remain valid in having the "Religious Rights" and respect entitled to them as a "Church" and especially to the sacraments that our government declare "Drug" to the degree that many things that Glen stated his clients church "Believed" and or "Practiced" Oklevueha felt dishonorable to the traditions of the culture. Glen tried so hard to validate his clients rights that his answers condemned the case in Our opinion but the bottom line you will hear the focus of the court was on whether or not Raging Bear was a validly blessed and entrusted spiritual leader of ANY Native American Church and ultimately as of that time of question, the answer was NO, and that the District court had "Struggled" as to whether or not he was and ultimately had concluded that there answer in regards to Raging Bear's church was also NO.

Many Oklevueha Native American Churches Including ONAC KM elect our primary focal sacrament especially medicinally upon our beloved Mother Medicine cannabis. What this means is that when an ONAC member is in need of cannabis medicinally and or sacramentally, they are directed to a church which uses it as a focal medicine, and vise versa, meaning that if a member of ONAC KM who is in need of another medicine, be it peyote, fungi, or another, we either send them to an ONAC church whose focal medicine is the medicine in which they need or call for a Roadman who specializes in the medicine they need to come and work with the member/patient needing them.

There are many lessons to be had in the Raging Bear case, but ultimately among the most important is that either your an honorably functioning church or your not, there is no middle ground. Also know and rest assured in that Oklevueha teaches and practitions ceremonies in honorable way and Know Better than to try to substitute ant aspect of any ceremony... either we do it right or we won't do a ceremony at all.

As always we Thank you for your continued interest and support, be well everyone and go in a good way