The difference is that ONACoA has been recognized as having special consideration and opportunity to bless it's members through native ceremonies and “sacraments” that have been passed down since before recorded history. These ceremonies and sacraments are protected by numerous laws in the United States and many other countries. Indeed, the first “right” specified in the Bill of Rights is the right to free exercise of religion without government interference. Native American Church – Higher Court Ruling including the US Supreme Court have verified and solidified the Native American Church’s right to conduct these ceremonies and use plants and herbs not available to the general public for healing and empowerment. These natural substances (such as peyote, cannabis and ayahuasca), when combined with direction and ceremony from a qualified “medicine” man or woman have a powerful transformative effect for good. Many people have been healed from chemical dependencies, abusive or addictive tendencies and even physical ailments. Programs using these ceremonies in Prisons  have contributed to massively reduced recidivism (return to illegal activities and incarceration). Many others have been able to overcome long-term SDBs (Self Defeating Behaviors) and have been able to reconcile with family members and church fellowships regardless of denomination. Participants have returned to productive and positive lifestyles and have often reported strengthened marriages, recommitment to spiritual values and a closer relationship with the Great Spirit and with their original church family.

 

Because of massive evidence showing the positive effects of these sacraments and ceremonies, public opinion has been shifting in favor of doing away with legal penalties for use of these non-addictive natural plants and herbs, especially in healing, pain management and ceremony. Until these things are actually legalized on the state and federal level, however, the only way to safely take advantage of the help and blessings available from these God-given plants without fear of arrest is through Native American religious practices which are protected from government interference or punishment.

 

Those who choose to join the ‘Oklevueha Native American Church of Acts (ONACoA)’, are essentially standing up for their Constitutional Rights to participate in and to hold indigenous, earth-based, empowering, healing ceremonies and the cultivation and transportion of ONACoA and/or its Independent Branches Sacraments.

 

You may join this movement by simply acquiring an Oklevueha Native American Church Membership Card. Cards will be issued in accordance with ONACoA policies and bylaws including the commitment of the applicant to abide by the ONACoA Code of Ethics.

 

Legal precedence dictates that the Oklevueha Native American Church has the same full Constitutional Rights and Protections as any other legally registered Church in the United States of America. These constitutional rights have been in place since September 17, 1787. An “Oklevueha Native American Church of Acts Membership Card” serves to protect the sacred use and transportation of ONACoA sacraments, which the federal government and a majority of state governments still declare are illegal under any other situation. Many of them are still unaware of the unique constitutional rights of Oklevueha Native American Church of Acts. With this in mind, three United States Higher Courts’ unanimous rulings, United States v. Robert Boyll, May 10, 1990, Federal 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, State of Utah v. Oklevueha Native American Church, State of Utah Supreme Court – Unanimous Ruling, June 22, 2004, State of Utah Supreme Court and the UDV v. United States, United States Supreme Court Unanimous Ruling express very clearly and concisely that:  Any and all government agencies of the United States have no legal authority to influence any church with its ideology (by-laws) or limit participation by any ONACoA member in a church’s religious practices based on race (American Native) or political affiliation (Federally Recognized Tribes)

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, clearly and concisely states that all United States Judicial officials as a matter of law are obligated to honor Oklevueha Native American Church of Acts members access to American Native Indigenous Sacred Ceremonial Grounds and/or the use or transportation of ONACoA Sacraments (plants, cactus, herbs, mushrooms and etc).  State and Federal government officials are required to protect these constitutional rights of the Oklevueha Native American Church of Acts and its members.

 

These unanimous higher federal and state court rulings and law establishes an abundantly clear understanding that all members of a Native American Church have the constitutional rights to worship with any and all earth-based Sacraments ‘especially Peyote’. With this understanding, should an ONACoA Member be stopped on the highway by any Law Enforcement Officer while possessing a Native American Church Sacrament, he or she are encouraged to submit their ONACoA Membership Card with their drivers license.

 

 

THE MOMENT AN OFFICER OF THE LAW IS MADE AWARE THAT A PERSON IS AN ONAC MEMBER IN AN INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURE AND VERIFIES THAT PERSON’S IDENTITY, SUCH OFFICER OF THE LAW IS ‘PUT ON NOTICE’ THAT THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY VIOLATION OF YOUR CIVIL LIBERTIES UNDER THE FOLLOWING LAWS;

 

Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242 Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law - This statute makes it a crime for any person acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to willfully deprive or cause to be deprived from any person those rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution and laws of the U.S. This law further prohibits a person acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation or custom to willfully subject or cause to be subjected any person to different punishments, pains, or penalties, than those prescribed for punishment of citizens on account of such person being an alien or by reason of his/her color or race. Acts under “color of any law” include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the bounds or limits of their lawful authority, but also acts done without and beyond the bounds of their lawful authority; provided that, in order for unlawful acts of any official to be done under “color of any law,” the unlawful acts must be done while such official is purporting or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. This definition includes, in addition to law enforcement officials, individuals such as Mayors, Council persons, Judges, Nursing Home Proprietors, Security Guards, etc., persons who are bound by laws, statutes ordinances, or customs. Punishment varies from a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, and if bodily injury results or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire shall be fined or imprisoned up to ten years or both, and if death results, or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

 

An Oklevueha Native American Church of Acts Membership Card is documented evidence that ONACoA Membership Card holder has a proven sincerity standard (level) that qualifies he or she for all exceptions to the controlled substance laws of the United States, providing they are not in violation of any aspect of Oklevueha Native American Church of Acts – Code of Ethics.