The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes, who share the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, have asked Christian pastor Sarah Lucas to leave their land following a sermon in which she described Arapaho ceremonial practices as "idol worship." Lucas, who is not Native American but owns the land under her church, has stated she will not leave, creating a conflict that highlights the intersection of religious freedom and tribal sovereignty.
The dispute began in July when a video circulated showing Lucas commenting on the Arapaho sundance ceremony. "Jesus is the chain breaker. He is the only God that we should be praying to," Lucas said in the video, referring to the cornerstone of Arapaho spiritual life as having "no fruit."
Many Arapaho tribal members viewed Lucas's remarks as deeply offensive, reopening historical wounds related to forced assimilation and religious abuse. "There’s nothing I could say to make non-Arapahos understand," said Big Wind Carpenter, a protester. Lucas maintains her statements are protected by the Constitution, stemming from her interpretation of the Bible. She has expressed regret for the sharp delivery of her message, but not the message itself, stating her church's mission involves urging Native congregants to renounce traditions she equates with idolatry.
Foundations for Nations, Lucas's church, has been a presence on the reservation for nine years, reportedly offering community aid such as food banks and youth programs. However, Lucas's recent sermon has led to a decrease in attendance and increased protests, with some tribal members and former congregants expressing disappointment and a sense of betrayal. Tearany Black, an Arapaho congregant, described the sermon's tone as racist, despite agreeing with Lucas's belief that Native Christians should turn away from traditional ceremonies. "She cares for our people. I just don’t think she understands where we’re coming from," Black said.
DJ Gardner, a former congregant, associated Lucas's rhetoric with the assimilationist boarding schools that many Native Americans, including his grandfather, were forced to attend. This historical context influences how many view Lucas's evangelism, especially as other Christian denominations on the reservation have begun to incorporate traditional Native practices.
Tribal Ordinances and Jurisdictional Challenges
Lucas intentionally established her church on private property within the reservation, a practice influenced by historical federal policies that fragmented tribal land bases. This private ownership complicates the tribes' ability to enforce their governance.
In response to the escalating conflict, the Arapaho and Shoshone councils passed ordinances in July requiring religious groups to seek tribal approval before operating on the reservation. Arapaho Chairman Keenan Groesbeck stated, "That’s the law of the land on our reservation." This has impacted Foundations for Nations, suspending its youth programming due to prohibitions on picking up and dropping off children on tribal land.
However, tribal officials acknowledged in an August memo that jurisdictional limitations likely prevent them from regulating church activities on private land. Legal experts note that tribal attempts to enforce such ordinances on private property face a high legal threshold, especially in federal review, making tribal banishment of individuals on private land a complex issue.
Despite the ongoing dispute and the quiet surrounding its main building, construction continues on a neighboring youth center. Lucas remains firm in her belief that she is divinely called to the area, asserting, "God would not have us build this and provided all of it to empty it out."