CONSTITUTION
Native American religious organization
C T Terrell Unit – Rosharon, TX

ARTICLE 1: Name

1. The name of the Native American religious organization at C T Terrell Unit hereinafter “the Institution” shall be Roaming Buffalo Clan, hereinafter “the Hoop”.

ARTICLE 2: Business address

1. The address of the Hoop is

Roaming Buffalo Clan
C T Terrell Unit
1300 FM 655
Rosharon, TX 77583

ARTICLE 3: Purpose

1. The purpose of the Hoop is to act as a congregation for the faith and practice of traditional Native American spirituality - sometimes called “The Red Road” -including, but not limited to, the expression of beliefs, the observance of obligations and the performance of ceremonies, rites and rituals found among the traditional and indigenous peoples of the Americas.

2. It is also the purpose of the Hoop to provide for and to exercise the individual and collective study of the myths, legends, narratives, traditions, customs, history, art, culture and folkways of the traditional and indigenous peoples of the Americas, sometimes called “Indians”.

3. It is not the purpose of the Hoop to dictate to any member the boundaries or particulars of personal belief nor to prescribe any manner of practice nor to require or regulate conduct within the frame of Native American devotions; but it is the purpose of the Hoop to provide mutual support for the increase of understanding and free practice of Native American religion in good order within the confines of the Institution in the traditional manners already familiar to them and in such manners as they shall come to understand and appreciate.

ARTICLE 4: Authority

1. The spiritual authority for the establishment of the Hoop is the divine power of the Creator as it finds expression in traditional forms of devotion indigenous to the Americas.

2. The temporal authority for the establishment of Hoop in the Institution is state and federal law.

3. The Hoop acknowledges that the Institution has the authority to regulate the conduct of Native American devotions, but only in a manner consistent with prevailing legal standards. The Hoop understands that presently its religious activities may be burdened by the Institution only by reason of “compelling government interests” and only then by the “least restrictive means”#.

4. The Hoop accepts that all of its activities shall be conducted openly under the oversight of the Warden, with direct supervision by the chaplain and/or other offices under control of the Warden.

ARTICLE 5: Membership

1. Membership in the Hoop is open to all resident inmates at the Institution who voluntarily declare and appropriately designate their Religious Preference as “Native American” on official forms#.

2. Membership in the Hoop shall be contingent upon understanding of, agreement to and signature of this Constitution with all of its provisions, including its Amendments and By-Laws.

3. The Hoop shall not require any payment or any donation in kind as a requirement for membership in the Hoop or for participation in any of its devotions#.

4. Membership in the Hoop shall be terminated by a member’s own change in his Religious Preference to “None” or to other than “Native American” on official forms, or by transfer or release from this institution .#

5. If at any time the number of members in the Hoop shall fall to zero, the Hoop in its present constitution shall be dissolved, but a subsequent Hoop may be reformed by these or other provisions.


ARTICLE 6: Governance

1. Consistent with traditional Native American customs and practice, the nature of governance of the Hoop is communal and cooperative, not hierarchical or authoritarian#.

2. The Hoop’s means of governance for the conduct of its own affairs shall be by the collective deliberation of a Grand Council, which shall consist of all of its members meeting and acting together as a committee-of-the-whole#.

3. The Grand Council shall meet regularly, and it shall meet at least once every three months. In the absence of an executive Council, the Grand Council shall meet at least once every month.

4. The Grand Council may from time to time appoint to itself from among its members officers and/or officials for the conduct of its affairs in good order. These officers or officials may include some or all of the following, whose duties and responsibilities may be further defined by the Grand Council#:

a. Elders: Elders are the Hoop’s primary resource for discernment and guidance. Elders are senior men#, familiar and practiced in Native American culture and traditions and are recognized by the Hoop for their knowledge, experience, understanding and insight.

b. Spiritual Leader(s). Spiritual Leaders can be relied upon to initiate, lead or otherwise faithfully oversee ceremonial functions. A spiritual leader is one already familiar and practiced in Native American spirituality and recognized by the Hoop for his wisdom, humility and generosity.

c. Chief or Spokesman: One who sits at the head of the Grand Council, who acts as liaison with the Institution and outside agencies, and who is recognized by the Hoop for his tact, diplomacy and good judgment. The Chief shall act generally as official spokesman for the Hoop during his tenure unless another person shall be recognized by the Grand Council to be Spokesman with limited tenure for a specific purpose or event.

d. Recorder: One who produces, maintains and keeps a written record of all Hoop proceedings; who manages accounts, correspondence and other clerical duties; and who is recognized by the Hoop for his abilities and integrity.

e. Door Keeper: One who stands outside the Sacred Circle when ceremonies are in progress and shelters the Hoop.

f. Fire Keeper: One who is responsible for the possession and storage of the Sacred Herbs and their accouterments, who prepares Sacred Herbs for ceremonies and conducts incensings. The Fire Keeper may have one or more Assistants who aid him in his duties so that they may learn them.

g. Pipe Keeper: One who is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Sacred Pipe and its accouterments, who prepares the Pipe for ceremonies and recovers it afterwards#. The Pipe Keeper may have one or more Assistants who aid him in his duties so that they may learn them.

h. (Lead) Drummer: One who is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Sacred Drum and its accouterments, who prepares the Drum for ceremonies and recovers it afterwards. A Lead Drummer organizes and directs group drumming.

i. (Lead) Singer: One who knows and performs sacred songs. A Lead Singer organizes and directs group singing.

j. Other: as named and described by the Grand Council.

5. The Grand Council may appoint to itself from time to time committees of selected Hoop members for specific purposes or events. These committees shall name their own spokesman and report to the Grand Council.

6. Depending upon the size of the Hoop#, the Grand Council may appoint to itself an executive Council made up of named officers and/or officials of the Hoop, whose duties and responsibilities may be further defined by the Grand Council. Unless otherwise specified, the Council shall consist of all Elders.


ARTICLE 7: Policies and By-Laws

1. Only the Grand Council shall adopt Policies and By-Laws for the Hoop.

2. No Policies or By-Laws contrary to the good order of the Institution shall be adopted.

3. Policies adopted by the Grand Council may be intended for later approval as By-Laws.

4. All Policies and By-Laws shall be laid over at least thirty days after their final reading for approval.

5. Only a Grand Council of more than ten (10) members shall have authority to approve new By-Laws.

6. All new By-Laws shall be subject to review and approval by the Institution, whose approval should not be denied except on grounds of compelling government interest by least restrictive means


ARTICLE 8: Ratification

1. This Constitution of Roaming Buffalo Clan shall be ratified by those who enter into it with the subscription of their names and the date of their agreement to it.

2. This Constitution shall further be ratified by all new members who enter under it with the subscription of their names and the date of their agreement to it.

ARTICLE 9: Amendment

1. This Constitution shall be amended only by a Grand Council of more than twelve (12) members.

2. All amendments to this Constitution shall be laid over at least thirty days after their final reading for ratification.

3. All amendments to this Constitution shall be subject to review and approval by the Institution, whose approval should not be denied except on grounds of compelling government interest by least restrictive means.

ARTICLE 10: Perpetuation

1. To insure perpetuation of the Native American Religious Organization at C T Terrell Unit, all ceremonial sacred items that belong to Roaming Buffalo Clan are to be given to the Chaplain to be held in trust at the Institution in the event of the Hoop’s termination due to attrition, or for any other reason. These sacred ceremonial items: i.e. Sacred Pipe, Drum, Native American literature, rattle, feather fan, etc., will remain to be reawakened by any Native American devotees who may follow.

2. The last active Native American devotee of the Hoop shall have the responsibility to insure all sacred ceremonial items are entrusted to the Chaplain.

3. The Chaplain, upon request by two or more Native American devotees, may make provision for these sacred ceremonial items.

Mitakuye oyasin
BY-LAWS - Native American religious organization
C T Terrell Unit – Rosharon, TX

These By-Laws were adopted by the Grand Council of Roaming Buffalo Clan on date.

1. Membership shall by agreement with and subscription to this Constitution and shall be recorded by name, by date of their entry to and date of exit from the Hoop.

2. All decisions by the Grand Council and by any executive Counsel shall be made by a consensus# of present members, not by dictates or votes.

3. Agencies for the support of the Hoop can include both Indian and non-Indian individuals, congregations and groups with approved access to inmates.

4. All members and other participants in the Hoop’s education programs and other activities shall bear responsibility, individually and collectively, for the good order of those programs and activities.

5. All members and other participants in the Hoop’s ceremonies and other devotions shall bear responsibility, individually and collectively, for the sanctity of those ceremonies and devotions.

6. Hoop activities shall be practiced weekly as part of an established and regulated Native American religious program, but not to the exclusion of other traditional religious practices provided for in law, regulation and directive.

7. The ceremonies and activities of the Hoop shall be open to members at all stages of spiritual development, although some observances may require advance study.

8. The devotions of the Hoop shall seek to embrace the different traditional religious experiences and to accommodate the cultural diversity of its members.

9. The devotions of the Hoop shall at all times seek to express reverence for Sacred Earth and to realize respect for Life in a Good Way. While these expressions may vary in practice, their spirit and direction shall be consistent with the vital and authentic spiritual practices of Native Americans as they have been revealed - and continue to be revealed - by traditional native elders, prophets and teachers.

10. The ceremonies and activities of the Hoop shall be intended to produce Balance and Harmony with Creation and to induce proper relationships with the Creator.