Law Could Regulate Sweat Lodges

[icymist]

Arizona Sen. Albert Hale has proposed a new bill that would impact those who claim to promote "Native American" spiritual practices for profit. The new regulations, if approved, would Arizona's Department of Health Services to "regulate individuals or businesses that charge people to take part in what are claimed to be "traditional and authentic Native American practices."

The proposal comes in direct response to an incident last fall at a sweat lodge retreat in Sedona. Three people died and several others fell ill during an event hosted by self-help guru James Arthur Ray. The sweat lodge was billed as a "traditional Native American healing ceremony," but Ray is not Native American, and his actions have fallen under harsh criticism from Lakota elders.
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