James and Linda Mooney papers, 1991-2010

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Mooney, James Flaming Eagle (James Warren), 1944-
Title
James and Linda Mooney papers
Dates
1991-2010 (inclusive)
Quantity
21 linear feet, (41 boxes)
Collection Number
ACCN 2722
Summary
The James and Linda Mooney papers (1991-2010) chronicle the Mooney's legal battles regarding the 1st Amendment's Freedom of Religion clause, as it applies to Native American Spirituality and peyote use. The Mooneys were involved in several court battles, at both a state and national level, trying to resolve the ambiguity of United States drug law as it applies to religious usage.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In the late 1990s James Warren "Flaming Eagle" Mooney and his wife Linda Taylor "Bright Hawk" Mooney founded Oklevueha EarthWalks Native American Church of Utah, Inc. Through this church they conducted a variety of religious ceremonies, including some that involved the hallucinogen peyote. In the United States peyote is considered a Schedule 1 drug, and is illegal to buy, sell, possess, or consume, unless the drug is to be used in a "bona-fide religious ceremony of a Native American Church." The Mooneys interpreted this exemption to mean that anyone who was a member of their church could legally use peyote in their ceremonies, and as such welcomed church members of both Native and non-Native heritage. They were eventually arrested and charged with several felony drug counts related to supplying peyote to persons with little to no Native American ancestry. The Mooneys fought back, alleging that the government's actions effectively amounted to restricting citizens' religious freedoms on the basis of race, and were as such unconstituional.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists mainly of photocopies of various documents from the Mooney family, law enforcement, and various legal professionals, related to prosecuting and defending the various Mooney court cases. There is also a small amount of personal correspondence, family history, Native American Spirituality information, and other assorted documents.

The latter part of the collection consists of a large volume of Bates-numbered legal documents, likely compiled during the discovery process preceding the State of Utah v. James Mooney case. Many of the documents found in this section can also be found elsewhere in the collection (unnumbered), and vice versa.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged mainly by subject, with each box or group of boxes containing subject files on a certain topic, from a certain group, or regarding a certain case.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Robert Beckstead in 2013.

Processing Note

Processed by Michael Bills in 2013.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Related Materials

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Personal MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Personal and Biographical Materials
Mooney's resume, autobiographical information, and other items not directly related to litigation.
1998-2009
2
Correspondence
Largely personal correspondence, not directly related to litigation.

Legal MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
3
Prison Correspondence
Correspondence from prison inmates, generally testimonials from inmates who were helped by Mooney's work in the prison system.
4
Legal Correspondence
Litigation-related letters. Includes long-form letters to Utah politicians, soliciting their help with legal issues.
2004-2010
5-6
Native American Spirituality Background Information
1996-2006
7
Clippings
Newspaper clippings related to the various Mooney legal cases, peyote, etc.
1997-2004

Articles by AuthorReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
8 1
"The Art of Sharing"
8 2
Carter, Robert D., "Indians v. Settlers in Battle of Provo River"
8 3
Cook, Brian, "Iroquois Confederacy and the Influene Thesis"
2000
8 4
Dixon, Howard, "Cannabis sativa"
8 5
"Freedom of Religion for the Native American Church"
8 6
Gahlinger, Paul and Mooney, James "American Native Recidivism Reduction Program"
2004
8 7
"The Interactive Systemic Approach"
8 8
Mooney, James and Tom, Gary, "Report for Senator Mike Dmitrich, District 27, In Support of Oklevueha Earthwalks Native American Church of Utah Inc."
8 9
Phillips, Michael R., "Intermediate Sanctions for Juvenile Offenders: A Utah Juvenile Court Case Study"
2005
8 10
"Business Plan Portneuf Integrative Health Center of Excellence at Portneuf Medical Center"
2006
8 11
Spiritual Journey- Peru
1998
8 12
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, "Broken Promises: Evaluating the Native American Health Care System"
2004
8 13
Wesley, Doug, "Connecting: One Two-Legged's Experience of a Native American Sweat Lodge"

People Files, by Last NameReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
9 1
Baker, William
9 2
Buckley, John
9 3
Collard, Kathryn
9 4
Corporon, Mary
9 5
Corporon, Williams, and Bradford
9 6
Crawley, Clint
9 7
Dayley, Mark
9 8
Doug and Terry
9 9
Fool Bull, Kirk
9 10
Francis, Darold
9 11
Holland, Terri
9 12
Jensen, Amy
9 13
Johnson, Timothy
9 14
Johnson, Salvador
9 15
Mangrum, Kelly
9 16
Marshall, Randall
9 17
Moon, Gwen
9 18
Morris, Lance
9 19
Myers, Don
9 20
Stark, Nick
9 21
Yokum, Nick

Oklevueha Earthwalks Native American ChurchReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
10-11
Oklevueha Earthwalks Native American Church Materials
Legal and operational documents related to the founding, operation, and history of the Oklevueha Earthwalks Native American Church, established by James and Linda Mooney.
12
Oklevueha Earthwalks Ceremony Waiver Forms
Signed waivers from participants in Oklevueha ceremonies.
1998-2000

Legal ResearchReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
13 1
Alberto R. Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal: Brief of Douglas Laycock as Amicus Curiae in Support of Respondents
2005
13 2
Alberto R. Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal: Brief of the Council on Spiritual Practices
13 3
Peyote (Legal)
13 4
Equal Protection Cases
13 5
Equal Protection Cases
13 6
United States of America v. Robert Lawrence Boyle; Memorandum Opinion and Order
1991
13 7
Sweat Lodge Law Suit

General Legal MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box
14
Legal Materials
Assorted documents related to the various legal actions James and Linda Mooney have been involved with since 1997.
15
Partial James Mooney Legal Exhibit Set
Bates Number 00-070, Exhibits 20-57 (incomplete)

Hanging FilesReturn to Top

Possibly from the State of Utah v. James Mooney prosecution team.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
16 1
Amici Briefs
16 2
A Shii Beto
16 3
Crime Lab
16 4
DEA Diversion Info
16 5
Florida Bufurdy
16 6
Fool Bull, South Dakota
16 7
Gunnison City
16 8
Heritage
16 9
Holland, Terri
16 10
Mitchell, Johnson
17 1
Meskey, Jeffrey Vernon
2000-2001
17 2
Military Take-Home Peyote
1997
17 3
Peyote Conversion Chart
17 4
Pritchard
17 5
LT. Robinson, Jeff
17 6
Stark, Nick
17 7
Utah Supreme Court
17 8
Whitesides, Lynn
2005
18
Legal Documents
1997-2006
19
Legal Documents by Subject
20
State of Utah v. James Mooney
Documents related to the initial peyote case against Mooney.
21
United States of America v. James Mooney
Documents related to the case re-opened by federal prosecutors.
22
James Mooney v. Kay Bryson, Misc. Other Evidence
Documents related to Mooney's suit against prosecutor Kay Bryson.
23
Central Utah Correctional Facility Lawsuit Materials
Documents related to James Mooney's wrongful termination suit against his former employer, CUCF.
24
Central Utah Correctional Facility Materials
25-26
James Mooney and Merrilee Petersen v. The Utah Department of Corrections Materials
27
Bates Set 00001-00900
28
Bates Set 00901-01600
29
Bates Set 01601-02481
30
Bates Set 02595-03291
31
Bates Set 03292-04138
32
Bates Set 04139-04895
33
Bates Set 04896-05769
34
Bates Set 05770-06472
35
Bates Set 06473-07373
36
Bates Set 07374-08301
37
Bates Set 08302-08986
38
Bates Set 08987-09709

General MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box
39
Card File
Business cards, donation receipts, etc.
40
Clippings (newsprint)
41
NAC Concept Art
Conceptual sketches and diagrams of a large Native American Church compound that the Mooneys aspired to build.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Constitutional law--Religious aspects
  • Constitutional law--United States--Cases
  • Freedom of religion--United States
  • Hallucinogenic drugs and religious experience--Law and legislation
  • Indians of North America--Utah--Rites and ceremonies
  • Peyote--Law and legislation--United States
  • Peyotism--Utah

Personal Names

  • Mooney, James Flaming Eagle (James Warren), 1944---Archives
  • Mooney, James Flaming Eagle (James Warren), 1944---Trials, litigation, etc.
  • Mooney, Linda Bright Hawk--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Oklevueha Native American Church--Records and correspondence

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business correspondence
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Law Materials
  • Personal correspondence
  • Photocopies