The Crow Nation has taken the "Jesus Is Lord" resolution drafted by Senator JC Stewart in 2013 and erected a billboard, proclaiming that "Jesus Christ is Lord in the Crow Nation."
The billboard, which is 33 feet tall and 5 feet below ground, was dedicated in a ceremony attended by Crow tribal and religious leaders in December last year. The billboard has the full support of the Crow tribal government.
The "Jesus Is Lord" resolution was approved by the Crow tribal legislature in 2013, and was titled, "The Crow Tribal Legislature to honour God for his great blessings upon the Crow Tribe and to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord of the Crow Indian Reservation."
The resolution may seem as a violation of the United States Constitution's First Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing a specific religion. However, the Billings Gazette said that the Crow Nation's constitution does not contain a clause that prohibits such an establishment.
Also, according to Indian Country, the Crow Nation has already embraced the Christian religion, particularly Pentecostalism, because of its similarities to the Crow tribal practices including healing through fasting and praying.
As a result, Senator Stewart's resolution was warmly accepted by the Crow Nation and was unanimously passed in 2013. The resolution paved the way for erecting the billboard, which was sponsored by the Crow Nation government.
Moreover, the Crow constitution protects "full exercise of religion," and Senator Stewart said that non-Christians in the Crow Nation don't have a reason to feel uncomfortable about the resolution.
"Some people may not believe in the name of Jesus," he said. "That's fine, we don't put that down." Stewart also added that everyone in the Crow Nation is "taught by elders to respect all religions."
"This is part of the foundation to initiate peace, initiate joy, initiate happiness," tribal secretary AJ Not Afraid, told the Billings Gazette.
