1978 – after decades of advocacy, this was the year Native Nations reclaimed the right to practice their religions freely. The “1978” sweatshirt by High Rez commemorates that historic victory and connects it to the on going fight for Indigenous sovereignty and self determination today.
The “1978” sweatshirt by High Rez is more than just apparel – it’s a wearable tribute to the resilience and spirit we’ve been talking about. High Rez, an Indigenous-owned brand, infused this piece with intention at every level, from the bold emboridery to the fabric choice. When you wear it, you’re literally wearing a piece of history and a statement of solidarity and action.
it was Illegal to be Native
For generations, Native spiritual practices were criminalized. Ceremonies like the Sun Dance were outlawed by the U.S. government under the code of Indian Offenses in 1883 – forcing Native people to go underground with their traditional ways in secrecy. Traditional dances, songs, and rituals were banned on reservations under pain of incarceration, violence, rations withheld, and spiritual leaders were actively targeted. In short, the First Amendment’s promise of religious liberty did not apply to Indigenous peoples. Prior to 1978, many aspects of Native American religions and sacred ceremonies were still prohibited by law and those engaging were targeted by the FBI and other enforcement agencys. Imagine you’re praying for a loved one and you hear a helicopter land outside of your place of prayer to stop your community focused healing. That was what it was like for many in the 60’s and 70s in Native communities, and yet the wayz persist.
Native activists and allies had had enough. The American Indian Movement and tribal leaders across the country fought for the basic right to worship and hold ceremonies. Key allies in Washington, like Lebanese American Senator James Abourezk of South Dakota, took up the cause in Congress. Abourezk, the first chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, had pushed for a thorough review of federal policies toward tribes, laying groundwork for reform. Their efforts culminated in a watershed moment: in 1978, Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA), signed by President Jimmy Carter on August 11, 1978. For the first time, Native Americans’ right to legally exercise their religions was formally recognized and protected in U.S. law.
1978: A Landmark Year for Indigenous Religious Freedom but only the beginning
The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 was brief but powerful in intent. Its purpose was “to return basic civil liberties” to Indigenous peoples and allow them to “practice, protect and preserve” their traditional beliefs and ceremonies. No longer would speaking one’s Native language in prayer or using sacred objects like sage, drums, or eagle feathers be deemed illegal. The law explicitly affirmed rights that had long been denied including access to sacred sites, the freedom to worship through traditional rituals, and the possession of sacred items needed for prayer.
For Native communities, this was a profound victory. Imagine: after decades of hiding your most important ceremonies, you could finally just focus on the community. 1978 became a symbol of cultural survival – proof that Indigenous traditions were here to stay. The AIRFA also forced federal agencies to reexamine their regulations. Parks, forests, and other agencies were told to “eliminate interference” with Native religious exercise and accommodate access to sacred sites wherever possible.
However, 1978 was only the beginning of a larger story. The law itself had significant limitations. It lacked strong enforcement provisions and applied primarily to federal government actions. In practice, that meant the act was a policy statement without “teeth” – it did not automatically halt a dam or a mine that threatened a holy sacred place. Courts soon proved how fragile these protections were. In 1988, for example, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could build a road “The G-O Road” through sacred high country in Karuk and Yurok lands in Northern California, even though it “significantly interfere[d]” with Native worship – because, the Court said, it did not coerce individuals to violate their beliefs. Cases like this underscored that while 1978’s legal milestone was important, it wasn’t enough on its own. Additional laws (such as a 1994 update protecting the use of peyote in the Native American Church) and ongoing vigilance would be needed to truly secure Indigenous religious freedom.
1978 stands as a turning point: the year the U.S. officially acknowledged Native Peoples’ rights to practice ways that have existed for a millennia before the concept of the US Empire. Every time you see that number, it’s a reminder of the ones who fought to protect our ways of life. The “1978” sweatshirt honors this legacy – but it also recognizes that the struggle for Indigenous rights is far from over.
The Fight Continues
Fast forward to today, and Indigenous communities are still fighting to protect our rights – often under the banner of tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Tribal sovereignty means that Native nations have the inherent right to govern themselves, their lands, and their affairs. Self-determination meaning we decide how its carried out.
Tribal sovereignty is often the final shield protecting Native rights. When a pipeline threatens to spill oil in a river, it’s often a tribal nation’s treaty that forces a reroute. When a sacred species like salmon or buffalo is at risk, it’s frequently Indigenous nations that lead the charge to protect them. In fact, tribal treaties and sovereignty don’t just defend Native communities – they help protect the environment and cultural heritage for everyone. In other words, when all else fails, the obligations the United States has toward tribal nations can be the decisive factor that stops an injustice. Indigenous Organizers and activists have made powerful things happen when Indigenous Rights and ways are the framework to which progress is made in defending our lands.
This reality has turned Native nations into frontline guardians of the land. From the Mojave Desert to the Black Hills, when corporations or agencies push too far, tribes invoke sovereignty to say “No.” Their legal status – as Nations that pre-date the United States, with rights guaranteed by treaty – gives them tools that ordinary citizens and states often lack. Tribal sovereignty is not just a principle; it’s a practical defense. It’s the reason, for example, that a court voided oil leases in Badger-Two Medicine (Montana) – because the Blackfeet Nation’s treaty rights to that sacred area had to be respected. It’s why states and companies must consult tribes on developments -Free Prior and Informed Consent– because tribes have legal standing to demand protection of their lands.
However, sovereignty is only as strong as the respect it’s given. Every time tribal sovereignty is upheld, it benefits not only Indigenous people but all who value clean water, unspoiled forests, and cultural diversity. And conversely, when sovereignty is undermined, we all lose a crucial ally in the fight for a sustainable, just future.
The 1978 sweatshirt reminds us that the ability to practice one’s religion was the first step; the larger goal is the right to live according to one’s culture and values on one’s own land with protection of the lands themselves. It also serves as a call and response to organize and support with Native Nations as they are often the last line of protections for American Citizens at large.
The 1978 sweatshirt is more than a cozy piece of clothing – it’s a conversation starter, an educational tool, and a statement of allyship. Putting it on in the morning, you might recall the story of elders who danced the Sun Dance in secret so that one day their grandchildren could dance in the open. You might think of the activists fighting for Oak Flat or protesting pipelines, and feel their courage on your shoulders. This isn’t hyperbole – it’s the truth embroidered in the fabric. Clothing can carry stories, and this one carries one of a better future recognizing that in this country its only in 1978 that Indigenous Peoples ways of life were recognized and acknowledged.
We invite you to wear the 1978 sweatshirt with pride and purpose. Let it remind you (and those who ask about it) that the fight for Indigenous rights is ongoing – and that we all have a role to play in it. Whether you are Native or a non-Native ally, you become part of the story by choosing to support and represent this cause. Every time someone asks, “Why 1978?”, you have an opportunity to share about the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, about the importance of protecting Native sovereignty, and why it is so critical today. In doing so, you help keep these issues in the public eye and honor those who have walked before us and you save us just a little bit of the leg work of educating how we got here today. What High Rez hopes you take away is that this is recent and theres a ton of work to do to make it right.
