Arapaho tribes demand removal of church after pastor criticizes ceremonies

A religious standoff is unfolding on the Wind River Reservation between the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes and the pastor of Foundations for Nations Church, Sarah Lucas. The conflict intensified after a video surfaced in July showing Lucas describing the Arapaho sundance ceremony—a cornerstone of tribal spiritual life—as ‘idol worship.’

Tribal leaders, including Arapaho Chairman Keenan Groesbeck, have stated that Lucas is no longer welcome on the reservation. Protesters, including members of the American Indian Movement, have begun joining weekly demonstrations outside the church to voice their opposition. Many tribal members view the comments as an affront to their identity and a reminder of historical religious assimilation and abuse.

Lucas, who is not Native American but owns the land where the church is located, maintains that her sermons are a reflection of her biblical interpretation and are constitutionally protected under religious freedom. The dispute highlights the tension between individual religious expression and the rights of tribal nations to govern according to their own cultural protocols.