Eagle Feathers at Center of Tribal Leaders' Court Battle

After a nine-year battle with the federal government for using eagle feathers in his traditional Native American dance, Robert Soto, a tribal chief for the Lipan Apache Tribe, is getting his day in court.

According to an article in The Daily Caller, Soto faced up to 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for having the feathers.

The eagle feathers were confiscated in 2006 by the government in a covert operation called "Operation Powwow."

Possession of the national bird's feathers is illegal under federal law, unless you're granted a permit. Native American tribes are normally given permission, but because the federal government doesn't recognize the Lipan Apache Tribe, Soto was denied.

Soto challenged the government under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The feathers were returned to him a month ago with the conidition that they could not be used by any one else in his tribe.

"It would be like the United States government coming into your church and disbanding your church and telling you that you couldn't worship God, using idiotic laws," he said. "Like 'there was the exchange of money at your powwow so your powwow ceased to be sacred,' or 'you advertised your powwow in the newspaper and that ceased to be sacred.'"

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas will hear the case on Thursday. The court will determine whether the federal government can seize eagle feathers from religious Native American dancers and bar them from practicing their faith.