LINCOLN, Neb. -- Picture this: A religious retreat into nature -- in the middle of the city – where you can escape into spirituality despite the bustling metro activities. That's the purpose of two Native American sweat lodges in Lincoln. Now, people are taking more action to protect them – just as more than 500 housing units are scheduled to be built in the area. 

"It was chosen very carefully for its location," said Lory Dance, a sociologist and ally of the Niskithe Prayer Camp, about The Fish Farm sweat lodge. 

Niskithe, which means "salt water" in Omaha, refers to the fact that the sweat lodges are on particularly salty land, which is meant to be special land. The exceptional land was only surrendered to the city in the 1800s as the Otoe Missouri people were forced out. 

“A contract is not valid if it’s signed under duress,” Dance said. 

Today, the lodges are also next to Wildnerness Park and surrounding vegetation, which was previously protected as agricultural zoning. 

"Lincoln is a growing city and development is a part of our moment right now," Erin Poor of the Cherokee Nation said.

But, she said, proposed housing near Highway 77 and West Pioneers Boulevard would be harmful.

Since Lincoln’s City Council voted to change the area to urban zoning – it’s allowed for construction, now that the Diocese of Lincoln sold the property to Manzitto Construction. 

But this zoning change would potentially end the Native American sweat lodge ceremonies, according to Joshua Smith, an ally of the Niskithe Prayer Camp and co-organizer.

“It would eliminate the open fire [...] Those stones that are brought in are heated by a fire in front of the lodges, and that would be against the zoning now,” Smith said. 

In addition, Poor said traffic would ruin the atmosphere in the area.

"With over 1200 cars going through that, the nature and solitude that is part of that ceremony is going to be disrupted," Poor said.

Smith likened it to building a freeway on a church’s front steps. 

"Not to mention the ability to practice drums and loud singing right at the back door of neighbors who do not know what's going on," Smith said. “Those ceremony grounds are contingent upon the nature of the earth."

Now, demonstrators are ramping up their tactics from prayer and teepee stays to petitions and lawsuits. Thursday, May 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Niskithe Prayer Camp and supporters rallied in front of the capitol. 

It's not just about freedom of religion.

"We're also striving to protect this land [...] This development takes away soil that will be able to absorb rain," Poor said.

She explained, organizers have already protested to the city council about their fears of flooding, based on their experience with the area.

“There is traditional ecological knowledge that the natives have,” she said. 

After Thursday's rally, the Niskithe Prayer Camp plans to meet and weigh legal options to make sure their voices are protected.

Poor said that the mayor has been somewhat more receptive than Manzitto and the Church, promising to bring more native opinions into the government’s decisions in the future. 

Until then, organizers said they are not done fighting for the prevention – or at least changes – to the housing development. 

The Nebraska Examiner noted Manzitto previously indicated there would be modifications, including a fence and light restrictions. 

Smith noted he’d like to see a bigger barrier, such as a meditation park, in between homes and the ceremonies. 

They’ve already shared a petition with Manzitto, which Dance noted has more than 2,500 signatures from across the world. She said it’s important to highlight, "This has support from a broad spectrum. [...] This is also a United Nations issue that is being violated by the mayor's office," Dance said. 

Smith concluded that it is being nationally recognized because it’s not just about indigenous peoples. 

“The city is choosing the voice of a business over the people. This is a native issue, but it's also a community issue,” he concluded.