Prison pow wow returns
By Richie RichardsNative Sun News Staff Writer SIOUX FALLS –– When South Dakota State Penitentiary inmate Myron Eagle Star took off his tan prison clothing and put on his colorful grass dance regalia, “the walls of the prison began to disappear,” as the drummers and singers sang their traditional Lakota songs. Eagle Star was able to express his religious freedoms and practice his traditional cultural spirituality again, after the powwow had been banned in 2014. For Eagle Star, dancing to the prayer songs and being able to drape himself in the regalia he worked tireless hours to make is a form of connection to his creator. This is one way Eagle Star prays. On Saturday, July 18, Native American inmates in the state penitentiary were able to host invited family members to their first quarterly powwow since the summer of 2014. Shortly after the powwow last year, prison officials banned the powwows citing security concerns. This powwow has been a continuous presence in the prison since the early 1980’s when inmates wanted to honor the death of Kimberly Rose Means, 11, daughter of Ted and Rita Means, at the hands of a drunk driver, LeRoy Lebert near Colome, South Dakota in June of 1981. Kimberly Rose was killed on her way to participate in the annual Freedom Run at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. LeRoy Lebert was charged with DUI but not for the death of Kimberly Rose. Since the tragic death, inmates have honored Kimberly Rose with powwows and a Freedom Run within the prison walls. They pray for the life of Kimberly as well as those who are on the outside and working towards a positive life. Preceding the pow wow on July 16-17, the LDN Spiritual Group, a forming non-profit group in the prison, over the years has been putting on cultural and spiritual conferences in which speakers come to the event to speak to prisoners and pray with them. This year Native Sun News was invited by the LDN Spiritual Group to present the newspaper’s work in the community and their partnership with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office for justice reform in the Rapid City area as well as being a voice and member on the Safety & Justice Planning Committee working towards reducing Native American jail populations in the PennCo Jail. During this year’s powwow, there was three dancers in regalia; Sonny Richards, OST Tribal Liaison, Myron Eagle Star, inmate and Harriet Jennesse, Lower Brule Sioux Tribal member (Kul Wicasa). Various honorings took place during the powwow. The family who were instrumental in donating the buffalo meat for the meals was honored with a star quilt, a man who comes to the prison to teach Lakota language, culture and history as well as a woman who lost her daughter this past year were all honored. Native Sun News was honored for their participation in the cultural conference and powwow. The inmates wished to recognize Native Sun News’ commitment to the Native American community both on the reservation and in urban areas. As part of their honoring, NSN was given a beaded medallion, now proudly displayed in an NSN office. Also honored during the triumphant return of this summer’s powwow was women’s traditional dancer Harriet Jennesse. She was honored for her continued support of the powwow and coming to dance in her regalia over the years. While Jennesse was being honored, she tearfully told the story of her entrance into the prison. When she went through security, part of Jennesse’s regalia, her deer antler knife and awl, were taken from her to be placed in a locker until her departure. This was upsetting to Jennesse who said this taking of her sacred, traditional regalia was disrespectful and hurtful. “I feel incomplete. I don’t feel whole. I am embarrassed to be dancing without my knife and awl,” she said during her honoring speech. The knife and awl, made of deer antler, were taken from her because they were “sharp objects” according to the correctional staff who was responsible for inspecting her personal belongings and regalia items. When Jennesse dances, this is part of the ceremony taking place and those sharp objects are respected in the highest regard by those in attendance. They are not considered weapons, but spiritual objects. Although a security concern for the prison, these traditional regalia pieces worn by women have their place in the overall religious and cultural proceedings and Jennesse’s tears were evidence of the prison’s harsh regulations over powwow ceremonies over the years. The emcee of the powwow was a man named Blue Bird, he is an inmate serving a life-without parole sentence and has been incarcerated for 32 years. Blue Bird is from Allen, SD and uses his life in prison as a mentoring role for younger inmates and returning inmates. Blue Bird shared Indian humor jokes and told hopeful stories about the day he “walks out of here.” The lead speaker for the LDN Spiritual Group was Robert Horse who has been in prison for 16 years, but during his time locked up has acquired a paralegal degree. Horse shared with NSN some of the projects he has been working on and some of the concerns of Native American prisoners at the state penitentiary. Among the concerns Horse spoke about was advocacy for the inmates in the prison. He would like to see more support from families and programs designed to help tribal members. Also, despite having won a court case, inmates are still denied tobacco use during ceremonies. “This is a public safety issue. We would like to see more people working on addiction, housing, youth mentorship, family violence, and reservation living to be present at these conferences and powwows,” says Horse. Robert Horse is asking for more participation and speaks about the Native inmate population as a culture and an important component to the tribal structure. “We don’t want to be forgotten. We feel our voice needs to be heard. The things we want to share with those on the outside are important. I am working on bringing someone to listen to us, so we can tell the youth, this is not a place for you,” Horse tells NSN. He would like to produce a mini-documentary for distribution within tribal communities. The LDN Spiritual Group will be having another Cultural Conference and Powwow in October and would like to invite persons from the media, directors of programs, tribal leaders, addiction counselors, youth advocates, victim’s support specialists, and others interested in speaking and attending the powwow. If you would like to attend the October Cultural Conference and Powwow, please feel free to contact outside volunteer Mark Sanderson at 605-941-1841 or for more information please visit the Cultural Activities page of the South Dakota State Penitentiary at doc.sd.gov/adult/cultural.aspx (Contact Richie Richards at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
Join the Conversation
