Law | National

Native Sun News: Great Plains tribes address issues of inmates

Monday, November 2, 2015

The South Dakota State Penitentiary is located in Sioux Falls. Photo from Native American Council of Tribes / Facebook

NSN to address prison problems
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Managing Editor

RAPID CITY –– As a result of the recent articles on Native Sun News’ visits to the state penitentiary, the newspaper was asked to present information gained to the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association’s (GPTCA) meeting on Oct. 30 in Rapid City.

The inmates at the South Dakota State Penitentiary – Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls have been granted permission to practice their traditional cultural ceremonies once again from prison officials.

The Cultural Conference and Pow wow in June 2015 was the return of the events after being banned in early 2014. The pow wow gives the inmates something to look forward to, but also gives them access to the outside world.

The pow wow gives them a voice in the urban-Indian and reservation communities, according to George Blue Bird, an Oglala Lakota inmate serving a life without parole sentence.

This inside voice and first-hand knowledge of the criminal mind and prison population is a major asset when researching the needs of inmates upon their release into tribal communities.

At the most recent conference and pow wow, inmate organizers made a plea for those in attendance to spread the word to bring tribal leaders to the next event in January.

Native Sun News was contacted by A. Gay Kingman, Executive Director of GPTCA, who spoke about her interest in learning more and getting the tribes involved. Kingman understands the need for tribal leadership’s involvement in the mental health, addiction recovery, and transitional requirements for those returning home after long stints in prison.

Presentations at this month’s GPTCA meeting include a report from the Office of the Special Trustee – Jim James, Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender discussing race relations, reports from Chairman Miller and Chairman Wright – National Congress of the American Indian convention, and the Environmental Protection Agency – Dewey Burdock Uranium Site in Edgemont.

For this story and more, visit the all new Native Sun News website

The afternoon presentations will include; Timothy LaPointe – Tribal Interior Budget Council meeting report and Ernest Pourier – Director of Budget, Chairman Feider and tribal attorney Seth Pearman - Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe will discuss Marijuana Venture and State’s Intrusion on Tribal Sovereignty, Native Sun News will present Prisoners Seeking Tribal Leaders Support.

Following will be the presentations will be the FEMA’s presentation regarding the implementation of the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with Oglala Sioux Tribal President John Steele and Carole A. Garcia - FEMA, Reed Robinson - Tribal Relations Manager of the National Parks Service, followed by Bret Healy – Four Directions.

A. Gay Kingman and Frank King will close out the day with a GPTCA website presentation.

South Dakota members of the GPTCA include Harold Frazier, Roxanne Sazue, John Yellowbird Steele, Bob Flying Hawk, Bruce Renville, and Tony Reider.

North Dakota members include Mark Fox, Myra Pearson, David Archambault, and Richard McCloud. The members from Nebraska are Vernon Miller, Roger Trudell, and John Blackhawk.

In a letter written to Native Sun News by inmate Robert Horse with presentation materials, Horse provided a Vision Statement which read, “Create a working collaborative partnership between the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, Tribal Prisoners, Tribal Councils, Department of Corrections, State and Federal Legislatures, and community/tribal organizations to address religious rights, human rights, cultural programming, programs that will reduce incarceration, and recidivism. Moreover, establish communications for the collaborative partnership.”

Horse included several pages summarizing S.D. State Penitentiary inmate concerns to be presented to the GPTCA. These will be outlined and provided to tribal leaders during NSN’s presentation.

Oftentimes prisoners are a forgotten demographic of the tribal populations, but many of the inmate leaders of the Jameson Annex refuse to go unheard. Their efforts are making an impact which will not only affect those in South Dakota, but will set an example for Native Americans incarcerated around the country in state and federal prisons.

The Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association’s meeting was held Friday, Oct. 30 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Washington Room at the Ramkota in Rapid City. For more information, please call (605) 343-8550.

(Contact Native Sun News Managing Editor, Richie Richards) at editor@nsweekly.com)