A nationally-recognized program that provides spiritual counseling to Indian inmates in tribal, state and federal prisons has been grounded by the Navajo Nation.

The Navajo Nation Corrections Project frequently goes off the reservation to provide guidance to inmates. But its travel requests have been denied by the tribe's Department of Behavior Health Services, director Lenny Foster said.

Madan Pudel, a health administrator, said the requests are being denied because the program hasn't provided a plan and a list of priorities to the department. Also, an executive order limits travel off the reservation.

The Navajo Nation Corrections Project was a 2003 honoree of the Honoring Nations program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Get the Story:
Spiritual program funding is axed (The Gallup Independent 1/24)

Relevant Links:
Navajo Nation Corrections Project - http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/
hpaied/NavajoNationCorrectionsProject.htm

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