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February 25, 2003 Subcommittee of the State-Tribal
Relations Committee
Posted to SDPSG by Marletta Pacheco
I wanted to write up a little report for you concerning the meeting
in Pierre.
On Tuesday, February 25, 2003 A subcommittee of the State-Tribal
Relations Committee was held in Pierre, SD.
The Subcommittee members are; Rep. Stanford Adelstein, Chair, Rep.
Jean Huhoff, Rep. Paul Valandra
Department of Corrections, Secretary Tim Reisch, Warden Weber,
Warden Russell, Warden Dooly were present.
Issues raised at the November 14-15, 2002 meeting of the State-
Tribal Relations Committee meeting dealing with Native Americans in
the prison system.
Among others who were present were Senators and Representatives;
Duniphan, Brown, LaPoint, Murschel, Thompson, Koetzle, Bradford,
Juhnke, Van Norman, Tuepel, Earley, I may have missed some.
DOC talked first, the Wardens each presented the different programs
that their facility had for Native Americans.
Examples Warden Weber gave was Sweats,Pipe Ceremonies, Drum Group,
NA Church, Sweats weekly at Redfield. Roy Stone, John Around Him who
would go to the Segregation Units. Statistics of how many
participated in January, 359 SDSP, 172, Jameson, with a total of
531 Redfield has Sweats weekly.
Springfield, Warden Dooley; Talking Circle, Council Meetings, Lakota
Language Classes, Sweatlodge, Homaza Singers, Special Activities;
Pow Wow's with immediate family and outside groups. Also a Spiritual
Conference with outside guests who speak on the Sundance, Sweatlodge
etc.
Warden Russell with the SD Women's prison in Pierre, a yearly Pow
Wow, Songs, tobacco ties, Pipe Ceremonies, Cultural Activities.
Hunhoff brought up the follow up on the medical issues and families
not being informed = answer,they reviewed the policy and that is was
approved to notify families when the inmate is admitted to the
hospital.
Pow Wows for family brought up by Bradford, answer; security
reasons, to be held in the visiting room SDSP.
Van Norman brought up the support for restorative reform.
They presented the statistics of how many Native Americans were in
AD SEG AND DIS SEG, and population.
Public testimony on issues raised at the November meeting.
I told them that some things since the last meeting are the same and
some are worse. I thanked them for the changes on the phone costs,
bingo at Springfield, the cost of the TV's going down to $75.00 and
told them the guys said that now they pat search whites and indians
now.
Warden Weber mentioned earlier how he worked with families about the
inmates who were sent to the hospital etc. I said that when I
asked about what happened to my nephew, the response that I got was
get it in discovery!
I mentioned the cost of copies 15 cents, $5.00 charge to see the Dr.
and they ar enow paying for 23 different meds that they used to
receive when they saw the Dr or nurse.
Retailiation in the form of fines and loss of recreation.
legal mail tampered with.
An inmate had 26 threats on his life, he requested 5 times to be
transferred, the prison had an investigation and he was returned to
population and got stabbed, he received 84 to 86 stitches. I told
his mother about it, she wasn't notified, she called, they told her
that he was ok and being held in a special unit. She went to visit
him and arranged visitation because the special unit was the hole.
Another incident that happened was and inmate requested to call his
Attorney 3 times, he requested to call again, he was told that he
didn't request 3 times before, an argument happened, 3 CO's one with
a fire extinquisher, the other 2 with hand held devises with pepper
spray or mace surrounded the cage and showered him, he was soaked,
they left the room and came back an hour later with riot gear on and
extracted the inmate fromt he cage. They shut off the ventilation
to the section, this caused the other inmates breathing problems, 4
inmates asked them to turn on the ventilation, no response, so they
started pushing their emergency buttons and found that they were
turned off.
I gave the Subcommitte the list of complaints that I had received
and touched on some of them. But because we needed to keep it short
I left the information for the record.
Nancy Fleming gave very good testimony concerning some
constitutional violations, the due process for Ad Seg and more.
I'll ask her to write about it so you can have an accurate account
of what she talked about.
Twylla Turney also testified about her suicide prevention program
and going into the prisons to talk about it. She also talked about
the Oglala Sioux Tribe appointing her to represent them concerning
prison issues. I think she will be writing about her testimony
later.
Joy read some letters that were written to Warden Weber and his
response concerning some situations of her brothers in there. Good
testimony.
Jean Koster, SD Peace & Justice Center asked about the program that
they used to have in the SDSP with the Lakota Language Class. They
said that they would look into it to see what happened, why it
ended.
Jennifer Ring, ACLU also testified about the many complaints that
she receives, she said that she looks for patterns and what may be
causing those patterns in prison.
Elroy Wabasha testified, and told them that he was an inmate there
and shared what it was like to be in there, he said that it was
hard. He said that he wanted to talk because he left a lot of
brothers inside and wanted to help them out. He told of the misuse
of their policys and if an inmate stood up against them they would
be labeled a trouble maker and put in ad seg which he did his last 5
years in there. When asked what would he do to make changes, he
said look at the record of the current administration, see how many
suicides and deaths there have been, he said you should have fired
Weber and those guys a long time ago, he condones what his staff is
doing. I knew that had to be hard on Elroy, many of the Senators
went over to him put their hand on his shoulder and shook hands with
him after the meeting, I heard Weber even went to shake his hand.
I have recieved more letters after I got back and will take each one
and place them where they can be used as a late report or the
information to be taken to the DOC meetings.
DOC said that they will look into these things. We'll see.
Jennifer Ring said that we have a lot of credibility at the Capitol
as a group.
I was told by Van Norman, without our help these meetings wouldn't
be happening.
We have small victories and that's better than nothing.
My dream is that our loved ones will get the real kind of help and
they would come home with skills to live with our families in a good
way, right now, all we can expect is a lot of anger and bitterness
from their experience in prison. Change must happen.
Thanks to all of you for all your help, it's making a difference.
Marletta
Posted to SDPSG by Twylla Turney
Good evening, Support Group;
First of all your all in my prayers 24/7.
Well about the meeting I was 40minutes late, lucky I never seen any
police on Reservation, or State roads.
I was over speed limit all the way.
I took some testimony for a couple of families, since it was short
notice, and due to storm conditions.
Wasn't really ready to testify when I arrived.
Didn't start the way I wanted to needed copies made that took a long
time.
It was a good thing I scanned over the 2 testimonies while flying down
highway.
Here are some of the questions I asked.
1. Health care/ prescriptions
2. Abuse; verbally, insults
3. Double celling inmates
4. Disabled/ mentally, physically
5. Handicap; blind, deaf
6. Religion
7. Guards being trained culterly
8. Isolation, solidarity confinement
9. G.E.D
10. Library
11. Project programs
12. Lawyer meeting with inmates
13. Food
Need better treatment or equally treated as others."Treat person(s)
as you want to be treated," that person(s) will return the same
respect,truthful, honesty, and pride, should be among all.
Don't dehumanize our people for their mistakes or yours.
Communication between all persons.
From very top person to last in totem pole.
Concering Guards
Security guards; overtime dehumanized vicious, committing domestic
violence,child abuse
"Tendency to sadism."
Authoritarainism, "I'VE GOT THE POWER'",attitude, paranoia,speaking
prejudice.
These things are happening to (police, military,security guards etc.)
They are happening in;our society today. People with authority positions.
They should be evaluated and speak to psychrists at times. Over zealous
enforment of minor rules,regulations. Leave home problems at home door
steps, also vice versa at work.
6 months evaluation by outside psychrist, not DOC.
Spoke to Warden Weber after meeting about this psychrist evaluation for
guards.
Warden Weber wants me to speak at all prisons concering suicide.
I e-mailed all this to Rep. Van Norman.
Here is a letter from;
February 21, 2003
To; State-Tribal Relations Subcommittee
South Dakota State Legislature
From; John Yellow Bird Steele/>br?
President, Oglala Sioux Tribe
Re; Representation-Twylla Turney
This will serve as official notification that Ms. Twylla Turney, an
enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, will be attending meetings of
your committee, specifically in discussions regarding Native Americans in
the prison systems and issues that pertain to efforts to start a "Bill Kieth
Turney Memorial Suicide Prevention" project. She is willing to speak to
schools,jails,juvenile detention centers, boot camps,and female/male
prisoners and anyone who is concerned, as she is a survivor of a suicide
son. Twylla's goals are to help anybody who is thinking of suicide and she
wants to do what she can to help prevent this tragedy. She is very concerned
about our Native Americans in the prison system and would like to be
involved to assist where she can.
I appreciate your recognition of Ms. Turney as a representative from my
office. Thank You.
Anyone wanting me to speak can contact me,e mail or call
(605)4626371
(605)4626273
18882080791
e-mail address: snobhill_mama1121 at hotmail.com.
I'll be very obligated to do this.
All I ask for is donation while there speaking.
And at least 2-3 day notice plus a letter from Authorized person on a
letter head.
Sorry it took me long to get this report to you.
(WOPILA) Thank you;
Twylla Turney
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