IN THE SPIRIT OF CARZY HORSE
BY LUIS V. RODRIGUEZ, C-33000
(A-1-119), P.O. Box 7500, Crescent City, CA 95531
On December 14, 1993, i was released from Pelican Bay State Prison's Security
Housing Unit (SHU) lock-up, where I had been sent from San Quentin's Death
Row, after having been resentenced to Life Without Possibility of Parole.
During my transfer from the SHU to the A-Facility Mainline Housing, I walked
on grass for the first time in fifteen years-an overwhelming experience!
Within the first few days of my release, I found my way to the chapel area
to make my first contact with the Native American Community-the Chapel Clerk
of the Sacred Mountain Religious Group (SMRG) in the group's office. The
office is a rather small room, set off to the side, just a little larger
than my prison cell, and shared by both the Native American and the Catholic
Chapel Clerk.
I quickly noticed that the Protestant Chaplain's office is a good four times
larger. I also observed the extreme disparity between the Protestant Chaplain's
office resources and supplies, as well as the Catholic's, in comparison
to the meager resources and supplies for the Native American Spiritual Group,
the obvious differences being the overabundance (three large wall bookshelves)
of books, boxes of cassette tapes and videos, as well as other office supplies,
most notably two computers, two printers and a laptop computer. The SMRG's
office materials and supplies consist of a desk, a typewriter, a small almost
bare bookshelf, and a small wooden box for storing herbs and other items.
To date, I have spent most of my "free movement" time at the Native
American Chapel office, participating in discussions with other Native American
Brothers and attending our group's spiritual meetings and ceremonies. Thus
I have come to know the serious dedication of our group as a "Rainbow
Society" to spiritual and cultural activities.
Self-teaching spiritual classes are held each Monday afternoon and coordinated
mainly by the SMRG's Clerk. I have found these classes invaluable, enriching
in spirit, and well conducted. The main theme is spiritual sanctity and
tradition. Yet the entire group agrees that "outside guidance and involvement"
is much needed. So we are seeking outside assistance to overcome a few very
simple, but very serious, needs. These are as follows:
1. Because various members of our group are denied their tribe's specific,
authorized religious items and the group is denied its ceremonial drum,
we need letters of support sent to the Warden, Associate Warden, Program
Administrator, and Chaplain, 5905 Lake Earl Drive, Crescent City, CA 95531.
2. A Medicine Man is needed to bless and consecrate our group's ceremonial
pipe (a priority) and family pipe in order for us to properly exercise our
ceremonies and prayers.
3. Visits from spiritual leaders or any other concerned Native American
willing to extend support in spiritual fellowship and cultural teachings
to the group, regardless of tribal affiliation.
4. Contacts, donations, and assistance in obtaining such religious items
as medicine bags, a drum, buffalo skull, feathers, rattles, firewood, etc.
The group's efforts to obtain and possess a ceremonial drum within the institution
has been denied for some time by the prison administration with such excuses
as "Due to the security and control of," or "Control and
safety of." We need a drum-the heartbeat of our people!
These things are crucial to our spiritual group because we respect the ways
and teachings of our ancestors, our elders, our leaders, and we honor the
"Declaration of War" recently issued by our Lakota, Dakota and
Nakota Brothers concerning their spirituality, the type of sweatlodge and
pipe authorized within the California Department of Corrections prisons.
In addition to writing those mentioned above, if you are concerned with
our rights and needs to exercise our Native American religion and want to
be approved for a visit, to be a sponsor, or to properly donate needed items,
write or call:
The Sacred Mountain Religious Group, c/o R. G. Bliesner, 5905 Lake Earl
Drive, Crescent City, CA 95531, (707) 465-1000, ext. 7910.
In the spirit of Crazy Horse!
Native American
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