I was called in to speak with Mrs. Lydia Hail - the Native American spiritual advisor who has her religious beliefs based in Christianity - here at SCI-Forest State Prison. To say the least, it didn't go very well. As soon as I brought up the fact that since my arrival on March 9th, I have not been allowed to attend any Native American Sacred Circle services and only recently - the last two classes - was I even deemed worthy to sit within the circle of the Native American culture class. Often classes were canceled.

I brought up the issue with making inmates prospect to join the Native American religious services. I showed her the letter I had from the Chief Tribal Marshal of the Cherokee Nation; James "Black Wolf" Barfield. Boy, that really pissed her off and brought on her loud verbal attacks on my Nativeness. Mrs. Hail stated that she didn't care what Black Wolf or any other Tribal Nation had to say. We were in prison and they did things differently here. Furthermore, if I didn't like it; I could pray in my cell and maintain my contact with the Native People I knew.

Previously, I was told that she was from Lakota Sioux lineage, but today she stated that she was teaching from the Native Mayan tribal beliefs and she mentioned the 8 Books of the Mayans. What she didn't know about me is that in my 25 years of reading every ancient text I can get my hands on - and thanks to all the Zecharia Sitchin books I've read too - I've read the acient Mayan codexes that were the only serviving texts from these Native peoples after the Spaniards conquered them. I cannot recall anywhere in these writings where their people had to prospect to be part of their religious beliefs or tribe.

Mrs. Hail asked me if I knew what my headband stood for. I explained to her what I was taught by a Native Brother who holds a Tribal number card and teaches me the Wolf Clan teachings; The headband is a reminder that our life progresses in a circle. We come into this world as children. We grow to adulthood, then as we become elderly, we become like a child again before leaving our Mother Earth. In this way, we have made the full circle of life here on this planet. It's also a reminder that all Native American tribes are within this circle - like many circles within a circle.

Mrs. Lydia Hail stated that I was wrong. That it was a reminder to pray. She told me that I didn't pray - I do in fact pray, twice a day. Once at dawn, then before I go to sleep at night. How would she know. I've only spoken to her twice since I've been here at this facility. She also stated that I was a whiteman - half truth, but I have Native American blood on both sides of my family. Further, she said that I spoke like a whiteman, that I didn't follow the Native American beliefs and because I wasn't on a Tribal roll, I would never be allowed within a Native American tribe or reservation. This is not competely true either.

I told her that I followed the traditional Native American Red Road beliefs. Mrs. Hail called me a radical and told me I could not attend any Native American religious services here at SCI-Forest. I didn't argue with her. She is still my Elder. I just told her that I would fight legally to remove these non-traditional Native American practices within the Sacred Circle.

The conversation having been ended, I got up to leave, not wishing to engage in any verbal confrontation. On my way out of her office, she yelled after me, that I would be cutting my hair. I simply replied, "I don't think so." This would be against my Native Red Road beliefs. She is only abusing her power and authority over, to punish me for speaking what is in my heart and what I know to be true.

Just think how much uglier the situation would have been if I had mentioned her tendancy to bring her Christian beliefs into the Native American Sacred Circle. Christianity is not part of the traditional Native American belief system. I really didn't get to say much. Mrs. Hail wasn't going to allow me to get a word in edgewise. I've also learned long ago, you can never win an arguement when dealing with the Department of Corrections or its employees. It's best to keep your mouth shut and put it on a grievance which you'll never win. This still doesn't stop me for speaking up for myself or the injustices I have to endure here. This I'm sure is going to end up being a legal court action.

I would like to say, at no time have I ever voiced my complaints about these Non-Native American teachings during any Native American Sacred Service or culture class activity or to other inmates within the Sacred Circle programs. This would go against what I've been taught by my Native American Lifeways teachers. No negativity is allowed within our Sacred Circle. I brought my concerns directly to the inmate Sacred Circle Council member and our Department of Corrections appointed Spiritual Advisor. It got nowhere, so I filed a grievance via the prison grievance system. This got me threats of punishment by threatening to force me to cut my hair and I was told by inmate council member, Findian (fake ass Indian) Norm and Department of Corrections Native American-Christian spiritual advisor, Mrs. Hail, that I could not attend any Native American religious services or culture classes here at this prison facility. In doing this, they are violating my constitutional legal rights under THE AMERICAN INDIAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT of 1978, Public law 95-341, and the fact that in enacting the law, congress stated that the religious practices of American Indians are protected by the 1st and 14th amendments, CRUZ V. BETO, 405 U.S. 319, 322 N. 2 (1972)

Mrs. Hail told me if I would have been faithfully following my Traditional Native American Red Road beliefs in society I wouldn't be in prison. Even though this may be true, I'm human. I've made many mistakes in my life, but what does this have to do with making inmates prospect to join the Native American religious services or Mrs. Hail's habit of teaching her Christian beliefs within the Native American Sacred Circle? Native American means Native American. Not Christianity or Non-Native American teachings and beliefs for religious services that are for Native American Red Road faith participants. I have never encountered a Native American Tribal member, spiritual advisor, or true indigenous person who was so verbally abusive and had such a forceful jail-house dictatorship mentality as Mrs. Lydia Hail so gracelessly portrayed. Both times we spoke, she said a lot of nasty things about me and she doesn't even have a clue as to who I am as a human being. Mrs. Hail showed her true inner ugliness because I exposed the facts that making inmates prospect as if seeking membership into some sort of prison clique and being denied participation in Native American religious services until another inmate deems you worthy. She failed to acknowledge that teaching Christianity within the Native American services was not within the traditional Native American Red Road teachings and faith. These practices should not be brought into services that are for traditional Native American religious beliefs. It would be considered disrespectful if we were to go into the Christian Church or the Muslim Mosque and shove our Red Road religious beliefs down their throats, so why should Mrs. Hail be doing this within the Native American Sacred Circle? Is there any difference?

No matter if she trys to have my hair cut, I will not allow them to do so. This would violate my Native American Red Road lifeways and religious beliefs. Even if they throw me in the HOLE (restrictive housing unit for punishment) for refusing to comply to hair cut orders, a punishment for speaking the truth, exposing these Non-Native American practices being perpetrated upon inmates who follow the Native path is unjust, unfair and in violation of Federal and State laws. But the Department of Corrections, which I affectionately call the Department of Corruption ignores these laws because they have become a Big Business entity that's above the laws of this country. Whatever I am forced to suffer and endure because of my desire to protect and defend the true traditional wisdom and teachings of the Native Americans within this prison environment, it's nothing compared to what the Native Americans have suffered and endured since the envasion of the White-Man upon their lands.

I owe the Native Tribes my total love, respect, admiration and loyality, for it was what I've learned from them that changed my life forever as a human being. This is something the Justice system, brainwashing, forced programing and human wharehousing since 1981 could never do.

WADO!

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned"
William Congreve, 1697

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