WRITINGTO

INDIGENOUS
PRISONERS
DURING THE
SO-GALLED
HOLIDAY
SEASON &
BEYOND

CONTENTORGANIZEDBY: 111,/ <]
ONUNCEDEDNI S(IIILI.V IJAXI IITIIH
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 0921, . ][] 11
TABLE OF CONTENTS

AGUIDE TO STARTING A BLACK AND PINK PEN PAL RELATIONSHIP
‘SOME NATIVE PRISONERS AND THEIR CONTACT INFO

BEST PRACTICES FORWRITING LETTERS OF SOLIDARITY TO
INDIVIDUALS IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION

ANEPILOGUE

ADEDICATION TO ALL THOSE WHOLOST THEIRLIVES AND
CULTURE IN BOARDING SCHOOL PROGRAMS

SEVIENRED 2001

when you're cracking one
open with the boys

A GUIDE TO STARTING A BLACK & PINK
PEN PAL RELATIONSHIP!

‘The info below came from a text available on the Seatle chapter of Black and
Pink's website. You can find that here:

hitps:/lonpseatacletters wixsite.comimysite/penpal-advice:
>>>>5>>

Thank you so much for your interest in having a pen pal with the Seate
chapler of Black & Pinkl The information below s adapled from the New York
and Chicago chapters of Black & Pink. Below you'l find:

Reflections: Why pen pal-ling is rewarding!
Basic Expectations
Navigating Boundaries

3% Inthe “Free World” (what happens whenf my pen pal gets out?)

Communicating About Difficult Topics.
uggostions from a Formely Incarerated Person About What to

In an ideal world, there would be no insideloutside pen pals because there
would be no one in prison. In working toward that world, Black and Pink buids
relationships. Relationships break isolation, which is one of the basic functions
of the criminaklegal system. So not only is penpaling a great opportunity for us
as individuals to make a new friend, lend support, but it also takes away some
of the power the system has to isolate people. This is the connection between
the interpersonal and systemic!

Reflections from Pen Pals and Black & Pink leaders!

“Having a Black & Pink pen pal through the Seatie chapler is incredibly
rewarding,” says Cassidy, a pen pal with a person incarcerated at Washinglon
Carrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, WA. It great to wite once a
month, and | gained a new friendship and have leamed so much from my pen
pall’

“The most important thing is to make sure that you are starling off with an
authentic relationship with the person,” says Dominique Morgan, National
Director of Black and Pink.
“It shouldn't come from a state of you ust trying to do a good deed or wanfing
to, you know, feel good about reaching out to someone in a compromised
situation. The bottom line is that these relationships — these connections —
need o be authentic and come from a sold place. These relaionships need 1o
be basic equity, and | tink as long as that’s a component, it will be successiul”

*Be patient, honest, and keep a positive mind," says Black & Pink inside
member Delon. “Everybody s beautil and unique from the inside and
outside... plus Black & Pink would help you find a special frend so let them
work their ‘MAGIC' P

Basic Expectations

This program exists to connect queer and trans people across prison walls. If
that doesn' describe you and you il want o support, you can financially
supportour work here: hitps:/secure.actblue.com/donatelblackandpinkseatac.

There are no “qualiications’ or strict standards you have to pass to become a
penpal, but we do ask for commitment. Please evaluate for yourself how able
you are 10 write to someone-who s a stranger at first and who may be in a
raumatic environment-on a reqular basis. You can talk to chapter organizers
on a personal basis if you want as you do ths evaluation.

We ask for a 6 month commitment to wrie at least once a month even if you
don't hear back from them. you don' have to wait unil you hear back from
penpal 1o wite. I first geting in touch if you don't hear back wite again. And
Tet us know.f you send your firstletter and don't hear back from your penpal
after a month, send another letter and notify your chapter.

Please be upfront in your leters about how often you can wite. It really
important 1o avoid contributing to issues of abandonment. Ways to pre-empt
dropping off contact: what have/would you do to make sure you keep wrting
when lfe happens?

Don'tstart with more than one pen pal

* Quick note when you know youre going to be out of town/less available to
write. Keep some posteards around

sk buddy to send a note on your behaif

Be dlear and honest wih your penpal, especially around expectations and
boundaries. We'l cover this in more detail later. As a formerly incarceraled
pen pal put simply: “Let them know exactly what you want’; let them know
from the beginning what you're looking for. Tis could be i terms of wiing
frequency, level of contact, nature of elationship, etc.

Be aware of the DOC rules and follow them so your mail doesnt get
rejected. Rules vary from state 1o state. See the Washinglon State DOC
ules for what you can and can't send here!

Be in touch with your chapter (seatle@blackandpink org) if you haven't
heard from your penpal in a while, aren't sure how to handle something,
your penpal needs support that you can't provide (.g., advocacy, a visit),
and with any ofher questions you may have. W'l do our best to support
you and your penpal.

i Let us know if you have 1o end the relationship. This happens. Sometimes
we aren't matched with someone we connect with; people’s availabilty
changes. We'l ry to get them matched with someone else, and you 100 if
you want.

Navigating Boundaries

Relationships on the inside and outside have both similarites and differences.
For one there are jerks everywhere, oulside prison and inside. There are also
fabulous, beautifu people who we'd connect with deeply, if only we chanced
upon one another. As in all relationships, it's important o set boundaries--
starting with your first letter,

Nature of relationship: Penpal Relationships span a spectrum. Some chat
about fun stuff once in a while. Some collaborate and make art or write
together. Some talk about political stuff and read books together. Some send
each other photos of themselves and talk on the phone every few weeks. Often
its a combination of these things-~you can relate to your penpal in many
diferent ways. There's no one model of a relationship. [go into. personal
anecdotes]

Type: Important to communicate early on what type of relationship we're
looking for: platonic, romantic, sexual. Many of our members are inferested in
both sincere fiendships and romantic andlor sexual relationships. In prison
sexuality is stripped from most everyone, and can become embedded with
vience. Prisons are designed 1o deny prisoners love. Many people are
searching for a heallhy place to express their sexual or romantic deniies. If
this isn't something you're interested in, cool. Just let them know. If it is
something you'te interested in, cool! There vl be people into that. Just be
clear about your boundaries. We can support you i tis if eeded
Depth: There is a range from lfelong friends to casual friends. Not everyone is
going to be a immediate kindred spirit but many times bonds deepen over time

Reciprocity: As a formerly incarcerated penpal reminds us, “boundaries apply
on both sides.” Respect what your penpa tells you. That could look fike not
writing about certain things, respecting the privacy of your penpal’s history, etc.

Methods of Communication

Always put a retum address with a name - you can use yours or our PO
box. Letus know i you'e using our PO bos, and ell your penpal to address.
it with ATTN: your name so we can set asde for you when we process mal

Some inside members have Jpay for email. They'l et you know i that's an
option

Some inside members have social media accounts and want you or don't
want you to look them up on facebook, etc.

Visits and phone calls - up tothe two of you o decide!

Sending Money/Packages

You may encounter requests for commissary money--where inmates get a
lot of thei basic necessies like tolletries or a fan, and also things like
snacks and paper

(Ask: What are some ways o talk about how much you'te comfortable
giving?) Zero; only when you can; fo specifc needs; for special occasions;
aregular amount on a reguiar basis?

What to do ifiwhen boundaries/expectations are broken?

Communicate with penpal ifyou think a boundary has been crossed.

Understand the difierence between challenging and toxic. These penpal
relationships may not always be in your comfort zone--its a chance for both
of youto grow in aboiionist praxis. That being said, you shouid not feel like
you should have to tolerate any harm

A formerly incarcerated penpal advses, If you feel uncomortable in any
way, tell your pengal thal i that happens again, you won't wite back; and
then don'tif necessary’

i Please tell us sooner rather than later So we can help resolve (give supporl,
rematch, etc.)

If you'e the one who has broken a boundarylexpectation, do your best to
oun it. Apologize and make amends. None of us is perfect. Act (o address.
and reduce the ham; don'tbe paralyzed by guil

i For example, what if you et a lo ofime lapse since your lat letter and you
haven' been wing as requenty as you said you would?

Ending a relationship — not every match is a good one. Just like we wouldn't
keep being friends with someone on the outside who was saying offensive
sluff, we don't expect you to do that with someane on the inside. Take care of
yourself I you can, send a note teling your penpal you'te going to stop writing
1o them. You can also ask us to send a note if you are more comfortable with
that

In the “Free World”
What happens when your penpal gets out? (YAY!)

This is a change to the relationship. Consider asking your penpal to keep
you' updated on fiwhen theyl gel out and where they think theyl be
paroling to

You may get asked for housing or other material support-re-entry is hard!
Or they may want to communicate with you using different methods that you
haven' before, .g., asking for your phone number. We encourage people
1o meet their penpals and welcome them home in the “free world". In any
case, same goes as above~communicate your boundaries

You can also look up and recommend resources from other orgs; we can
help research this with you

Follow up with us if you have questions
Communicating About Difficult Topics
Pover

What are some power difierentials that might come up between you and your
penpal?

“ Outside penpals can ook up a lot of personal info about inside member on
the DOC webpage. What do you think about this? Have youwould you do
his? Some pen pals do look up (concems for safely, curiosily about
offense); some don't (concerns for privacy, want to know only what inside
penpal feelslike sharing). We don't have a policy on it but please be aware
thal you as an outside pen pal aren't subject to that kind of personal
scrutiny, and that's a power differential in the relationship.

* denties as relaional and realies of materia difierence. How are we as
outside pen pals also impiicated i the system? Know how we beneit and
can resist that

% Guiltis real butnot very helpful
Oppression

4 Difficult subjects may come up, suich as racism. Black and Pink i a family of
al races. This is imporiant as we have received mail from incarceraled
people who are whie supremacists and submit racist wriing 1o the
newspaper. We understand that abolishing the criminablegal system
requires also abolishing while supremacy. Oppression and privilege can
come up in penpal relationships in a variety of ways. Incarcerated members
who are whie can sometimes say fucked-up stuff about POC. We
encourage both inside and oulside penpais to navigate topics with a variety
of strategies from talking explicily about these issues with your penpal, and
naming them when they come up, and asking each other questions.
Understand that race is constructed in different ways in prison. Reach out to
the penpal support team to troubleshoot ways o address it and don't
continue on if someone isn't respecting you

4 There's also different ways sexualy is policed in prisons, both by COs and
by other prisoners. There are diffrent things people have to do for survival
and different ways people conceive of their orientations due to different life
experiences and access to political education, etc. Sometimes not everyone
uses the latest terms

Trauma

Some pen pals want 10 process lrauma in the pen pal relationship, so
wrting about diffic things s something to be prepared for

% What are ways to practice seff-care as a supporter of trauma?

+ Be aware that secondary trauma s real
i Read leters that might be trggering at a time when you'e feeling more
Secure, e.g, not early in the morning fter e sleep. Be in a caim, relaxing
environment

i Could have an outside pen pal buddy - friend who's also a pen pal with
whom you can talk things through. Look around tonight and see who you
‘might want to keep in touch with in this way

i Don' feel the burden of everything. You'e a pen pal, not a savior. Pen-
paling can be harm reduction. Mail call s really important to people on the
inside as a way 1o signal people on the outside care about them. But you'e
not“supposed”to *solve" everything. Solidarity, not charity

Not to detract from the seriousness of trauma, but you can write about fun
things as well if you both want to get away from heavier stuff. It can be
helpful to share a spectrum of topics and feelings in each lettr.

What are some ways o vary the witing/make i ighter?

Pholos, pictures from magazines, artices, poems, crossword puzzles,
books/magazines/comics.

‘Suggestions from a formerly incarcerated penpal on things to write about
in general

= Remember your penpal's birthday (unless they say they don't want that)-it'
anice way fo communicate there's someone out there thinking of them

Just have normal conversations. Act ike the penpal knows who your friends
are. Tell them what's going on, what your day was like

Ask questions about themselves

"We want to hear about your lfe and we also want you o ask us how we're
doing”

“ Often, it can be about the litle things
SOME INDIGENOUS PRISONERS ALONG
WITHINFO & CONTAGT

Oso Blanco*

“Adtdress envelope to Byron Chubbuck.
#07909-051

USP Victonille

Post Offce Box 3900

‘Adelanto, Calioria 92301

Birthday: February 26

Moreinf at: freeosobianco blagspot com

Support groupe-mai-info@esesoblanco org

0s0 Blancois an indigenaus activist originally serving 80 years in prison for a seres of
bank expropriations throughout the soutwest in 1998-1399. In 2016, 25 years were
taken off his sentence when he won his Johnson v. U.S. appeal. He is part of the wolf
lan Cherokee/Choctaw, aised in New Mexico. Hs indigenaus name is Oso Blanco or
Yona Unega in Cherokee. He was known to the FBI as ‘Robin the Hood' because he.
informed the bank tellrs he was expropriating funds to assis the poor and indigenous.
people fighting for independence in the souther Mexican state of Chiapas. It is
estimated that he expropriated atleast $165,000.

Leonard Peltier

#99637-132
USP Coleman |

Post Offce Box 1033

Coleman, Fiorida 33521

Birthday: September 12

Note: USP Coleman does notalow greeting cards
support group e-mail: contact@whoisleonardpelerinfo

Leonard Pelteris a Native American polical prisoner and American Indan Novement
(AIM) actist, serving two consecutive Ife sentences for a cime he was framed for—
the 1975 kling of two FBI agents on the Oglala Sioux reservation. Afer the acaitalof
s codefendants and being extradited form Canada under flse pretenses, Peltier was.
convicted by an al white jury in a hostie town. Pelir has appealed his sentence many.
times and has sued the FBI for withholding thousands of pages of important legel
documents from FOIA requests. He is an accomplished painter and wrier, having
published his memair, Prson Whitings My Life Is My Sun Dance, in 1999. Pelter has.
been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times. His defense campeign
continues to advocate for executive clemency and his transler close to home. More
infornation: whoisleonardpelernfo
Brittney Poolaw

I was unable to ind a working address for Bitney; but her
supporters are collcting statements to send to her. You
can follow_this link here to wite to her: tinyurcom/
poolawsoldarty

T is a statement from some of her supporters, “On
Tuesday, October 5, Siiney Poolaw, a 20-year-old
‘Okiahoma woman, was convicted of manslaughter in the
fist degree for experiencing a miscariage at 17 weeks and sentenced to 4 years in
state prison,Contrary o all medical science, the prosecutor blamed the miscarriage on
Ms. Poolaws alleged use of controled substances. On October 5, ate just a one-day
tral, Ms. Poolaw was convicted and sentenced to 2 four yer prison term.

Ms. Poolaw’s case is a tragedy. She hes suffered the trauma o pregnancy loss, has
been ailed for a year and half during a pandemic, and was charged and convicted of a
crime without basis in law or science. We are supporting Ms. Poolaw @s she explores
her legel options, and we are working to ensure that this type of injustce does ot
happen again.

We are gathering notes of support for Ms. Poolaw to provide her with contfort and
compassion while we_cortinue to explore her options and next steps. Britney is
unaware of the outpouring of public support she i receiving. Please share a message
1o give her hope during ti diffcul time and we wil deliver them to Brtney.

o donate to Brtiney's crowdfunding page and for other ways to support, please vsit
ourwebsite: NAPW org"

Leslie Finch
#7617

Bedford Hils CF

247 Hartis Rd Bedord s, NY 10507
Birhday: 9/25/1990

Earliest Release Date: 8112033

“Imagine dropping your pide and joy off
at the babysiters 1o report to work 1o e
provide for the two of you. Within 25

hours she's unresponsive, and two days later deciared brain dead. In a mater of 48
hours your everything has been los, and lss than a month lateryoute being arrested
for her death

Tris is what happened to me. The misrepresentaton of the medical evidence has lead
o my wrongful convicton. The crux of my case refed on a manufactured timeframe,
which is contradicory to standing case law regarding shaken baby syndrome (SBS).
Notably. there are signiicant discrepancies between te two hospials findings and no
defense expert tesifed at my tal.
Inialy, she was diagnosed with iabetic ketoacidosis, which can manifest the same as.
cerebal edema response as SBS. A shit is transpiring in the medical communty, in
which medical professionals are discovering other possible causations for the trizd of
symptoms. Cases such as mine are often bypassed given the financil intmidation of
it But s high tim the rubber-stamping of these convictons be dismantied. The pain
of losing her s beyond explanation and the false presentment of my case is
unbearatle

I am seeking any legalmedicalfinancial assistance in helping me uncover the truth of
what happened to my ltte gi, and hopefuly pave the way for others wronged because
true justice isn't rationed. | can provide further detals upon conespondence v leters
or email (JPay). Please help me bring the truth to ight” From writeaprisoner.com

Fidencio Aldama Pérez

There is no mil senvice to the prison, bt eters
(in Spanish or English) can be emailed to
denciolibre@protormail com and they wil be
passed on o him.

‘Support website: yidenciosldama.org
Bithday: 11/1589

Projected Release Date: 10/27/2030

Support Fund: www PayPal comipaypaime/
denciolibre

From_prisonersoldariycom:Fidencio is an
indigenous poliical prsoner of the Yaqui T,
from the town of Loma de Bacum, Sonora. He is
sening 15 years and 6 months after being
wrongiully convicted of homicide. It is believed
that he was targeted due to his support or the
indigenous communitys opposiion to & gas
pieine.

"The people of Loma de Bacum, are opposed to a gas pipeine tht the goverment of
the Siate of Sonora—the govemment of Claudia Paviovich Arellano—wans to buid
On October 21st, Yaquis from the eight Yaqui towns arived in our communiy. These
Yaquis eceive money and new cars from the govermment and from the pipeline
company, Sempra Energy. These Yaquis came to attack ou traditional uard, and to
atack our community, a5 a means to impose thir authorty and move forward with the
gas pipeline projec. For unknown reasons, we as Yaquis and as Catholics, we say tis
metaphysical that day October 21st, amed people entered Loma de Bécum and
attacked the assembly. They tied to pass this of as a ‘confontation between
communites, between those who are in favor and those who are against the gas
pipeline, those ‘in favor or against progress n interviews, some of the peaple brought
to Loma de Bécum that day made their reasons known: the stale and federal
govemments threatened to suspend allsocil programs directed towards them.
In addition, the Yaquitribe has ancestral customs to resolve their diferences. In the
law, consecrated in the constitution SINCE 1917, the Yaquis have a govemment
named by the community. They elect their radiional authorites, name thei guarcians
and estabish the sanctions for those who violate communty rules. Each and every one
of their important decisions is made afer a long process of nternal consultation and
only when all of the communites are in agreement are things decided. In other words,
the gas pipeline would not advance even if only one of the communites remained
against it The aggression against Loma de Bacum resued in the death of Cruz
Huimea Pifa, victim of a 22-caiber bule. AS the fesult o bad luck, or due to destiny,
Fidencio Aldama Pérez was accused of the murder. That day Fidencio Aldama Pérez
was working s part o the traitonal guard. He had a 45-aliber weapon. Cruz was
assassinated wih a 22-caiber weapon. You all can see the diference there. Fidencio
had a 45-caliber weapon and Cruz s kiled with & 22-calber weapon

Six days later, on October 27th, 2016, the prosecutor's offce asked our Indigenous
authories pemission t inerview or take statements from the people that were there
part ofthe tradiional quard the day of the corfict. They asked to speak with Fidencio
At the moment Fidencio got into the automobile, darkness took over. They took
Fidenci, alongside the compafiera, Anabella Carlon, and a lawyer named Merardo, to
Obregon. There he was taken to the attomey general’s offe, where they made im
sign papers and where he was given an arrest warrant, At that moment, Fdencio said
e wondered why his arst warrant wasn' given to i in ront of the raditonal guard,
in frontofthe traditonal autorites and the people of the community. He asked why he
hadi o sign the papers. The investigating state polce told him that everything would be
fine. He thus signed because he didn't have ny other opton.

Afer Fidencio sgned the paperwork, he was taken o prison n Ciudad Obregon. Since
October 27th, he has been there, deprived of is freedom, innocent.Afer four months,

Fidencio had a hearing. There, winesses were present who said he is guity. A year
Tater, the trizl was held. During the i, the witnesses they brought forward were
people they had paid off. They were the same people who arived and atiacked our
town on October 21st. They brought these witnesses as a means to keep Fidencio in
prison. This would help 1o pressure the authortes to sign the passage of the gas
pieiine. Fidencio was eventually sentenced to fifteen years and six months in pison.

He tells the community to stay together, o continue fighting for our tertory. He says i
e has to be there imprisoned, that is not important. What is important is that we
continue the struggle. However, there are days that he says that he can' continue
there, that he doesn't want to be there. | want o leave, | wart to be with my chidren. |
want tobe in my home,he says."
Tallon A. Saluskin
#759039 Washington
State Penftentiary
1313 N.13th ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99326

Matthew David Leonard
#750248 Cedar Creek CC
PO Box 37

Litterock, WA 98556-0037

Damien White
#21127-085 U S P, Atwater
1 Federal Way.

Atwater, CA95301

These two brothers and one cousin are al relatves of an elder who s a friend of mine.
that | deeply care about and respect. Her and her family have asked that these folks
can receive leters and other forms of support. Feel free to offer gifts of tobacco,
Sweelgrass, and sage. One of the things they need inside is lava weat rocks, which
we wiould love to figure out how to get to them. You can also help support their abilty
to participate in annual Pow Wows, or ther ceremonies as well.

Fredy Garcia Ramirez

Letters to Fredy need to be sent online (and in Spanish) via
hisfnk that Ive shortened a it to make it easier inyur.com/
Iettersdredy. Good news s that o stamps are needed!

Fredy Garcia Ramirez, a member of the organization
Commitee in Defense of Indigenous Rights (CODEDI), was
anbitariy arrested on November 6th, 2019. CODEDI is an
organization that has @ longerm commitment to_the
promotion of the rights of indigenos communites to land,
autonomy and self-determination. It focuses on the defense of
human rights vilatons produced by hycoelectric and mining
projects n the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Through a statement, Oaxaca Consortum recalled that on November i, 2019, Fredy.
Omar was detained ‘in a violent and arbirry manner” when he was on his way 1o &
meeting with public offcials. After eigt hours as a disappeared person,
Fredy *appeared before a judge, who, despite the delay and serious violations of his
rights, descrbed the detention as legal” the group reported. For thei part, colleagues
from CODEDI reported at a press conference that, a year aftr Fredy's artest, o date.
he has not been given a dignified trial, in addton to being the objec of serious huran
tights violations. In adciton, they stated that Fredy Garcia ‘continues with hs work as
& human rights defender within the prison” through muliple actons demanding respect
for the basic rights of food, health and work of al prisoners; the denundiation of the
prevaiing health conditons, as well as episodes of violence against him n prison, a
fact that intemational organizations pubicy denounced. *All these violations of the
rights of the defender are added 1o a long st of grievances against CODEDI including
assassinations, arbitrary arests, constant threats and harassment that continue to go
unpunished and that consttute a srategy to end the legitmate work of the organization
and that reduce the work of organizations and human rights. defenders in
‘Oaxaca,” Consortium denounced.

The demands are, among others, the ‘immediate and unconditional” release of Fredy
Garcia Ranirez; the investigation and punishment of oficials responsible for the
viations comitted against the humn rghts defender and the cessation o al atacks
and guarantees for the work of defense of human rights of CODEDI and the
organizations and defenders in Oaxaca.

Fredy's trial has been postponed ndefiiely due o the pandernic.

Maddesyn George ‘

Maddesyn D George
21816085

PO Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198

More information on how to support Maddesyn s wel s
detailed instructions for wriing leters to her can be found
on the website put together by her supporters at hitpsi/
i freemaddesyn comtakeaction

Tne following is flom a_press release from Maddesyn's Defense Commitee: In
‘Spokane, Washington, on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, Colvlle tibal member
Maddesyn George was sentenced in federal court o' serve 6.5 years in prison for
voluntary mansiaughter and drug possession with inent to distrbute. Maddesyn is &
sexual viokence sunivor who defended hersel i July 2020 against a white man named
Kristopher Paul Graber who raped and theatened her. The prosecutors n the case,
stunring in their commitment to purish Maddesyn for her survivl actons, argued that
she be sentenced to 17 years behind bars. Maddesyn accepted a plea deal in July
2021, after spending a year in jail and separated from her infant daughter, and in the
face of a murder charge and the unknowns of a jury trial

Whie the Biden Adminisration and Department of Jusice have pledged more
resources to addressing the MM ciss, they must also take steps to address the
intersecting cisis of the abuse-to-prison pipelne that has entrapped Maddesyn and
many other colonized and raciaized suvivors of sexual and domestc violence. The
DOJ thet has promised acton to end the MMIW crisis and the DOJ that criminalizes
Indigenous sunvivors who act in sefdefense are one and the same, and the
contadicton in poicy becomes clear in a case fike Maddesyn'. Incarceraton s a tool
of Indigenous removal, and Maddesyn is now missing from her community.
Juan Tapia Olivares

Juan Tapa Olvares
Carcel south Santiago (Ex prisor), Modulo D
‘Avda. Pedro Montt 1902

Santiago de Chil, Chie
Projected Release Date: October 1st, 2025

Juan Tapia is an ex-Lautarista orformer member of
the Lautaro Popuiar and Rebel Forces (named
after a young Mapuche leader of indigenous
resistance). In March 1993, he was wounded in an
ambush by the Carabineros Police Inteligence

Ditectorate, whle meefing with other comrades to
plan a robbery. I the same acton, Norma Vergara
Caceres was kiled by agents of DIPOLCAR. In
1997, he managed 1o get out on bail in order o
resume his .

In October 2010, he was detained in Copiaps, where his famiy ives, and was notifed
that he must serve a 16-year sentence. During the 2006 trial, he was absent because
e was never notfied-~ it was carried outiregulary, ithout having the right o defense
orto know the case fl- He is curtently sening his sentence in the former peritentiary,
more than 800 kiometers from where his famiy lives, 5o they must travel aimost 15,
hours to visit him.

This is a statement from his supparters: INSISTIMOS: Recordar y apoyar a los presos.
y presas que siguen rehenes de esta democracia sostenida por bayonetas, lums .
tios por la espalda. Resistr a la “democracia® carcelara significa informerse de las.
volaciones a los derechos basicos y contrarrestar el poder factico y estatal. Hay que.
apoyar la lieracion de los muchos presos y presas que han sido hecho rehenes del
Estado, por la causa mapuche. Pero SIN OLVIDAR a luchador's sodales que también
merecen nuesta solidaridad de clase y que han estado en la causa comin de
nuestros pueblos contra este sistema desgraciado. Hoy nos pronunciamos en apoyo &
Juan Tapia Olivares, apresado desde el 2011 por una condena fminada a sus.
espaldas.

RELANZAMOS LA TAREA DE APORTAR POR LA LIBERTAD DE JUAN TAPIA
OLIVARES, expresar nuesira solidardad, apoyar a su famila. Estaremos infornando
de la situacion de DELFIN DIAZ QUEZADA, vuelto 2 apresar por el gobiemo de turmo.
Esperamos expresiones de apoyo, consultas sobre como hacer efectiva a soldaridad
fraterna con nuesiros hermanos presos. mapusantiago@gmailcom
Victor Llanquileo

Victor Lianaieo Piquiman
CDP. de Avauco

Los Carreras N° 138
4360000 Avauco Biobio
Chie

Victoris an indigenous Mapuche actist
serving 21 years o fabricated charges.

He is one of the many Mapuche

aciivsts against the foresters who are

damaging the Walmapu (native land of the Mapuche). They advocate for the treaties to
be upheld and ancesiral lands retumed to them. While incarcerted in 2019, a second
false charge was placed on him alleging tht he atacked a man's property in 2015,

Jennifer Rose
Jenifer Ameia Rose #E-23852
Salinas Valley State Prison D3-1250
P.0.Box 1050

‘Soledad, CA 93960-1050

‘Support website with updates: itpsil

babygirigann.noblogs.org
Date of birh: 1006/1969

Bom and raised in Southem Calforia. White
and Cherokee ethnic background. Transgender
woman. Amazon Queen. Imprisoned since 1990
by the State of Califoria. Orginally charged
with armed robbery. Sentenced to 7 years
Became jailouse lawyer, prisoner actist
(1991). Engaged in prison protess,direct acton
(1991-1996). Beaten and tortured by pigs at
Folsom Prison. Fought back in selfdefense,
amed_ resistance. Charged with_additonal
offenses of weaponslassault on Distict Attoney and Associate Warden. Sentenced to
mutiple 25-years-t-Ife terms under Calioria's Three Strkes” aw (1995,1996).

‘Sunived more than a decade in soltary confinement: Pelican Bay SHU (1994-2004),
Tehachapi SHU (2010-2011). Came out as bisexualfrans in 2006. Continued to ork
with anarchistfeministiqueer prison abolfionists and Macist MIM (Prisons). Petiioned
for and denied resentencing under so-calied “Three Srikes Reform Act (Prop. 36). No
serious injuries resuled from non-serious felony offenses. Her case is on appeal,
College course completed ~ 22 credits. Became wer, blogger, ars, poe, part of
Black & Pink leadership fr 5 years.
Morgan Grant
#18547-273

FCl Waseca

PO Box 1731

Waseca, MN 56093

Birthdate: 10/1/79

Eariist Release Date:211012028

"My name is Morgan Grant, helll | am 41 years old,
from South Dakota. | am looking for people 10 we to
around the world. | will be behind these wals for a few
years. | believ this is a beginning of a new stat for me. Good companionship is the.
key to making my days better

1 am Native American; Yankton Siou is my nation. | enjoy reading books in my spare
time, and | also have mastered the craft of beading. Ive just tarted my joumey, so |
don' Know anyone yet but wish to enjoy freedom through someone else's words.
Humor s my best qualty; | love o laugh. | choose kindness over everything My sign s
Libra, and my favarte color s purple. | was raised by my grandmother on a small
reservation. | was always toi | had a gypsy soul, because | liked to dance around in
the rees, down by the rver when | was young. We can trade stories if you like. Just
wikte me.” - witeaprisonercom

Cherie St Claire
#16900-059

FCl Alcevile

PO Box 4000

Alcevile, AL 35442

Birthdate: B/15(1977

Earliest Release Date: 4126/2027

il My name is Cherie. Im hoping to meet someone
supportive and funny because we all need someone to
Taugh vith. | would realy enjoy sharing stores and geting
to know each other. | am 43 years ol. | am from a small town: Dunseith, ND. I trying
1o be a better person, not only for me, but for my kids and grandids.

While here, Ive completed computer class and many other programs, | also erjoy.
beading, reading, exercsing, and wriing. I very outgoing, aiways willng to try
something once. /m Native American (Chippewa) | enjoy mast outdoor actites like
swimming, hiking, camping, iding my ATV, and fishing. | iso lie to snuggle and watch
agood movie. - witeaprisoner com
Daniel Thomas
#12202.273 |
USP Florence ADX

PO Box 8500 |

Florence, CO 81226
Binthdate: 7114/1962

Hometown: Spokane, WA
Earliest Release Date: 121712026

“Ifyou use the opportunity to vew my poems and artwork, | would sncerely appreciate
your vote, | am the Etorin Chiefof a movement dedicated to various Native American
causes consisting of intertrival reigius erature that rides on the prayers of the
descendants of the exiled. Digital smoke signels are an arrow of the future shot flom
the bow of the past An urban native manifesto for those buried alive and thei loved
ones. Too many of us died to getjust aite bit of s here. Every part of e people that
made itis precious.

Tim focused on solidariy, radiion, and understanding, because knowledge is power,
and sovereignty is non-negotable. The truth about native people wil not be told unti
we tel it ourselves. Not to pile up more cry bones, but to cothe them with fiesh and
blood. | highly encourage you to copy and paste, share and repost these bogs to your
social media and forward o your people in “Thugs Mansion.”

To free aman, it not enough to irke the shackles rom his limb, his mind must be
liberated from bondage to s own ignorance. See link options below. Im curtently
entombed at the U.S Gov. Super Max, dedicated to destroying human beings through
total isoatin. A represertation of the oppressive tactics of the system and the angry
cruelrepression thet gips our country taday.

If you have any questions, comments, or would just like to say, “what's up?” do not
hesiate to contact me. | recommend the “Type and Print” option below. | wil zbsolutely
respond with respect 0 al correspondence.

Your fiend,
Tne Editor N Chief."- witeaprisonez com

jah Lee
#173012

CSP I, PO Box 600

Canon Ciy, CO 81215
Bithdate:6/16/1985

Ecrliest Release Date: 7/17/2026

“Helo people, 'm looking to correspond with the Black Lives Matter community and
other_groups that are against racial injusice. With al the protesting for equaity
and justce happening across the nation and around the word comes a Sgn of
ope that more focus il shine upon those like me who have faced racal
disparty in the coutroom
Like ot peopl, | itk telegl proces Thefeeing it yurounatarey s against
you s indescrbable. Almost every word is taken out of context. The fustrton of tyng o
oxpln s prseneg 2 gul.denaland agessn 1 e nd,my e et ok 2
tum for the worst. The wals closed in, and the work tumed is back. | am now six years in
on a 16-year sentence. Over the years of my incarceration, Ive lost so much, and hit one
roadblock fter anather. ~ The Demand for Prosecutoral Accountabilty, by Juston Cooper @
CCIRCAAcCton g

With this profie, | am also hoping to find positive people that have been in a simiar
situation or know of someane who has that can offer encouragement and support. Despite
the troubles we sometimes find ourselves in, we only ive once, so | believe its
important to maximize the opportunities and experiences Ife has to ofer. Thiough ife's ups
and downs, we must keep a posiive atiitude and remain optmistic. Im an artst whose
biightest hours of the day are spent crawing with my headphones on. From the endiess
‘wonders of my imagination to portais: Pens, pencis, and Prismacolors colide on paper. |
divide my days up by doing the tings | enjoy, inough spend alarge portion o them working
o' qaphic novel and Sying Vanous SUBCts: A, ceate wig,and canie keneing
ustto name a few. | wouldlike o expand my ltie worid by meefing new people both inside
and outsde the Unied States. | would lov o lean about you, your cuftre, Ifestyle, and
perspectives. Im here to isten, share, and leam. | have no Speifc expectaton wih tis. |
1t g o be heard el make e s along th way | apprctota you
ok the i o vew my rfl. ope you decce o wrteBecauee [ a ooking onvrd o
hearing from you soon.f you wrie through JPzy.cor, please incude your mailng address
for me to respond to your message.

“One of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another s to listen to each
other's sories.” - Rebecca Fall” - writeaprisoner.com

Elwyn Has The Eagle #08310-046
USP Florence Max ADX

PO Box 8500

Florence, CO 81226

Bithdate:4/25/1983

Hometown: Lodge Pole, MT

Heis senving 2 ife sentence, and asks forprayers and legal advice.

“What are you looking at? Wha are you searching for, people who donit give a damn? Well
there's many of them, just keep on moving. But haw long have you been alone? Do you feel
incomplete? Like that beauil puzzle thats missing is fna piece. How would you feel if
you found that iece? Maybe a sense ofrelif would come over you. Is that wha fees ke
‘Wwhen you connectwith someone? There's so many tings to say withoutth truth,knowledge,
and forth of the one who understands you. Im like that, aiways feeling like Tm missing
sometting

1 grew up in north central Mortana, the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation deep i the Lite
Rocky Mountains. Horses, catle, dit bikes, and courty fair and rodeos. | ove rodeos
Baskethal is an avid sport on reservations, | guess thats where | started enjoying the
‘company of cowgirs and tal athletc women. Im 64, and to me they are both confident,
but ae always missing something. So, when you get time, Il b here Staing at the celing,
orinmy own e artstucio | should say. Pain or love, | leamed to put t on paper througt
the years. Maybe its your words that a native yeams to hear. By the way, cal me “Jay.”
Also, a hattip o all medical workers and fariies of medical workers. - witeaprisoner.com

Refugio Cardenas #770949
San Quentin 5P

San Quentin,

CA 94964

Birthdate: 7/9/1984 -

“Wiite me! Is the smoke signal tis Native man is sending
out. Im an aspiring artst and author, my work is of the -
Salacious rature—ethoret_sne-sbstract, | sarted to teach mysef how to draw and paint to
escape the loneliness of this cruel dark worid of solaton, and my passion to write grew
as e is known about the sufferng in prson, and less S0 about fe on Death Row.

My goal s to give my struggle to clear my name & voice and share my experience with
the worki, 50 i you would ke to converse, wite me. fve been trapped befind these
cold lonely walls for amost two decades and Im in search of nspiraton, exploraton,

and anyone who can invest time in me through my only means of communicaton;
visits, collect calls, and lettrs (snail mai)... Write mel Fm no angel nor perfect, but
it e youl s m 3 man ih 2 i heat who vl co anytnng for tose | ve @
good listener, a family man, father, and a good friend wha's waitng to get to know
youl So what are you waiting for, Wiite mel”- witeaprisoner com

Mercury Bitsuie #359206
Red Rock Correconal Center
1750 East Arica Road

Eloy, AZ 85131

Mercury was sentenced to 4 years on June 5. He's currenty held in Eloy-Red Rock
prison. Please, wite him, send him books and CDs (fom a lst of acoepted vendors),
subscribe to his Patreon, message him on fis tablet thiough the Securus app, and
generally join in on Supporting him through this joumey. Funds from the Pareon will go
both 1o his books and to his famiy, including to help them travel to visit him

“Hello dear relatives near and far... | am a Dine liing on the Navajo reservation. My
ans are Bom For Water Cian (Toahani) and Bom For the Big Water Clan (To'sohnil

From the beginning of colorization, our indigenous people have been affected negatively
by wester society. This includes losing our land, culure, water, and being assimiated
inlo westem socity through boarding schoos, in which our parents and grandparents
et abusedprysialy, vetaly sexuly, mertaly and situaly. Th reuk of s
forced assimilation wes that a lot of our relatives came back home with traumas that
they didnt know how to deal with, which led them to substance abuse and perpetuating
these traumas onto their younger generations. For these reasons | have spent the last
decade advocating for our elders, youth, and restoring our pride i the heritage of our
people and indigenous reltives throughout turte island, through musi, culture, ar,
watershed projects and mutual aid on the Navajo reservaton as well as other
reservations.”

Instagram: Mercurybisuie
Patreon:AGoodDaytoDie.
BEST PRACTIGES FOR WRITING LETTERS
OF SOLIDARITY TO INDIVIDUALS IN
IMMIGRATION DETENTION

BY DETENTION LOUISIANA ADVOGATES FOR INMIGRANTS IN
DETENTION (LAAID)

Note: | couldn' include in this list al of the indigenous folks i ICE detention
centers who you could write 1o, o | wanted o put some instructions for how
‘you might go about doing so in here to encourage you to reach out. If you're
unsure how to find someone to write to, there are a variety of groups out there.
that have already established pen pal networks for those in ICE detention
centers that you can rely on. Some of these groups include Freedom for
Immigrants, HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), Lutheran Immigration and
Refugee Senice, but there are also many others. You can aiso just pull up
https:/flocator.ice.goviodis/ to search individuals to write to along with their
‘addresses and up-to-date location information. You can even search by country
of origin, ifthat s helpfulfor you to find someone to write o

This text is also adapted flom and expanding upon materials created by
Freedom for Immigrants

‘Thoughts to Have in Mind

Immigration detention functions to physically and psychologically torture
people and thus pressure the into ending their ight for their right to stay in
the United States.

¢ ICE knows that people in immigration detention have strong cases and valid
reasons 10 fear return 1o their countries of origin, 50 ICE has an incentive o
ensure that detention faciites are as inlolerable as possible so that people
feel unable o stand one more day - let alone an indefinite length ofime that
could be years - n a cage.

Even individuals who fear torure o deah f they were to be deported may
nd up being forced o stop fihting their cases just because the conditions
and abuses in these faciites are purposefully designed so as to be lterally
unbearable

One way to demonsirate our support for people in ICE detention i to write
them messages of solidarty. Many people in ICE detention request to

receive lelters from community members because they feel isolated,
forgotten, and hopeless. Notes of encouragement and shared struggle can
lft up their sprts, ofer feelings of hope, and provide a sense of communily.
Letters also serve the functon of informing detention facilty staf that these
individuals have community support rom people on the outside.

Tips for Wriing Letters

We provide letter templates but very much would like the words to come

from your heart

¢ Start off by introducing yourself and explaining why you chose to wile a

letter to them.

Be clear about your commitment. Let the person know you will write them

every 2 weeks? Month? So much about their situation is unpredictable and

out of their contro; try lo be someane offering consistency and follow-
through! Include an envelope and stamp so your friend can write you back.

Detainees pay for paper, envelopes, and stamps.

Wite your leter in their native language if you know it. One of the fist
questions thal you should ask is “In what language would you like to receive
your letters?” If you do not speak that language, Google Translate can help
enough to make it readable by the person. Asking a friend that speaks the
language 1o translate your letters to and from your penpal is a great way to
get someone else involved with this movement!

« Think aboul what messages you might find upling if you were

experiencing prolonged, indefinite detention. What would you want o be

reminded about if you were being held in a windowless cell or huge
dormitory? What would help you buld up your sirength and faith in th face
ofintolerable conditions and rampant abuses by guards?

¢ Include details! Prison is 0 absolute that the details of ffe on the outside

become distant memories. Smells, textures, and sounds of the street all get

grayed out behind bars. Share more about yourself, your cilystate,
interesting things! Detainment is isolating, lonely, and boring - so reading
stories, info about you, lfe in your town is a fun break from the monotony.

Remember that people in detention have limited access to news. What has

been going on in the movement for immigrants’ rights, or maybe even just

your local community? What are some reasons that they should feel
optimistic?

Try not to forget that people in ICE detention are just that - people. They are

not victims, heroes or martyrs. Try to avoid any overwrought language that

could inadvertently lead to increased feelings of iress or anxiety.

Keep in mind that what you wite may be read by ICE andior detention

facilty staff. While that shouldn preclude any and all political language (on

the contrary, it helpful to let people in ICE detention know that you find
their confinement unjust), please avoid any reference to activiies that are

criminalized or could be considered threatening by authorties. If anyone
‘experiences retaliation as a result it will be the person inside - not you.

< Opt for spiritual over religious language - while many people in ICE
detention are people of faith, we want to avoid making any assumptions or
coming off as proselytizing. AS you get to know your penpal, these are the
things you will learn about the.

Ideas in Addition to Sending Letters.

Send printed articlesstories (some people have copied books sections at a
fime and mailed them in! A volunteer once copied a bible in Hindi and
mailed tn at the request of the detanee!)

To mail books, the faciltes will only accept them directy from the publisher.
Thiifthooks.com has great prices on books. Just remember to send the
bookin their native language.

‘Somelimes, flks might need information on parole or bond processes. We
have resources prepared by SPLC & Al Otro Lado that outine this in
‘Spanish and English and can provide these (0 you

Questions that May Arise

‘Sharing your phone number. This is ulimately your call: however, we advise
agains! doing this as someimes your number can be spread to others in the
facility and now you're getting dozens of calls a week from various people!
Sharing your address. This i also your call. We have set up a PO Box so
that your return address can be Loisiana AID, P.O. Box 51441, Lafayette,
LA 70505. Our volunteers will receive mail, scan lettrs, and get them to
you

People wil ikely ask for legal help. With more than 8000 individuals in
detention faciliies in Louisiana, and about 8 immigration attorneys doing
detention work, this is unfortunately just not possible. You can send them a
list of attomeys that they or their family can reach out to; but don't suggest
or promise that you can help wih this. Clariy in your fist leter that you are
a volunteer and not a awyer or social worker.

If someone is at a place of getiing released on bond and needs bond funds,
we can provide a st of nonprofis that provide bond funds for thei famies
1o reach out to.

AFew More Notes

We want to hear from you. Please report back to us any requests,
complaints, descriptions of conditions inside that the person may have.

Ifthe person would fike to report any issues, they can call the Freedom for
Immigrants Hollne at 209-757-3733 (outside of detention) or 9233 inside
the detention centers (M- 8a-10p CT)

% If your penpal is released, let us know so we can assign a new person fo

you. If you don't hear from anyone for month, letus know. They may have

been moved or released at a moment's notice. It is common for people to
not respond since we are kept in the dark about many of their whereabouts!

There is a tool you can use o check to see if updated information is

avaiable. You can enter their A% and country of orgin at hiipsi/

locatorce.goviods/ to find out what faciily they e in.

The proer way to address the leter to your penpal is:

Full Name

A X000

Address of Detention Center

Ifthe A# (aien number) is not on the envelope, t wil be retumed.

4 Remind your pen pal o keep your address in case they are moved from that
facilty for any reason. It is likely we would not be able o track the new
address and would lose contact compltel. Having your address (or the PO
BOX) means they can contact you with their updated contact information

‘Sample Letter #2

Hello:
We are Dave and Joyce Thomas wiling to you fiom New Orieans, a city in
Louisiana located several hours from the detenton center.

We understand that it must be lonely for you and we wanted to reach out to you
by writing to let you know there are peaple out here who are thinking of you
We are appalled by the actions of L.C.E. and the Uniled States and hope
someday soon you wil be released and find freedom. We are retirees and do
ot have any legal background - we are merely caring people. We have been
involved in a few organization that are working for and with immigrants who
are experiencing a similar siuation as you. We got your name from one of
them - Louisiana Aid - which works alongside Freedo for Immigrants.

As we imagine you have heard, the COVID-19 panderic has shutdown many
ties, incuding New Orleans. Since we depend on tourists, lfe has changed
dramatically from what it usually is. New Orieans is known for its wonderful
music, entertainment, and cuisine and that has il shut down. Time wiltel how
things will turn out. This time has certainly allowed us to get things done around
the house and accomplish other things we have been putting off for quite some
time.

As reirees we were very busy with a number of volunteer activties. We are
feral cat trappers. What that entails is trapping the feral cats so they can be
spayed or neutered so they will not produce more homeless Kittens on the city
sireets. Once they have had their surgery, since they cannot be domesticated,
we return them 1o their colony. Last year out group of trappers trapped over
1,000 cats. The program s called TN.R. which stands for Trap/Neuter/Return.

We would enjoy coresponding with you now and when you are released
(wherever you end up going), and we have included a self-addressed, stamped
envelope. Please write back 10 let us know that you received his note and if
You would ik to continue writing each other.

In soldarity,

Dave and Joyce Thomas

We speak only English and have used Google Translate, o we hope it is
understandable. We are not sure of your natve language and therefore I this is

not cortect please let us know what language is best to use. You can write us in
Your native language, and we willuse Google Translate as well for that
ANEPILOGUE

1 didn' grow up with my mother, but as an adult | met her and also learmed that
her father is this super eclectic native dude (Oneida and Turtle Mountain Ojibwe)
who lives in a warehouse in Chicago. | hadn't fell connected to my famiy, or
really didn't have many roots in general for much of my 20s, but over years Ive
been familiarizing myself with and learning a lot about those indigenous roots and
trying to learn the language. In short, the story s fullof overwhelming sadness.
The weight of some of the stores I've heard from him, from other elders, and also
my own research is enough lo cause physical pain, a kind of stomach tuning
unrelenting injustice that repeated tself over and over again, and is still
happening. Itis amazing that, despite all the colonizers' best efforts, there are stil
folks around to tell at least some of those stories. My grandfather's first language
was Ojiowe, but as a child he was beaten for speaking it so he lost that language
entirly to Engish. This s just one of the ways in which the stories, and the
culture connected to them, have been lost. Put another way, the loss of the
language tselis just one of many ways the imperial force of the US state has
attempted to write native people out of history.

It goes without saying that Thanksgiving s a fucked up hoiiday. Its hard to
think about gorging yourself with stufing and mashed potatoes when you know
that a huge chunk of the ancestors you had left i the late 19th century were
crammed into a tiny plot of land because they didnt want to leave their homes,
and defended themselves. I's hard 1o know thal in the midst of starvation, the
US government presented them with continued demands for land cessions. Ifs
even harder 1o be aware of the fact that this violence and degradation has
only repeated in waves, generalion after generalion ever since people arrived
here from elsewhere 1o steal native lands by any means necessary.

Of course, there's so much to say about how colonization has wreaked havoc,
despair, and death for native populatons all over the place. | wouldn't be able to
do that justce here in this eplogue, but | can include a it biblography of some
of the witngs that have helped me unpack the propagandic tales avaiable to me
as an elementary student in order to recognize the realty of the ongoing genocide
ofnalv ok on Ture sland | iought oud e mportanttoge a bt ofcontet
o what t could look like to act in solidarity with not only indigenous prisoners, but
the causes they have fought or as well, and for their ifeways, for the land, and for
indigenous sovereignty. While doing the research required to put logether this tiny
st there were a lot of questions that surfaced and a variety of other issues that
begged attention. How do al of the native folks locked up i |.C.E. detention centers
fitnto this? What does “poiical prisoner” even mean when the ‘border is a some
made up thing rendering the ties between people and their land meaningless. And
al these imaginary lives carved ino stolen land? Land that s never meant for
anyone to actually own in the first place? Dang.
How can we support and honor those indigenous relatives who experience
state repression and violence in ways that don't end in prison, but possibly
end in death? How can | pay tribute to al the indigenous prisoners we have
lost due to inhumane conditions on the inside during the COVID-19 pandemic?
How can we help e faifes of o g & Vurdered dgenous Relalves
move through their gref, and bring their relatives home? These and olher
questions are burning in my heart and mind, so | felt the need to at least
mention some of the things | discovered and the things 've been thinking
about latel. | also want to point folks to the very extensive and thoughtfully
organized #StandingRockSylabus. There's a host of readings there that may
il xgand upon some of e usices broug up earer,whe s ihighing
some of the ways thal native people have fought back and buit resifency.

Every year for the last several years has made records in the number of
indigenous people kiled for standing up o their abilty to access clean water
and for protecting their land. In 2020, a record 227 murders of environmental
activists ere recorded, with more than three quarters of those coming from
“Latin America’. On a global scale, third of altacks against environmental
activists targel indigenous people, who according 1o their records, make up
only a ffth of the world's population.! In the report put together by Global
Winess, they acknowledge that these findings are “almost cerainly” an
underestimate. Water protectors and land defenders in the so-calied United
States will know that indigenous people bear the brunt of state repression here
as well. In the context of indigenous-led resistance, it is the indigenous
communites and their famiies who face the most extraordinary surveilance
and state repression. Its obvious, 100, in the sheer volume of sunveilance
infrastructureotside the hotel lobby where native vs. non-native water
protectors might be staying, for example

A statement put together by The National Crime Information Center found a
whopping 5,712 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girs in 2016,
On Turlle Island, Indigenous women are more than twice as likely o
experience viokence than any other demographic.2 One in three Indigenous
women are sexually assaulled in their ffetime, and over two thirds of those
assaults are perpetrated by members of other races. A report put together by
Ronet Bachman, Heather Zaykowski, Rachel Kalmyer, Margarita Poteyeva,
and Christina Lanier found that ess than half of incidents of violence against
native women are reported. This lack of reporting means that instances of

" htps:www globalwitness.orglen/campaigns/environmental-activists/last-line-
defence!

2 httpsi/len.wikipedia.orgiwiki/Missing_and_murdered_indigenous_women
violence and murder against Indigenous women are underrepresented in the
data. Their cases often quickly go “cold”. When familes are unable 1o seek
justce in the way they see fit, it is notjust ther gief that carries on, but aso the
perpetrators'abilty to continue causing harm.

In the moming of August 26, 2016 Emiy Morgan and her best fiend Totnika
Elix were found dead in Emil's car at a vacant house on the Choctaw Nation's
Reservaton in Oklahoma. Bolh had been shot a ciose range. Emiy had some
of the risk factors that make it more likely that she might have gone missing.
Also, she was also a devoted mother, a welHoved member of her community,
and ultimately a woman whose life mattered, and still matters. Her mother has
become a sirong advocate for MMIW, atiending nearly every MMIP event n the
state of Okiahoma and relentlessly pursuing justice for her daughter. The
reporter Olivia Gray, a cilizen of the Osage Nation who reported on Emiy's
case for Indian County Today had his to say of the case of Emiy and other
MMIWs:

*As an advocate, | am often asked, 'How many missing and
murdered Indigenous womenipeople are there? | aiways
espond, How far back do you want to go?" | am often asked why
our people go missing or are murdered at higher rates than other
demographics. To answer, | go through the st ofrsk factors that
plague our people. However, for the familes, these cases aren't
as simple as isting numbers and risk factors. Missing and
murdered Indigenous relaives are human beings with people
who love them, cary their memories, and mourn fo them.”

In Washinglon state, indigenous people make up less than one percent of the
population, but more than six percent of the prison population. At the same
time, stalistics on native people inside and outside! of prisons is incomplete
and racially-skewed$ Native Americans are chronically undercounted on
census data and have often been miscalegorized as non-Native by poiice and
prisons.

The pandemic has been hard on prisoners and many have lost ther lives due
1o the totally hazardous condtions presented by the combination of Covid 19
and the tight, indoor, group confinement of prison ffe. This is especially
roubling fo our native relatves who can remember a history of pandemic used

> hitpsifindiancountrytoday.comopinion/please-remember-emiy-morgan

* hitpsy/lwwvhen org/articles/indigenous-affairs the-erasure-of-indigenous-
people-in-us-covid-19-data

© htips:/iwww prisonpolicy.org/blog/2020/04/22/native/
as a weapon 1o kil offtheir people and coerce their communites into unfair
‘compromises with the United States government. In Washington State, where
guards fll 1 wear masis o ot symplomal prsorers, some nnates 4o
ot report symploms because they fear the harsh consequences and lielinood
of being moved to solitary confinement.

For the first year and a half o the pandemic, native prisoners in Washington
were not allowed contact with family members, and were deprived of their
opportunity to worship in groups. In March of 2020, the organizaton Huy along
with the ACLU of Washington ensured thal the Washington State Department
of Cortections “provide for immediate access 1o Nalive American relgious
expression, incuding sweat lodge, smudging, taking circes, drum ceremony,
and pipe_ceremony with the least restrictive COVID-19. precautions
necessary." Amidst their work to restore sweat lodge ceremonies and other
spiritual practices for native prisoners in Washington, Huy, an Indigenous
religous freedoms advocacy organization, has recently received a $50,000
grant to continue their work advocating for Indigenous prisoners. There are
ways that individuals can advocate for the ceremonial rights of our relatives
inside as well. Along wih wrting lettes 10 these prisoners, you can send
offerings of tobacco, sweelgrass, and other medicines. You can help support
annual Pow Wows for those inside, which typically occur at least annualy
according o the schedule determined by th faciiy

One of the most important ways to support the struggles of all Indigenous
people is 1o actively work towards the retun of colonized lands. I've seen an
uptick in *Land Back tags recently, which fils my rageful heart with joy. But |
can'thelp but nolice that there's il a lot of folks who own a lot of property on
these unceded lands. It makes me wonder why more of my comrades arent
taking some of their sweet unemployment money and finding ways to give
those resources back to indigenous folks. Ifs understandable to want to
develop a safety net for aneself n this hellscape of housing insecuriy. But if
you'te buying land, consider reaching out 1o the people who the land actualy
belongs to and perhaps offering them the opportunity to use it in whatever way
they might see fil Or better yet, ofr them the deed and ask permission (o ive
on the land. It is honorable that more people are wiling to include land
acknowledgements i their social events, but what good does it do to
acknowledge that the land is stolen if no attempt is made to retum it to its
original stewards, especially while most of s continue to passively invest in the
resource extractive industries that further the colonization and destruction of
these lands? It would be great to see more folks who own property straight up

© http:lwwwhuycares org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Ainway-Heights-DOC.
Letter-312.21pdf
giving it away to our indigenous comrades. It would be great to orient ourselves.
towards how we can REVERSE the harms made in the past rather than
deconstructing the rhetoric, even though it is going to take a lot more work to,
do so. Land Back; i's not just a metaphorical suggestion, it s a iteral demand.

“Slacker's Syllabus, The Land Back Movement points out there there have
been some recent vicories in the struggle o return native land to native hands.
“In_July 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that around half of Oklahoma is
Indigenous land. Later that month, the Esselen trbe bought back 1,200 actes.
of their land near Big Sur in Califonia. In Seplember 2019, the United
Methodist Church in Upper Sandusky, Ohio retumed land that includes a
mission church and cemetery to the Wyandotte Nation."

Support and amplfy indigenous-led groups, projects, struggles, and
organizations. Educale yourself on the history of the land you lve on, the
indigenous peaple who had inhabited it before you, and how i came 10 be that
you were allowed 1o live there now (spoiler alert: it is through the spoils of
colonization, but you can get more specifc than that for your location). If you
have any property,find ways to give the awnership back to native people. If you
own or rent property of live on stolen land, leam about voluntary tax’, ‘real rent’
and other land retu efforts and then actually donate to those efforls” Real
Rent Duwamish and Shuumi Land Tax are great examples of what this can
look ike all over Turlle sland.

1f you don't have access o resources that would allow you o be materially
supportive, there are plenty of ways 1o become involved in Indigenous-led
movements all over Turtle Isiand. If you five in the Midwest, Camp Migizi in
Northern Minnesola needs help winterizing right now and if you have any
constructon skills or resources, this could be your place to shine. This camp
that was established as part of the struggle against the Line 3 pipeline is
estabiishing a longlerm community for queer bipoc anarchists and water
protectors to focus on the work of decolonization and contribute to other
frontine movements in the region. There's aso a lotof court support and legal
defense that is il needed for the hundreds of protestors who faced arrest in
the fight against Line 3. f you five on the West Coast,the figh to save Thacker
Pass and stop evictions in the Winnemucca Indian Colony needs your support
in Northwest so-called Nevada. There is a call out now to help protect and
support elders and prevent the producton of a massive thium mine. If you'e
able to get to Canada, there’s a call out now to help protect native sovereignty
in the Wet'suweten territory where Coastal Gasiink wants to drl under their
sacred headwaters.

7 hitps://nativegovorg/news/voluntary-land-taxes/
If you aren't able to make it out to the frontlines at all, there's still so much that
can be done 1o support not only those specifc causes, but the struggle for
decolonization in general. Learn about your own roots and educate yourself on
the history of your ancestors. Leam about the culture and traditions of the
people whose lands you occupy. Focus on ways {0 support heaiig and
resilince in your own communiies whie supporting Indigenous-ied efiots to
dothe same. Find ways to support the native foks in your own Ife and in your
own town. Consider fasting on Thanksgiving next year to raise awareness
about any and al of these issues. When the local cashier or passerby wishes
you a Happy Thanksgiving, you can tell them you're fasting. When they ask
why, it will be a comoriable Way to raise awareness about the many stuggles
faced by Indigenaus people n the past and present. And one thing that we can
all do is wiite to prisoners, as a way to build solidarity and communication
between those inside and outside, rendering the walls that have been erected
between us a litle less relevant and it more poweriess. This struggle has
been going on since 1492 Cultral pracice and ceremony have been an
important aspect o healing fr Indigenous folks throughout ths process. | hope
we can find ways to support the healing process and continue on in the
struggle for decolonization and reindigenization. Hopefull this st of prisoners
helps a ltle bitin that process.

Giga-waabamin
SUPPORT MALIK MUHAMMAD

Maiik Muhammad #23935744
Oregon State Penitntiary
2605 State Steet

Salem, OR 97310

Maik can also receive communications elecironicaly, and prefes that method for consistent
cormespondence. You can find insructions for seting up electronic messages via the GetingOut
website here: tis:/wwwcscorrections com/docs/Gettingout instrucions paf e ha ou s
frstsend youremal adrss f Nak n witng s ht he canadyou o i o aproved contacts.

Maiik Muhammad was arrested at an action taking place in Portnd for e 2020 Indigenous Day
of Rage. He previously ived outside of Indianapolss and participeted in the Gearge Floyd
Uprising both thre and in Bloorington before going to Portand, where he wes arested. He is
curtenty in Oregon State Prison. You can read his blog at MalkSpeaks noblogs org

“My name is Maik Farrad Muhammad. Im a 26-year-old backPalestinian pansextal Muslim
(yes, hella confusing). Im an anarchist anitascit, antiacist aboionist yes, both cops and
prisons)for my love of reedom My fist protest was n high school: a walkout staged after
Treyvon Martin's murder. From there, | never really got active again unti‘Bemie or Bust and
then, of course, he George Floyd uprising. traveled the country and organized and fought and
was ulimately kidnapped ransomed and now held pisoner here at OSP. | have a beautiul son
and a loving famil back home in the Midwest.Im also 2 veteran, | was a tanker i the army —
and no, Im not proud that | was par ofthe murder machine, so don't thank me for my senice. |
ove music more than anything aimost, am a guiarst and aspirng pianist ll genres.

Not much else to say except thatm a love offreedom, equity and equaliy, and wil fightto my
Iast breath for it Unike those who may regret ting they didto get convited or those who
tempered thei actions for fear of the consequences, | egret nothing, ifonly not doing more
before | was caugf. il ive for th people and 1l e for the people because | love the peaple,
we who want freedom cannot ret il i comes.”

“Let everyting happen to you: beauty and erro. Just keep going. No feeling s final.” — Rainer
Maria Rike
THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDIGATED TO ALL
THOSE WHOLOST THEIRLIVES AND THEIR
GULTURE IN BOARDING SCHOOL PROGRAMS

The Genoa US. Indian Industrial School operated in Nebraska from 1884 to 1934, and
was one of the largest boardings schools for Native Americans operating in s time.
This boarding school along with many served to forcbly remove chidren fom their
families while assimiating them into ‘American’ sociey trough harsh discpline, abuse,
and explotation. My grandfather doesn' speak about his time in boarding school very.
often, but about a week ago he told me that one of the punishments was to be wrapped
in a wet towel and put in 2 morgue drawer overight where he was unable o move. He.
doesn't remember much, but he knows that his native language was Ojibwe and that
he was beaten whenever he spoke i, o he o longer remembers the language. He.
says he can only feel tn his thoughts

Nicole Drozd and others with the Genoa Reconciiaton Project have found evidence of
over 100 deaths of students at the Genoa U.S. Indian Industral School. Researchers.
estimate that the actual death tol is much higher. When the school closed in the mid
19305, documents were scattered and destroyed. The Nebraska Commission on Indian
Afars and the State Archeology Office, along with other concerned indviduels are stil
tring 1o locate the schao’s cemetery where these chidren would have been buried.
Many of the chidren who died a the school suffered from pneumonia and tuberculoss
One descendant of the schools attendees, gaiashibos, said i an iterview wih the
Omaha Worid Herald, | think America needs to take these lite chidren back home,
and if we'te not able to find them, | think we nee to do something to recognize that
they lost thirives there.”
v