AMERICAN INDIAN RELIGIOUS RIGHTS FOUNDATION (AIRR)


AIRR Success Stories





Arizona (2005)
AIRR assisted federal prisoners by making it possible for them to pray in their Native tongue where, previously, the Federal Bureau of Prisons restricted Native language to established songs and formulaic prayer only.

Arizona (2005)
AIRR assisted state prisoners confined to segregation to be allowed smudge ceremonies three times per week, and further, the administrator for pastoral activities, for the Arizona DOC, offered to work with AIRR in resolving other areas of concern where religious policy was being violated, or implemented inadequately, to meet the religious and spiritual needs of Native prisoners.

California (2004)
AIRR assisted three female Native prisoners in being able to meet with their spiritual advisor, who was being denied entry into the facility. AIRR contacted Governor Schwarzenegger about the matter, and soon thereafter it was resolved.

California (2005)
AIRR helped resolve a grooming issue at C.M.F. Vacaville, allowing for long hair to be worn.

Colorado (2005)
AIRR assisted in locating a spiritual advisor to attend to the spiritual and religious needs of the female Native population at Denver Women’s Correctional Facility.

Indiana (2003)
With the help of an ex—judge from Texas, of Native American ancestry, and active in the area of religious rights for Native American people, AIRR was successful in having the Indiana DOC at Westville construct a sweatlodge and implement weekly prayer pipe ceremonies.

Iowa (2000
Due to AIRR providing information on the weekly occurrence of sweatlodge ceremonies as conducted on numerous tribal reservations across the U.S., and within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, weekly sweatlodge ceremonies were provided to the Native population at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility.

Minnesota (2004)
Prison officials were using tainted, chemical wood to burn during sweatlodge ceremonies, causing Native prisoners to become sick. Once AIRR contacted the warden at the federal facility and an investigation was conducted, the wood previously used was replaced by natural burning wood.

North Carolina (2005)
AIRR assisted a Native prisoner in having his personal prayer pipe returned after being confiscated by guards in retaliation for his activities in the area of religious rights for Native prisoners.

Pennsylvania (2004—2005)
Indian prisoners were having their grooming exemptions rescinded for failing to obtain a letter from their respective tribes stating the religious significance attached to long hair. AIRR provided information on the subject, and those prisoners who resubmitted requests for exemptions to the grooming policy were approved.

Texas (2003)
AIRR assisted a Native prisoner in being transferred to a minimum security facility designated as a Native American unit, who had been undergoing retaliation at a medium security facility for speaking out against the lack of religious policy for Native Americans.

Texas (2004)
AIRR assisted a Native prisoner to receive his medicine pouch, with religious objects, that were being denied for him to receive through his tribe, with prison officials claiming the source as non—religious.

Wisconsin (2005)
AIRR assisted Native prisoners in receiving monthly sweatlodge ceremonies, and weekly pipe and drum services.


The above stories represent but a fraction of the success AIRR has had in assisting Native prisoners with their religious rights. Due to the confidentiality of AIRR files, and with respect to the Native American prisoners AIRR helps, names have been withheld to maintain the dignity of individuals.


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Background courtesy of  Lyte Spirit Native Backs