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| Judge approves Nebraska agreement on Indian inmates, religion |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/21/2005 |
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A judge has approved new rules to accommodate the religious and cultural needs of Nebraska's American Indian inmates to settle a federal court action. The settlement, which was reached between the inmates and prison officials last year, was approved last Monday by U.S. District Judge Warren Urbom. "It may not have gone far enough for some," Urbom said. "It may have gone too far for others." The settlement grew from a complaint filed on behalf of some 200 American Indian inmates by Richard T. Walker, an American Indian sentenced to a life term in 1966 for second-degree murder in Thurston County. Among Walker's allegations was a claim that prison officials made so many demands for qualifications on a medicine man that he stopped coming to the prison to conduct religious and cultural affairs for the Indian inmates. Walker also alleged that prison officials required the medicine man to be able to "acclimate" to the religious needs of other inmates, including Christians and Muslims. Prison officials have agreed to allow American Indian inmates to have two powwows a year and give them time for religious education and worship ceremonies. The inmates can also use traditional, ceremonial foods such as fry bread, corn and "berry dish" in their ceremonies. The inmates agreed not to use tobacco -- which is banned in the prison system -- in their ceremonies. But prison officials will let them use chinshasha, which is made from the bark of red willow trees, as a substitute. Prison officials also agreed to allow the reinstatement of the Native American Club and allow access to medicine men and other spiritual leaders. The settlement will replace a 1974 consent decree signed by Urbom requiring prison officials to allow American Indian inmates to conduct religious ceremonies and have access to medicine men and ceremonial tobacco, among other things. |
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