When there were hearings in Pierre the summer the DOC went through the Sunset Law review in 2003, I went to Pierre for the hearings.  There was one hearing by a subcommittee at which Stephanie Autumn and Marletta Pacheco testified.  Stephanie wanted to get a contract with the State to provide case managers for all the Natives in the system.  She said she had done that in Minnesota and it had been very beneficial to the Native inmates there.  Both of them testified that the DOC didn't understand the cultural differences of the Native inmates.  Warden Weber was there listening at the hearing.

After the hearing, I gave him a list of names of contacts on the various reservations who had helped with the Native American inmates in the past and suggested he could call upon these people if the DOC had questions on Native issues.  I hand wrote the list for him.  I don't remember all the names anymore, but I do remember that Myrna Thompson was on the list and John Around Him. 

A few weeks later the warden implemented the tribal liaison program.  He put Associate Warden Dennis Block in charge.  Dennis called all the tribes and sent letters to them also.  I don't have copies of the letters since I wasn't involved in that.  I do remember Dennis talking about how he called some of the tribes many, many times before they appointed tribal liaisons.

There was at least one formal meeting with the tribal liaisons in Sioux Falls at the prison.  They asked Dennis what they were supposed to be doing.  He asked them to help define their roles.  There was also a DOC meeting in Chamberlain to which the tribal liaisons were invited, which turned out to be a disaster when one person showed up acting very militant and insulting. There have been many informal meetings when the liaisons have been in town for spiritual conferences and powwows.

I don't think there was ever any agreement on what the roles of the tribal liaisons would be.  They have each approached the position differently.  The one thing that Warden Weber said from the very start was that they should be given access to all parts of the prison and all inmates they wished to see.  As they started coming to the prison, they were given tours of the prison - usually by Mr. Block.  Our current Warden Young has continued this policy.  This transparency has been very beneficial to tribal-DOC relations.

In the grand scheme of things, it is difficult to assess how successful the program has been.  I believe it countered the militancy that was present when the program started.  I know for sure that it has done wonders in stopping the rumors that used to sweep the reservations about particular inmates being mistreated.  It established a way for the liaisons to call the prison to discuss their concerns with someone who has the power to address the concerns.  It has provided a way for Native inmate families to talk to someone from their own community whom they trust about prison concerns.  I think the tribal liaison program has done more good than we realize.

The program is still in existence.  The liaisons have helped inmates being released integrate back into their communities.  The names and addresses of the tribal liaisons are available to the inmates so they are able to contact the liaison from their reservation if they have any issues regarding their tribal land or other dealing with their tribe. The liaisons often come to the prison for spiritual conferences and powwows.  The inmates love talking to them and finding out about news from back home. They give encouragement to the inmates and urge them to use their time in prison to better themselves and to learn more about their culture.  They are living reminders that the inmates have not been forgotten.  Being a tribal liaison is now considered to be a position of status within the tribes.

Mary Montoya