Help Needed for Pow Wow to be held in Federal Prison
For those you know Matt Sherman, a long-time member of the American Indian Movement, you know how hard he has worked over the years on a number of important issues.
If he is needed, he will go and answer the call, more often than not, at his own expense. He helped to stop the descration of burial grounds in West Virginia when Walmart planned to build another one of its stores on the land there - he has fought against strip mining and now, he has dedicated himself to helping with the spiritual needs of native prisoners who are often denied the right to our own spirituality.
Last year, Matt was instrumental in having the federal prison agree to providing the native inmates with the Sacred Inipi Ceremony and the Drum Group, Thunder Nation, accompanied him on this journey, at their own expense as did Matt. However, Matt's appeal for help for the Thunder Nation's travel expenses - mainly gas money, was answered. Regardless of whether or not Thunder Nation would receive gas assistance or not, they promised to go and they did.
Now Matt Sherman has accomplished another move forward in providing to the Native prisoners, a pow wow. He has worked very hard with federal officials to see this happen so the spiritual needs of the men would again be met. Thunder Drum will be going as well, but if at all possible, Matt is making an appeal again for help with the travel expenses for Thunder Nation for the 800 mile round trip - but whether or not it is received, once again Thunder Nation will be going, helping their brothers in the iron house to regain their spiritual strength.
In Matt's own words:
Dear Friends: Thanks so much to those who have responded to our appeal for prayers and gifts to help get this Drum Group into a Maximum Security Federal Prison in June. Getting permission to go in was quite a chore...getting there is another. It is an 800 mile round trip for the group.
I have sent this link Thunder Nation Drum Group so you can see them in action. When I informed Thunder Nation the Bureau of Prisons would neither pay them nor reimburse travel expenses, without hesitation they said "we're going."
If you could support them with your prayers it would be appreciated. If you could help us buy a gallon of gas that would be helpful too. You have my word that all funds collected will go to help get Thunder Nation to all the inmates at The Federal Prison who wish to hear & see them. It's an open Pow Wow.
I regret that Due to Federal Regulations I cannot say what prison it is. Thank you and Continued Blessings to all.
Matt Sherman
P O BOX 1106
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
If you can help in any way with gas expense for the trip, please do. These men need that connection with their spiritual beliefs as much as a Christian, Protestant, Jew or Muslim does.
Please feel free to pass this on to anyone and everyone who you think will be willing to help. Please do it for the men in the Ironhouse. Thank you.
Contents
May 2007 Reports
Last updated on May 25, 2007