If you liked yesterday’s post about the problems indigenous people face in prison in the US, you can read more about Native Americans and their right to practice religion in prison: Tobacco ruling is a victory for Native American inmates,
In April 2014, a ruling of the South Dakota District Court lifted a tobacco ban in South Dakota prisons, explaining that it violates the constitutional rights of Native American inmates. That means that the Department of Corrections cannot ban tobacco altogether in South Dakota prisons – Native American inmates may use a mixture of red willow bark and 1 percent tobacco in sweat lodge ceremonies.
Photo courtesy: http://blog.thomsonreuters.com/index.php/in-south-dakota-prisons-indian-inmates-get-to-smoke-for-religious-reasons/
Lawyers for the inmate advocacy group the Native American Council of Tribes praised the ruling as being an important victory for religious freedom.
The ceremonial use of tobacco has been central to the Lakota people and many other Native American tribes for thousands of years. The tobacco ties, made from tobacco, string and cloth, each represent a prayer and are burned during ceremonies. Prayer flags are larger versions of tobacco ties, each of which represents a cardinal direction. The smoke represents the spirit, and the tobacco represents the highest offering available.
You can also read more about this here: http://blog.thomsonreuters.com/index.php/in-south-dakota-prisons-indian-inmates-get-to-smoke-for-religious-reasons/
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