Stand Up for Your People

Stand Up for Your People is a detailed analysis of Native American history and its effect on religious practices in US prisons. Native American inmates share their experiences to enlighten readers about the real story of religious freedom in today's American prison system.

Learn how Native American religious oppression is rooted in the arrival of Europeans to the North American continent and how their many conflicts have a direct correlation to the present treatment of incarcerated indigenous people. Actual Native American court cases brought forth by prisoners struggling to find religious freedom are the precedents used by author Gabriel Sharp (Grey Bear) in his personal fight for religious freedom in Arizona.

Grey Bear shares his experiences on how the Arizona Department of Corrections actively oppressed Native American religious rights while he was incarcerated. Unforgiving established prison policies were constantly used as weapons against the Native Americans. Prison officials desecrated both their religious items and their sweat lodges. They were forced to prove their race. They were denied equal prisoner access to religious ceremonies and spiritual items and importantly, were prevented the purchase of firewood for their sweat ceremonies. Grey Bear offers practical solutions to change and prevent religious oppression from continuing in prison.

With education, courage and the power of the Great Spirit, Native Americans and those committed to justice will be able to stand up for the Red Nation!