Haley said it was ironic that the Governor was quoted repeatedly as saying that the youth must be, held accountable , while refusing to offer any accountability for the actions taken by those in place underneath him. As allegations surrounding juvenile corrections in South Dakota surfaced in 1999, the implications for Native American youth became obvious. The resolution also compared the current status of Indian youth confined within the SD facilities to the status of Indian during the infamous boarding school era. Jennifer Ring, Director of ACLU of the Dakotas said, Religious freedom is protected in the Bill of Rights-the state has the right to restrict religious access only for compelling reasons. For example, in prison this involves issues of safety to self and others.
Indian kids have the right to practice their religion.
It doesn t matter if someone from the state thinks that religion comes with a black jacket and a white collar. In order for people to learn about their religion they must be taught about it, by an elder. To keep youth from learning about their own spirituality is to attempt to disenfranchise them from their culture. Ring pointed out that lengthy confinement without access to tribal elders also affects a young persons ability to learn and use their tribal language. Additionally, Ring added, This is also an issue involving the child's future.