Tag: Minty LongEarth

The Washington state organization that was founded in 2012 to assist in protecting the rights of imprisoned American Indians in the state has appointed a new member to the Board of Advisors.

Huy announced that effective January 1, Minty LongEarth (Santee/Creek/Choctaw) would be assisting the nationally recognized, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in it’s efforts to give American Indians who are down a second chance.

RELATED: Huy: Washington State Non-Profit to Improve Indian Prisoner Ceremonies

From 2011 to 2013, Minty was the Program Manager for the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation DOC Native Religious Services Program. She later became United Indians’ Interim Executive Director.

“Minty’s commitment to the free exercise of tribal religion by Native Americans who are down, is unmatched,” said Huy Board Chairman Gabe Galanda. “We are thrilled by her addition to the Huy Board and hope she will help us attract more tribal volunteers and other supporters to our cause.”

As Minty told Indian Country Today Media Network in 2012: “The need for tribal volunteers and support is paramount in the development of a comprehensive service model to combat recidivism. The key to lowering the number of incarcerated Indians is first understanding that we are no different than our relatives in the iron houses, in terms of needing recovery, forgiveness and repair. Then we must act on that understanding.”

Huy (pronounced “hoyt”) is a term in the traditional Coast Salish language known as Lushootseed that means: “See you again/we never say goodbye.” The organization seeks to enhance religious, cultural, and other rehabilitative opportunities for imprisoned American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

Since 2010, Huy has participated as friend of the court before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. District Court of Hawaii, and in administrative rulemakings in California and Washington State, in matters involving the religious rights and civil liberties of American indigenous prisoners. Huy has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington State DOC, under which it has facilitated the gifting of nearly copy00,000 for indigenous prisoner religious activities.