Epileptic inmate not getting meds

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I've been incarcerated for the past eight months. I'm a 40-year-old Native Indian from Mnjikaning First Nation in Ontario. I'm also an epileptic. I've taken Epival and Rivotril for the past 20 to stabilize my disease. Since my incarceration I've been held at the American-owned Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene, Ont. I've been denied my one medication (Rivotril).

In the past 20 years I've had eight to 12 seizures. Now, I have them two to three times a week. The medical treatment here is so ridiculous. They treat us like a herd of cattle: ship in, ship out.

I'm also writing in regard to smudging. We smudge once or twice a week, if we get lucky. There are six brothers on the wing and it's difficult to smudge if one of us feels down or family members are sick. We like to pray our way, not the white man's way.

Anyway, in conclusion, in this lock-down wing, we are lucky to get showers three times a week. I've complained to captains and get no response. What happened to our Native rights? Does the keeper of man think we are dirty Indians? Please help guide us in the right direction. That's why there is so much anger among us. What happened to our Native rights?

-Cal Sharpe (Smoke) and Bill Sharpe (Big Dog)