NATIVE AMERICAN

Incarceration

Violence Prevention

THE IRON LODGE:  Native American Spirituality behind Bars

This documentary is about making visible invisible human lives—those of Native American men behind bars for life, men who have perpetrated brutally inhuman acts, and men who have been unjustly incarcerated, yet men who have vibrant and important stories to tell--stories filled with personal pain and tragic social histories, stories filled with spirit, wisdom, and hard lessons learned.

We ask where and how freedom exists for them, as they live out their lives in an absolutely unfree environment, where they have no choices, where their days are regulated down to the last minute, and where many are in “lock down” for the majority of their daily lives.

In this documentary we acknowledge the humanity and soul of these Native American men over and above their criminal status, by providing the opportunity to share with us their stories, dreams, and hopes. We show how they try to create and establish a lived experience of freedom, in an environment completely antithetical to that notion, as they rise to the challenge to build self esteem, a sense of purpose, and a reason to live through resourcing personal inner strength, and their own traditional, cultural, and sacred ways. They speak eloquently and with great feeling about their Spiritual Circle, the drum, the Sweat Lodge, and how these powerful cultural traditions sustain their spirits, keeping hope alive and the dream of freedom close to their hearts.

The film showcases current trends in the California Department of Corrections to promote and provide innovative programs such as the Arts and Corrections Program, the Native American Programs and support media programs such as this, which give voice to people who otherwise have none.

Adult
58 min.
VHS - $120

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