by Ina Pavila
To my understanding and to my observation of trials and courts they have been suspended due to high volumes of covid cases in Bethel, Alaska. To my understanding also, there also are other districts that have suspended courts cases.
I am writing as a mother, as an aunt, sister-in-law and a cousin to those that have been detained for what is now a prolonged period of time due to circumstances. We have continued working in our offices using precautionary means. Schools have proceeded. Some churches have started back up again. Stores have been opened up and the hospital is still taking patients.
We are all going on with our lives as our brothers and sisters within the prison system are being held until “further notice”. There is a term that is called…
“Habeas corpus” is a legal term that is still expressed in Latin, and which is literally translated as something along the lines of “you should present the body [of the detainee] to the court”. It represents something fundamental in American law and the values that underpin it, which is that a person is innocent until proven guilty, and Constitutionally, a person cannot be detained indefinitely, or for an excessive amount of time. (https://fredfrankbailbonds.com/bail-bonds/how-long-can-you-spend-in-jail)
It is to my attention that most of those in prison are awaiting trial and I know of a person that has waited a good year. What happened to you are innocent until proven guilty? Being in prison is not fun for not even a day or two, yet our men and women, our Yup’ik native men and women have to wait while the world proceeds.
There are other means in which they can meet. I work for a company that has put in place zoom meetings. Our students that are learning remote are learning through VTC. There are ways that things can proceed.
I am only crying out to notice this dilemma because as a mother I missed my sons help with subsistence. I miss my son because as a grandmother I have to take care of his children. I know you might be thinking he shouldn’t have done what he did to end up in jail and that is true, but does everyone have to pay for the injustice? Do we have to continue to wait while the rest of the world is in motion? Are they going to be gone for their children’s birthday and coming Thanksgiving and Christmas?
This is what we as Natives have had the unfortunate portion that we have been doled out with… institutionalism since we have been introduced to secular society.
