Save Iron Thunderhorse

Appeal to Assist in the Parole of Iron Thunderhorse
Judith Karpova: Iraq Humanitarian Travelers Alliance
with Excerpts from Letters on behalf of Iron Thunderhorse
October 1, 2004

Dear Friends: Many of you have received updates from me both from Iraq, where I traveled prior to the war, and since then from fellow humanitarian travelers who returned there as journalists and aid workers which I passed along. I believe that this war recapitulates what was done in this country to the indigenous people here: the seizure of lands and assets and decimation of the population. While the war in Iraq must be opposed, it is essential as well to defend political prisoners within the United States. The appeal below is for an elder of Quinnipiac Nation, Iron Thunderhorse, currently incarcerated in Texas.

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Native American community:

A national treasure - Iron Thunderhorse - is at risk of continuing to be incarcerated and all his irreplaceable knowledge and scholarship lost to his people and to history. Iron Thunderhorse is a 60-year-old elder and Grand Sachem of the Quinnipiac Nation. He has been incarcerated on questionable grounds for non-capital offenses for over 25 years in the Texas criminal justice system. A new opportunity for parole is coming up in the next several months. Those who know him ask that letters on his behalf, urging that he be released on parole, be sent to the Texas parole board as soon as possible. He has already done far more hard time on his charges than those with similar offenses.

The Quinnipiac First Nation peoples are related to the Algonquian Family of Nations and share similar language, dialects and cultural traditions. They have lived in the New York and Connecticut areas - the Dawnland - for over 10,000 years. Their Confederacy was at its peak when the Dutch arrived in 1614; within 20 years, epidemic diseases decimated this population. Today their remnants are scattered. Iron Thunderhorse is the last remaining Quinnipiac who knows their language and all their customs.

This remarkable man has written a dozen books and countless articles, booklets and scholarly studies on the writing, language, legends, history, art, cuisine and political culture of the Dawnland and other Native American peoples. He is himself an artist, poet, journalist and linguist, and speaks five Western languages, as well as First Nation languages and dialects. He is an invaluable resource, not only to museums and academics, but to this entire country.

Iron Thunderhorse is also a registered paralegal and advocate for the rights of Native American prisoners to practice their spiritual beliefs and have their civil rights and health needs addressed in an atmosphere of safety in the prison environment. For this work he has been dubbed the "Clarence Darrow of jailhouse lawyers" by the Dallas Morning News.

As residents of the "Dawnland" - the New York and Connecticut areas - this man's people are our neighbors, and their history and ours are intertwined. He is one of ours, and the loss of this visionary and crusader for justice behind Texas prison bars, would impoverish all of us. In 2002 he was diagnosed as legally blind. His health is failing. His concerns, as he has well proven by his massive bibliography of published work, are the cultural and spiritual legacy of his people, and making these gifts available to all of us. He will be an asset to the community on his release. He has a wife, family, support network and community to turn to.

We ask that letters in his behalf be sent to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. The address and samples of such letters follow. More information on Iron Thunderhorse is available online at the Algonquian Confederacy of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council website , through The Bear Clan Regional Office, CT, (203) 481-0228, and the Fishhawk Regional Office, MA, (781) 438-3042.

I can also make copies of his resume and bibliography available: Judith Karpova, dahlia@ix.netcom.com

Write to:

Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, TX 78757

Re: Iron Thunderhorse
TDC #624391

Excerpts from Letters on behalf of Iron Thunderhorse:

" Iron Thunderhorse is almost single-handedly responsible for recovery of the Quinnipiac Wampano dialect, which was close to extinction . He has been contributing educational futures to our local newspaper We fully expect him to continue all of this valuable work and to continue working with him. Obviously, it is to our advantage and that of the children and adults who are educated and informed through all these efforts that he be free fully to engage in these and comparable efforts.

It should be abundantly clear that Iron Thunderhorse already has a network of friends and family to work with him as well as help him upon release We have every confidence in Iron Thunderhorse as more than a law abiding citizen; he will continue to be a uniquely useful member of the community

Members of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council, Branford & Stony Creek, CT, 8/26/04

"Two things about Iron struck me from our first contacts: that he had the extraordinary character and commitment to be making hard contributions to communities and cultural histories despite his incarceration; and that the person I came to know through his letters and our mutual friendships could be at once so warm and respected, open-minded and thoughtful Please give this good man a chance at last .I do not know how anybody could try harder to fulfill all things required of him. He can teach the professionals, help the world with hard-won wisdom, and despite recent health problems, bring even more fruit forth from his late years.

" As professionals we know he will have no problem finding ways to support himself. His behavior shows him ready for the world and there are people besides ourselves across this region firmly committed to his assistance."

Dr. Jack Dempsey, Department of English, Bentley College, MA, 3/14/03 &
8/16/04

" I am an academic and writer. Although I do not know Iron Thunderhorse personally, just learning about him and his accomplishments makes me understand what an amazing contribution he has already made, and how important it is for the culture of our entire country that he be free to continue. I am not Native American, but have many close friends in this community, artists, poets, historians and environmentalists who have influenced and enriched my own work. There are many organizations in my area which address the issues of sustainable living with their help. Iron Thunderhorse is an outstanding asset. I know that I speak for the non-Native American community when I state that his release would be a benefit to all of us.

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Following the Footprints of a Stone Giant: the Life and Times of Iron Thunderhorse