Consistent with long-standing Quaker interests, historic concerns and recurring testimonies of amity with Indian peoples, empathy with prison inmates and broad toleration for religious diversity, Baltimore Monthly Meeting of Friends, Stony Run, supports the establishment and function of Roaming Buffalo Clan as a Native American religious organization by certain inmates at C T Terrell Unit in Rosharon, Texas. This corporate support was confirmed by our Meeting for Business at its regular monthly meeting on 1/3/10, and it is my purpose in writing, on behalf of the Meeting,:

· To encourage the Texas Department of Justice to make adequate accommodation for the faith and practices of Roaming Buffalo Clan as a peaceable, orderly and transparent means for the exercises of traditional Native American spirituality, consistent with prevailing legal standards;

· To urge the staff at C T Terrell Unit to demonstrate toleration for traditional Native American devotions and other licit activities by the congregation of Roaming Buffalo Clan, consistent with legitimate institutional needs including safety and security;

· To advise Indian friends to exercise good faith, good will and good order within the framework they have established by a constitution for Roaming Buffalo Clan posted, together with related documents, at http://roamingbuffaloclan.blogspot.com/;

· To inform Friends in Texas of our concern and to hold up the condition of Indian inmates to them for their consideration in the Light;

· and, if necessary, to introduce our member, William O. Miles, to inmates, officials and Friends in Texas as one familiar with the condition of Indian inmates and as one active in the concern for Native American devotees in our state and federal prisons.

Beyond this immediate concern, it is, of course, our hope and expectation that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice continually assures the free practice of traditional religion for all of the Native American devotees in its custody and under its supervision.

Yours truly, Frederick W. Leonard, Clerk of Meeting

Distribution 1/25/10

Roaming Buffalo Clan
C T Terrell Unit

James Jones, Senior Warden
C T Terrell Unit

Oliver J. Bell, Chairman
Texas Board of Criminal Justice
CC: Tom Mechler, Vice-Chairman
Brad Livingston, Executive Director
Leopoldo "Leo" Vasquez III, Secretary
John "Eric" Gambrell
Carmen Villanueva-Hiles
Charles Lewis Jackson, Pastor
Janice Harris Lord
R. Terrell McCombs
J. David Nelson

Live Oak Friends Meeting
Galveston Friends Meeting
San Antonio Friends Meeting
Friends Meeting of Austin
Caddo Friends Meeting
Dallas Friends Meeting
Fort Worth Friends Meeting
Hill Country Friends Meeting