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Phil Bearshirt was on a fast from March 12 to 17, because the Edmonton Institution where he is a prisoner would not grant him permission to take part in a sweat.
His wife Lynne informed Windspeaker that he wanted to sweat in order to spiritually prepare himself for a coming court appearance. He wanted "to seek spiritual guidance," said Lynne.
When asked why the prison denied Bearshirt permission, his wife said that "the warden would not agree to it for security reasons, because it was too far away."
When Warden Sepp Tschierschwitz, was asked (on March 13) why Bearshirt was fasting, he said, "I hae to appreciate his privacy. I cannot release any information he gives me unless he gives me that kind of permission."
Bearshirt's wife said a few other Native prisoners fasted as a support gesture. She also stated that he kept his spirits up and was "determined to see it to the end." His fast consisted of a water-diet only for the first four days and no food or liquid after that, said Lynne.
Windspeaker, again, contacted the warden on March 18, and was told that Bearshirt had been granted permission and was released from the segregation unit. Tschierschwitz said that Bearshirt is free to see Elders and that a sweat will be built within the system's walls for his use.
The warden reiterated that the prison has to consider risk factors but is willing to bend. "We don't want to stand in the way of what appears to be necessary," he commented.
According to Bearshirt's wife, the institution received over a dozen letters supporting her husband's request for a sweat. She said that a supporter living in Vancouver also sent a support letter to the solicitor general.
When informed of the warden's decision to allow the sweat, Lynne expressed relief. Word about the decision was passed on to her by Bearshirt's lawyer, she said. The sweat has been scheduled for sometime next week.
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