Unbroken: Indigenous Peoples Today

Alfred Melbourne, Lakota Native

Alfred Melbourne, a formerly imprisoned Lakota warrior, shares some of his body tattoos. Since his release 5 years ago, he founded the non-profit food sharing farm Three Sisters Gardens to teach skills to at-risk youths and keep them away from street crime.

"This noose around my neck; See how it's ripped? Each one of the dates on it is a year that I was incarcerated. That's why it's symbolic to me because it shows how they had me hung for all those years. Fortunately I broke loose and was able to come home.

"These kids have got hard lives and the prison system is always ready to take them. They make a profit from it. After going through a previous life as a youth, you know, out here in the hood running amok with false role models, I don't wanna see that happen again. We need to educate, not incarcerate.

"I also have 'Sioux' on my chest for my tribe, 'Indian', and 'red power.' On my back it says 'Lakota' on the top. I'm very proud of who I am today."

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