Uplifting Our Incarcerated Relatives with Huy

A Meaningful Partnership

Eighth Generation is proud to announce our latest partnership: an incredibly meaningful blanket collaboration with artist and activist Louie Gong (Nooksack) and Huy, a Seattle-based organization that provides cultural assistance to our Native relatives who are currently incarcerated or transitioning out of the prison system. The Never Say Goodbye Wool Blanket is designed by Louie in collaboration with Huy and Eighth Generation, and both raises awareness for this important organization as well as critical financial support of their mission.

Our Never Say Goodbye Wool Blanket is now available for purchase! Shop here

The Incredible Huy Organization

Never Say Goodbye. In Lushootseed, the word huy means "see you again” or “we never say goodbye."[i]  With this in mind, the Huy organization provides economic, educational, rehabilitative, and religious support for incarcerated Indigenous people in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the United States to ensure our relatives are not forgotten. One example of their incredible work is that Huy assisted Native inmates in creating their own medicine gardens, where they can grow culturally significant plants like sage, sweet grass, and lavender. Additionally, Huy has a DOC Indigenous Hoop Grant Program that pays for traditional foods like buffalo or wild salmon; river rocks, willow branches, and blankets needed for sweat lodge ceremonies; beads and other craft materials for Indigenous religious purposes; and seeds for medicine gardens. Aside from funding Indigenous cultural activities and ceremonies in prisons, the Huy organization also has a pro bono counsel that continuously advocates for the rights of incarcerated Indigenous people to various State Departments and U.S. agencies (read more about their work in that area here). In this way, Huy ensures we never say goodbye to our incarcerated relatives and instead uplift them on their journey back to health and prosperity.

An example of one of the Powwows held at a Washington State Corrections Facility. Photo courtesy of Huy.

The Impact of Huy’s Work

Data suggests that faith-based programs in prisons help to reduce recidivism in the United States. For example, a study in Minnesota prisons found that faith-based programs reduced rearrests by 26%, reconvictions by 35%, and reimprisonment for a new offense by 40%[ii]. Similarly, a study of Texas correctional facilities found that only 17.3% of people who participated in faith-based programs while incarcerated were rearrested compared to 35% of those who did not[iii]. In Washington state alone, the recidivism rate for Indigenous people is at 45.3%, meaning almost half of formally incarcerated Native people will return to prison within 36 months of being released; meanwhile, the overall recidivism rate in Washington is 22%[iv].

Understandably, the work that Huy does is imperative to incarcerated Indigenous people so that they can feel connected to their culture and identity while in prison, and decrease their chances of being incarcerated again once released. While Huy does a lot of independent work, they also partner with tribal governments, state government corrections and other agencies, higher educational institutions, non-profit and charitable entities, and privately owned businesses. We’re excited to share that this year, Huy worked with Eighth Generation and artist Louie Gong (Nooksack) to create the Never Say Goodbye Wool Blanket to celebrate the incredible mission of the organization.

Celebrate the mission of Huy with our Never Say Goodbye Wool Blanket

Never Say Goodbye Wool Blanket

Made from 100% wool pile, our Never Say Goodbye Wool Blanket by Louie Gong is intended to spark much needed conversations around the colonial justice system and unfair racial prejudices, and stands as a symbol of Native resiliency. This beautiful blanket features a central motif of a butterfly designed in Louie’s distinctive Coast Salish style. Here, the butterfly spreads its wings across the entire blanket, encompassing you in a protective and healing embrace. "I thought to myself, 'What symbol embodies our highest hopes and aspirations for people who are incarcerated?', and what popped up was the butterfly," shares Louie. "I positioned the design on the blanket in a way that if somebody gets blanketed, the butterfly wings embrace them. I want them to feel inspired, hopeful, and energized, and ready for positive transformation."

Gabe Galanda, Huy Chairman and a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, also shares that vision of a hopeful embrace. "I envision wrapping the first blankets around brothers and sisters who have successfully returned home, and other brothers and sisters who are helping those still in Iron Houses prepare themselves to return home," says Gabe. "Through Louie’s Coast Salish butterfly design and collaboration with Huy’s work, the community is collaborating on behalf of our incarcerated Indigenous relatives and in a way that benefits and heals us all."

Huy, Eighth Generation, and Louie debuted this meaningful blanket design at an event at Eighth Generation’s headquarters in November, 2024. You can read more about the moving celebration of Native caretaking and resilience here. We’re pleased to now sell this beautiful blanket as a symbol of hope and strength for the Native community, and are proud that a percentage of the proceeds from this blanket will be donated to Huy to help them in their mission in supporting incarcerated Native people.

Never Say Goodbye Wool Blanket debut at Huy event at Eighth Generation’s headquarters. Photo courtesy of Jordan Somers and Converge

[i] Huy Organization, https://www.huycares.org/
[ii] Grant Duwe and Byron R. Johnson, “Estimating the Benefits of a Fath-Based Correctional Program,” International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2013, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.lifescienceglobal.com/media/zj_fileseller/files/IJCSV2A22-Duwe.pdf
[iii] Byron Johnson, “Can a Faith-Based Prison Reduce Recidivism?”, 2012, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.baylorisr.org/wp-content/uploads/Johnson_Jan2012-CT-3.pdf
[iv] King 5, https://www.king5.com/video/news/community/facing-race/medicine-garden-at-washington-corrections-center-brings-healing-and-connection-for-indigenous-inmates/281-e12eb123-20f3-42cb-ab9e-72215574e140