When I used the term Euro-Americans it was within the context of views on
spirituality associated with personal reward or monetary profit. Although
I have come across a few non-Native non-whites who act similarly, it is
predominantly a phenomenon among European-Americans in this country. To make
things clear, I was referring to those individuals who fall in either one of
two patterns:
* People who for some reason were involved with Native spirituality and
decided to take the role of "medicine people"; especially those who
abuse the uninformed public in exchange for money.
* People who initially join a support group for Native Americans, get to
know a few native people and a few inside stories, and suddenly decide that
they are Indian (usually after digging out some ancestor who invariable
seems to be a grandmother who was a Cherokee princess). Then they proceed to
speak behalf of Indians and sometimes join the first category.
I use the term Euro-American because I find this behavior characteristic of
the dominant society in this country: self promoting and short-term profit
oriented. In fact, there are other non-whites who "sell out" and take on
this approach even if it goes against their own people. I do not mean to
alienate supporters, and I know very many of them, who sincerely recognize
the shortcomings of their upbringing when it comes to "help" Indian people.
So, don't take things personally if you don't owe anything.
Kerry Miller says:
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Sticking with first person singular, therefore, I resolve to
not "distort the traditions until they become cheap popular culture;"
but above all, not to let someone else's making torahs for sale --
any more than the rest of the noise in the world -- divert my own
focus.
My native spirituality ("authenticity") has nothing to do with
whether or not it inspires someone else to emulate it. It may have
something to do with whether I have to isolate and protect my "belongings"
from all others' personal journeys toward the truth -- but I hope to get
beyond that materialist point.
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Just counting the numbers of "I's" and "MY's", I hope you succeed in reaching
this point. But I think one of the first steps is to make sure that other
people's wrongdoings DO divert you from YOUR own focus. It is precisely
indifference and pure self-interest what allows fake spirituality to
prostitute Native religions. Protesting and informing others will certainly
help us out in discerning true knowledge from deceit; so, get involved!
Michael again:
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I don't know how someone who knows nothing about Native spirituality can be
expected to KNOW what the real books and the unreal books are. It is my hope
that even the wretched wannabees be able to find Light when they seek it.
Many such people turn toward "alien" religions because they were unable to
find strength, solace, or sense in the watered-down versions of (for example)
Christianity which they were fed as children.
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Nancy Piatkowski says:
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I think that some of the questions raised and the answers given about
Native American Spirituality are valid but there is still the question as
to how how do you tell the "authentic" (quotes are not meant to imply any
disrespect to anyones belief but as a way of comparison) from the "plastic"
or personal invention. How do you check credentials (?) of someone who
makes claim to a particular spirituality? A thought just occurred to me-
can't this be applied to any set of beliefs, in any religion?
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Most of the "literature" and "services" I've seen offered by plastic
medicine people is so absurd that I find it hard to believe that a sensible
person cannot weed out most of it. As far as I am concerned, anyone who
advertises ceremonies is a fake. However, for the hard-to-decide cases I
suggest reading "Spiritual Hucksterism" by Ward Churchill in "Z Magazine,"
December 1990. It contains statements from the 5th Annual Meeting of the
Tradition Elders Circle including such prominent figures as Thomas Banyacya,
Phillip Deere, L. Shenandoah, and Fools Crow. They propose the following
information to be obtained from an alleged "healer":
1) Indian nation this person represents
2) Clan or Society
3) Person who instructed them and place where they learned
4) Home address
The Circle provides contacts who will check on someone upon request. I would
suggest doing some preliminary research before calling the elders to avoid
unnecessary stress; also, this network are useful judging from the response
my initial letter developed. The article also provides a statement from
the American Indian Movement denouncing characters such as Sun Bear and his
Bear Tribe, Carlos Casta~neda, Jamake Highwater (aka Jay Marks), Alonso
Blacksmith (aka Chunksa Yuha), "Chief red Fox", Hymeyohsts Storm, Dyhani
Ywahoo, Lynn Andrews, Wallace Black Elk, Brooke Medicine Eagle, Cyfus
McDonald, Osheana Fast Wolf, Roling Thunder, "Beautiful Painted Arrow,"
and a corporation called Vision Quest Inc.
Although some of the names mentioned in the article may have disappeared
from the scene by now, the main point is that there are ways to check on
these quacks just as there are information sources regarding any crucial
decision in one's life. I am told that Onewae Trust, out of England, puts
out a publication called "The Phoenix" which publishes a black list of
fake spiritual leaders. Can our very efficient bibliographer Lisa Mitten
help us out in this one?
Another source of information are the Native American Programs in universities
across the nation. I've seen names of people I know in this network. You'd
be surprised how many skeletons in the closet can be dug out with a few
phone calls.
Dorothy Roberts says:
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I AM of that Celtic heritage and I AM learning about the
goddess religions (try When God Was A Woman sometime). I am also learning that
there are, as well as differences, similarities with some Native American
beliefs and customs....
But most of all, just what IS the message you're trying to get across? IS
Native American spirituality to be shared and learned - properly over time -
as with any other serious study - or is it only available if one's pedigree is
properly registered? I am neither enrolled in a tribe nor listed in any of the
registers of the peerage or the Blue Book. I belong nowhere and am no one.
"So ask not for whom the bell tolls...?" If I am myself, and if that includes
a mixture of others' wisdom, others cultures, others philosophies, am I a "wann
abe" Celt, a "wannabe" Indian, a "wannabe" whatever?
----------------------
The message I'm trying to get across is that it is not only fine to learn
about Native spirituality but highly recommendable and useful to promote
Indian causes; but that it should be done properly and respectfully.
Similarities between ancient religions are to be noted but not mixed in
dangerous cocktails. From the same article I cited above I quote Mathew
King, a spiritual elder from the Oglala Lakota: "Each part of our religion
has its power and its purpose. Each people has their own ways. You cannot
mix these ways together, because each people's ways are balanced. Destroying
balance is a disrespect and very dangerous. This is why it is forbidden.
Many things are forbidden in our religion. The forbidden things are acts of
disrespect, things which unbalance power. These things must be learned, and the
learning is very difficult. This is why there are very few real 'medicine men'
among us; only a few are chosen. For someone who has not learned how our
balance is maintained to pretend to be a medicine man is very, very dangerous.
It is a big disrespect to the powers and can cause great harm to whoever is
doing it, to those he claims to be teaching, to nature, to everything.
It is very bad..."
Let the Indian elders be heard!
Daniel Medina