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BEWARE OF FAKE MEDICINE MEN
by Becky Blanton - Sierra Times.com
Native American watchdogs are warning people about an increase in spiritual frauds and phony medicine men - which are leading to anything from financial scams to rapes and even murder. Darren McCathern, a spokesman for Comanche Lodge in Oklahoma, says the problem of false medicine men and Native American teachers isn't limited to just the west.
"In the last year or so there have been several instances of
sexual assault and rape in connection with fake medicine men. "One case recently resulted in the conviction of a man in New Mexico that was guilty of hurting a pregnant woman with child, where he then left her for dead in the desert.
"This was done as a result of convincing the poor woman to undergo some type of fake nude healing ceremony that ultimately led to his conviction for rape," he said.
"The more informed the public is to these types of issues, the
safer they are."
John Gisselbrecht, a spokesman for the Native American Resource Research & Cultural Center, in Kalispell, Mont., says he's concerned about visitors and residents to the area who are being taken advantage of in the name of Native American spiritual and ceremonial walks of life across the United States. "We've had a number of medicine men/women and
'presto' spiritual leaders come to our attention. Their practices are absurd and some border on criminal," he said.
McCathern and Gisselbrecht offer the following tips to help people determine if those people teaching are legitimate or if they are fakes and wanna-be Native Americans.
1) There are never, under any circumstances, any charges or forms of payment for true Native American ceremonies or instruction. If anyone requests payment in monetary or material goods, they are a phony and you should run away as fast as you can. They cannot find a single native culture anywhere that takes money or donations for spiritual services or teachings. It is, however, a respectful courtesy to assist with travel expenses when bringing in an elder specifically to perform a ceremony.
2) If there are any sexual connotations or expectations up to and including a coed nude ceremony in sweat lodges, you have stumbled into the web of a sexual predator. There is no such thing as a nude coed ceremony.
3) If the person leading the ceremony is mixing ceremonies such as the adding of crystals or gemstones to the use of traditional native ceremonial tools (such as drums or rattles), or peyote use in conjunction with the use of the sacred pipe, they highly suggest that you talk to a traditional elder. Native American traditional ceremonies are not a mix-and-match, anything-goes game.
4) There are no priests, shamans, kings, queens or princesses in the Native American culture. And those who claim to be are silently scoffed at. No matter what you are told, it is OK to question where their teachings originated and by whom and by what nation their authority was given.
"Without exception, the elders we have spoken with all say, 'Check out your spiritual teacher's traditional background,'" Gisselbrecht said.
"If they claim to carry animal 'medicine' they are not traditionals."
Gisselbrecht also said there are those who have conveniently found unsanctioned Native American people, some of whom are still practicing drug users and alcoholics, to portray themselves as medicine men, shaman, priests, lodge leaders, bundle keepers, and pipe carriers. Beware, he cautions, these people are dangerous.
McCathern and other Native American watchdog groups urge consumers to check out credible sources before becoming involved in Native American ceremonies.
"These are not games and when not done incorrectly can result in injury or death, not just looking silly," Gisselbrecht said. Be respectful of Native American spirituality and ceremony for your own safety and, if for no other reason, to not insult the elders.
"These men and women, who have practiced these ceremonies most of their lives, are deeply concerned when they see their sacred ways of life prostituted," Gisselbrecht said.
"Attempting to mimic these ceremonies with an 'anything goes attitude' is not a spiritual path, but one of disgrace and a display of lack of education. One Sunday Mass does not a pope make. One sweat lodge does not a medicine man make."
by Becky Blanton - Sierra Times.com
Native American watchdogs are warning people about an increase in spiritual frauds and phony medicine men - which are leading to anything from financial scams to rapes and even murder. Darren McCathern, a spokesman for Comanche Lodge in Oklahoma, says the problem of false medicine men and Native American teachers isn't limited to just the west.
"In the last year or so there have been several instances of
sexual assault and rape in connection with fake medicine men. "One case recently resulted in the conviction of a man in New Mexico that was guilty of hurting a pregnant woman with child, where he then left her for dead in the desert.
"This was done as a result of convincing the poor woman to undergo some type of fake nude healing ceremony that ultimately led to his conviction for rape," he said.
"The more informed the public is to these types of issues, the
safer they are."
John Gisselbrecht, a spokesman for the Native American Resource Research & Cultural Center, in Kalispell, Mont., says he's concerned about visitors and residents to the area who are being taken advantage of in the name of Native American spiritual and ceremonial walks of life across the United States. "We've had a number of medicine men/women and
'presto' spiritual leaders come to our attention. Their practices are absurd and some border on criminal," he said.
McCathern and Gisselbrecht offer the following tips to help people determine if those people teaching are legitimate or if they are fakes and wanna-be Native Americans.
1) There are never, under any circumstances, any charges or forms of payment for true Native American ceremonies or instruction. If anyone requests payment in monetary or material goods, they are a phony and you should run away as fast as you can. They cannot find a single native culture anywhere that takes money or donations for spiritual services or teachings. It is, however, a respectful courtesy to assist with travel expenses when bringing in an elder specifically to perform a ceremony.
2) If there are any sexual connotations or expectations up to and including a coed nude ceremony in sweat lodges, you have stumbled into the web of a sexual predator. There is no such thing as a nude coed ceremony.
3) If the person leading the ceremony is mixing ceremonies such as the adding of crystals or gemstones to the use of traditional native ceremonial tools (such as drums or rattles), or peyote use in conjunction with the use of the sacred pipe, they highly suggest that you talk to a traditional elder. Native American traditional ceremonies are not a mix-and-match, anything-goes game.
4) There are no priests, shamans, kings, queens or princesses in the Native American culture. And those who claim to be are silently scoffed at. No matter what you are told, it is OK to question where their teachings originated and by whom and by what nation their authority was given.
"Without exception, the elders we have spoken with all say, 'Check out your spiritual teacher's traditional background,'" Gisselbrecht said.
"If they claim to carry animal 'medicine' they are not traditionals."
Gisselbrecht also said there are those who have conveniently found unsanctioned Native American people, some of whom are still practicing drug users and alcoholics, to portray themselves as medicine men, shaman, priests, lodge leaders, bundle keepers, and pipe carriers. Beware, he cautions, these people are dangerous.
McCathern and other Native American watchdog groups urge consumers to check out credible sources before becoming involved in Native American ceremonies.
"These are not games and when not done incorrectly can result in injury or death, not just looking silly," Gisselbrecht said. Be respectful of Native American spirituality and ceremony for your own safety and, if for no other reason, to not insult the elders.
"These men and women, who have practiced these ceremonies most of their lives, are deeply concerned when they see their sacred ways of life prostituted," Gisselbrecht said.
"Attempting to mimic these ceremonies with an 'anything goes attitude' is not a spiritual path, but one of disgrace and a display of lack of education. One Sunday Mass does not a pope make. One sweat lodge does not a medicine man make."
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