The Detroit area is the host to many different Native Americans from all walks of life and several different Nations, all live here in peace and harmony. It is seldom told of the quiet ways in which these people live, but the blatant abuse of their culture needs to be stopped and the Detroit area appears to be an initial ground for this fight.
Rachel Holzwarth, aka MaAnand Suraj, aka Suraj Holzwarth, aka White Eagle Medicine Woman, was forced to relinquish her eagle feathers to Fish and Wildlife Friday, May 2, 2008, during a meeting in Troy, Mi. The standing room only meeting was held with ~100 Native Americans from several nations in live attendance and an untold number via teleconference from across the continent. These people were protesting this woman’s use of our religious ceremonies and sacred items.
The National Director of the American Indian Movement (AIM), Dennis Banks, wishes to make a statement to the people of all cultures and nations regarding this and similar issues.
Our ceremonies and spirituality are the last thing we have; the only things that haven’t been completely taken away. It is time for us to retake those final descriptions of cultural identity.
All references to our ceremonies and cultural practices are not be performed by any non-native people who are not fully accepted by our communities.
All AIM Support and AIM National Chapters are to be vigilant in their duty to forestall these actions by any person portraying themselves as “shamans??? professing or portraying native American customs.
AIM is in full support of the actions being taken by the Michigan Chapter to stop this woman and make notice to any and all practitioners that AIM is now standing against this cultural theft.
