Hopi Wisdom Teachings, LLC, Jeremie Leckron aka Grandmother Medicine Song falsely claiming to be Hop

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She was born Jerri Lynn Jackson, 1943, Los Angeles county CA.

Parents George Samuel Jackson and Jayne (Goodjohn) Jackson. Their memorials https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52721990/george-samuel-jackson https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52722097/jayne-jackson include obits, the obits have differing surnames for Jeri/Jerri dependent on her married surname at the time.

The memorials link back through several generations of her ancestors.

Part of her heritage claim:

my maternal Grandmother. .... She was adopted into the family of a Mormon Missionary when she was around age 7 or 8.  Her name in Hopi as I understand it was Komokpu Korani (Violet Small Owl, which could also translate to mean Pigmy owl,).  Her lineage is from 3rd Mesa, Old Oraibi, Arizona and the clan name is either Lolama or Honau.  Recently, I went back to Hopi in search of any remaining family members but was unsuccessful in finding living relatives.

Here is her actual maternal grandmother Violet (Spiers) Goodjohn https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/224492493/violet-goodjohn - a white Mormon woman of Scottish and English descent.

As for the claim that Violet was adopted by Mormon missionaries at around age 7, this is also proven untrue by the fact that she is in successive census with her white Mormon family, including when she was very young.

She also claims a:

Great Aunt, Tish (1/2 Hopi 1/2 Anglo)

Here is her actual maternal great aunt Emily “Tish” Speirs Staples https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101810/emily-staples

One of her direct maternal female ancestors has an especially lengthy obituary that includes a racist story about supposed local Native American men. Apparently she told odious racist stories to keep children in line, and her family loved her for this (?).

( ancestry.com, familysearch.org, newspapers.com and general googling used for research here )

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This operation is expanding quite a bit.

Her "Happiness Team at Hopi Wisdom Teachings"  includes:

Jeanne Terry, Content Editor, seven-year apprenticeship, teaches circles

Satya Henkes, Global Community Outreach Director, Netherlands, sixth year of apprenticeship

Barbara Lee Black, art and marketing, in seventh year apprentices

Shawchyi, creating education curriculum, seventh year

Betty Jo Jackson, admin, seventh year apprentice, attending circles since 2007, leads circles.

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One of the many workshops they offer is a "Hopi Initiations Circle".

From Facebook:

Official Circling Community of Hopi Wisdom Teachings and Grandmother Medicine Song. Through her teachings from the Hopi and American Indian traditions she has helped many learn to practice "Walking the Beauty Way"

I listened to " A Message for the Tribal Elders, Grandmother Medicine Song extends her heart and hand to the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the Hopi and other Tribal Nations." She says she is of Hopi lineage, 3rd mesa. She asks for forgiveness for the mistakes of her white ancestors. She says she is following her vision of building bridges between people. She says that any Hopi or anyone else of other tribal nations who feel she is doing something incorrect should "please feel free to reach out to me".

Audio here: https://hopiwisdomteachings.com/ My personal impression of her message is that she is performing for her white non-Native followers.

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"Hopi Wisdom Teachings" contact form https://hopiwisdomteachings.com/contact-us/

They have not responded to my inquiry.

Keep this in mind:

16. Suggestions.

You agree that any suggestions, ideas, product uses and potential uses, product ideas, feedback or other information about the Web Site, the Service, or our products or services (“Suggestions”), provided by you to us are non-confidential to you and shall become by virtue of the transmission to us, to the Web Site, or to the Service our sole property. We will own all of the rights, exclusively, including all intellectual property rights, and shall be entitled to the unrestricted use and dissemination of these Suggestions for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without acknowledgment or compensation to you.

https://hopiwisdomteachings.com/terms/

[Diana]

I did a quick search on Jeremie Leckron's Hopi grandmother Violet Speirs Goodjohn.

Violet Speirs
in the 1900 United States Federal Census

View1900 United States Federal Census
 
Name:   Violet Speirs
[Violet Spens]
Age:   5
Birth Date:   Dec 1894
Birthplace:   Utah, USA
Home in 1900:   Tooele, Tooele, Utah
Sheet Number:   10
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:   184
Family Number:   195
Race:   White
Gender:   Female
Relation to Head of House:   Daughter
Marital Status:   Single
Father's Name:   Thomas L Speirs
Father's Birthplace:   New York, USA
Mother's Name:   Annie Speirs
Mother's Birthplace:   Utah, USA
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Thomas L Speirs 41 Head
Annie Speirs 35 Wife
Mabel Speirs 13 Daughter
James Speirs 11 Son
Alice Speirs 9 Daughter
Violet Speirs   5 Daughter
Bertha Speirs 3 Daughter
Emily Speirs 1 Daughter


Thomas L Speirs
in the 1900 United States Federal Census

View1900 United States Federal Census
 
Name:   Thomas L Speirs
[Thomas L Spens]
Age:   41
Birth Date:   May 1859
Birthplace:   New York, USA
Home in 1900:   Tooele, Tooele, Utah
Sheet Number:   10
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:   184
Family Number:   195
Race:   White
Gender:   Male
Relation to Head of House:   Head
Marital Status:   Married
Spouse's Name:   Annie Speirs
Marriage Year:   1886
Years Married:   14
Father's Birthplace:   Scotland
Mother's Birthplace:   Scotland
Occupation:   Farmer
Months Not Employed:   0
Can Read:   Yes
Can Write:   Yes
Can Speak English:   Yes
House Owned or Rented:   Own
Home Free or Mortgaged:   F
Farm or House:   F
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Thomas L Speirs   41 Head
Annie Speirs 35 Wife
Mabel Speirs 13 Daughter
James Speirs 11 Son
Alice Speirs 9 Daughter
Violet Speirs 5 Daughter
Bertha Speirs 3 Daughter
Emily Speirs 1 Daughter



Annie Speirs
in the 1900 United States Federal Census

View1900 United States Federal Census
 
Name:   Annie Speirs
[Annie Spens]
Age:   35
Birth Date:   Dec 1864
Birthplace:   Utah, USA
Home in 1900:   Tooele, Tooele, Utah
Sheet Number:   10
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation:   184
Family Number:   195
Race:   White
Gender:   Female
Relation to Head of House:   Wife
Marital Status:   Married
Spouse's Name:   Thomas L Speirs
Marriage Year:   1886
Years Married:   14
Father's Birthplace:   England
Mother's Birthplace:   Scotland
Mother: number of living children:   6
Mother: How many children:   7
Can Read:   Yes
Can Write:   Yes
Can Speak English:   Yes
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members   Age   Relationship
Thomas L Speirs 41   Head
Annie Speirs   35   Wife
Mabel Speirs 13   Daughter
James Speirs 11   Son
Alice Speirs 9 Daughter
Violet Speirs 5 Daughter
Bertha Speirs3 Daughter
Emily Speirs 1 Daughter

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Violet (Speirs) Goodjohn is very well documented throughout her life. She is not a mysterious figure. Diana has the crucial census here.

Census, obituary, photos, and over 100 newspaper articles document her life. Violet was an active civic worker in Tooele, Utah. High school plays, school elections, Latter Day Saints ward activities, dramatic readings, women's clubs, historian, city councilman, county Red Cross chairman, a Democratic women's club ........ so much can be found through newspapers.com. After she died there were various memorials and declarations made to honor her.

Even as recent as 2003 her name has been in newspapers, in this case as part of extended family legal trust.

Violet's ancestors are also documented. Considered pioneers, prominent Latter Day Saints.

As one of just many examples, here is her paternal grandfather George Speirs (born in Scotland) described:

He was President of the High Priest quorum and a leading figure in the Seventy Quorum. Then he was honored with the crowning glory of Patriarch of Tooele Stake. He gave 83 blessings, the last of which was given four days before his death which occurred December 19, 1919 at the age of 93.

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Great Aunt, Tish (1/2 Hopi 1/2 Anglo)

This is Jeremie Leckron's claim about Emily “Tish” (Speirs) Staples, but again this is a very well documented woman. Just like her sister Violet, she was very active in civic matters. Obit, photos, census, newspaper articles, and other records detail her life.

One of many examples, this from The Transcript Bulletin 28 Mar 1958:

Affectionately called 'Tish 'by most everyone, she is a native of Tooele. She is a graduate from Tooele high school and the University of Utah, obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree at University of Utah in 1939. She is at present time working for a Master of Arts degree at the Utah State University. 'Tish' has continuously served as a teacher in the Tooele County schools since 1923.

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Some details on how this identification was made:

Jeremie Leckron states she was born in 1943, Glendale CA. She says she has Mormon family ancestry.

People search records supply her birth month and day. Also a list of past surnames.

She has used the name Jeremie Jackson-Leckron for her "Hopi elder" performances. In her most recent husband's obituary she is named Jeri Harris at the time of their marriage. Sometimes she uses the middle initial L.

Her indexed birth record, including her mother's maiden name, can be found on Family Search. Same birth date, same birthplace - Jerri Lynn Jackson.

Through public records, a chronology can be worked up, including through several surname and ultimately first name change.

Both sides of her family can then easily be looked over. She claims Hopi maternal lineage through "Violet" and "Tish". These names are reflected in her actual maternal line, both white Mormon women.

She is seen in the 1960 Utah Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Census Record, accessed through Family Search - along with her parents and four siblings.

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In 2001 she turns up in Kentucky news and event listings as Jeremie Jackson-Leckron, "Unity lay Minister and Hopi Elder".

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Here are the details from an earlier posted link:


HEALING BLANKET WORKSHOP
Presented by
Jeremie Leckron, Spiritual Teacher

DATE: Saturday, June 28, 2014
TIME: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
LOCATION: SpiritWay Wellness Center, 201 West 6th Street, Leadville, CO 80461, 719-486-0320
WEB: SpiritWayWellnessCenter.com

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
It is time for us to learn to use our energy to create beauty and healing in our lives and on the planet. There is a way to weave healing medicine back into the earth through our spiritual practice. The Hopi people understood these practices; that by healing themselves they were also healing Mother Earth. This workshop will focus on the American Indian (primarily the Hopi) sacred teachings of the Healing Blanket. You will be doing a kind of personal work that will connect you in a good way to the cycles of life and All Our Relations. This work is potent and vital. Serve yourself and your world by attending and practicing what is taught at this workshop. Together we will learn through sacred ceremony, story, meditation, prayer, song and dance methods of self-healing and detoxification that will help heal not just ourselves, but our Mother, the Earth.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: This workshop is being taught by recognized elder and teacher of the pueblo nations, Jeremie Leckron, along with the help of her wonderful apprentices. Jeremie teaches American Indian Wisdom in the old way, through stories, ceremony and by example. She shares her memories and wisdom with ten ongoing teaching circles in Lancaster, Kentucky where she is the Spiritual Director of Sanctuary, Inc. (Spiritual Retreat and Teaching Center).

COST AND PAYMENT: The total cost of the one-day workshop is $150.00 per person. A $50.00 non-refundable deposit is required by June 1st with the balance due by check or cash prior to the day of the workshop. Deposits and full payments should be sent to Sheila Seppi using the following Registration Form. Space is limited to the first 25 on a first come, first served basis.

Post-Workshop Activity
On Sunday, June 29, Kathy Hill, apprentice to Jeremie will be hosting a drum teaching circle entitled, Heartbeat of the Earth from 10:00 – noon at SpiritWay in Leadville. Cost for the circle is a donation no less that $30 with workshop participants receiving at $10 discount making the cost $20.

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Current companies:

   Organization Number   1023013
    Name   Hopi Wisdom Teachings, LLC
    Profit or Non-Profit   P - Profit
    Company Type   KLC - Kentucky Limited Liability Company
    Status   A - Active
    Standing   G - Good
    State   KY
    Country   USA
    File Date   6/5/2018 1:31:05 PM
    Organization Date   6/5/2018
    Last Annual Report   9/29/2020
    Principal Office   Po Box 593
Danville, KY 404230593
    Managed By   Members
    Registered Agent   Jeremie L Leckron
301 Hurst Dr
Harrodsburg, KY 40330
Current Officers
    Member   JEREMIE L. LECKRON
    Member   BARBARA LEE BLACK
Individuals / Entities listed at time of formation
    Organizer   Jeremie L Leckron
    Organizer   Barbara Lee Black
    Registered Agent   Jeremie L Leckron


   Organization Number   0562080
    Name   SANCTUARY COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP & SPIRITUAL RETREAT, INC.
    Profit or Non-Profit   N - Non-profit
    Company Type   KCO - Kentucky Corporation
    Status   A - Active
    Standing   G - Good
    State   KY
    File Date   6/16/2003
    Organization Date   6/16/2003
    Last Annual Report   3/2/2020
    Principal Office   301 HURST DRIVE
HARRODSBURG, KY 40330
    Registered Agent   JEREMIE LECKRON
301 HURST DRIVE
HARRODSBURG, KY 40330
Current Officers
    President   jeremie Leckron
    Vice President   CHAD K RAGLAND, JR.
    Secretary   SARA CAVITT
    Treasurer   CHAD K RAGLAND, JR.
    Director   Jeremie Leckron
    Director   SARA CAVITT
    Director   CHAD K. RAGLAND