Buck Ghosthorse (Leonard Albert Mattern)

[Sandy S]

The fraudulent cult continues on.

One of the members Fernando Bruno Aranda Jr, who changed his name legally to J.R. Ghosthorse, died in 2024. Two of his children have the surname Ghosthorse.

His obituary makes it clear that he never left this active group.

J.R. Ghosthorse, Fernando Bruno Aranda Jr, age 61, transitioned peacefully, on November 19, 2024.

One-of-a-kind spirit, relative, and Warrior; a Sundancer who suffered for the people and helped many. J.R. was our best friend, father, son, brother, cousin, he made everyone laugh, cry, feel loved even in the darkest times. You are a light that ripples through time, Space Pirate.

Soar high and free. There is no death, just a changing of worlds. We are grateful to carry the stories and wisdom you passed on. May you visit often and guard over those who love you. Let the ancestors welcome you home, safe travels and much love on your journey.

J.R. is survived by his children; Dominique Rae Longton, Justin Ray Aranda, Sydney Rae Ghosthorse and Jetta Lee Ghosthorse. His grandchildren, Jaiden Bender, Gunner Longton, and Stella Longton. His mother, BJ Tankersley. Brother, Patrick Regino Aranda, sister, Johnnie Lee Aranda Somerville (Robert Allen Somerville) and nephew, Mason Jay Aranda. Hunka siblings; Paul Ghosthorse, Chad Ghosthorse, and Starr Lilli Martinez-Mize.

Wopila Pilamaya, Thank you to all the Sundance family, friends and family. Mitakuye Oyasin

https://www.blueridge-funeral-service.com/memorials/jr-ghosthorse/5514970/#tribute-book-event

[Sandy S]

The land at 649 Garrison Rd, Goldendale WA is still owned by the Buck & Vicki Ghosthorse Trust.

Satellite images show that their ceremony grounds are kept maintained.

Their main public promoter, Matthew Fox ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Fox_(priest) )  wrote this in 2023:

... I danced my latest Sun Dance among the Lakota community in Goldendale, Washington. 

That Sun Dance community was originally created by my friend and co-worker Buck Ghosthorse.  I was given those sacred feathers to pray with at the Sun Dance and afterwards they were mailed to me as a gift by the wife of one of the leaders (a son of Buck who is now passed).  She is from Egypt. 

I carry that Sun Dance (and others) with me always and I pray with them regularly especially when I pray to the four directions.

https://dailymeditationswithmatthewfox.org/2023/06/28/a-solstice-photo-and-story-shared-from-the-camino-part-i/

The leader he refers to is Chad Mayo, who legally changed his name to Chad Ghosthorse. His wife is Amirra Malak, an artist who identifies as "mixed egyptian-euro ancestry". Neither of them are members of a federally enrolled tribe, neither of them would have a permit. Leonard Mattern/Buck Ghosthorse didn't when he was alive. Neither does Matthew Fox now.

Possession of Eagle Feathers and Parts by Native Americans Fact Sheet https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/PossessionOfEagleFeathersFactSheet.pdf

Matthew Fox promotes the fraud of Buck Ghosthorse through out his blog:

And I am thinking of my friend and colleague Buck Ghosthorse, who came back from the Vietnam war deeply wounded in soul, but who recovered his Native American spiritual practices thanks to Wallace Black Elk, and devoted his life to healing others.

https://dailymeditationswithmatthewfox.org/2024/11/11/veterans-day-2024/

https://dailymeditationswithmatthewfox.org/2022/04/03/buck-ghosthorse-a-personal-story-of-indigenous-kidnapping%ef%bf%bc/

Matthew Fox actively promotes the myth, he participates in ceremonies, I believe it is safe to say that he is a cult member.

[Sandy S]

I've listened to the first 30 minutes so far.

Storytime With Jan: How I met Buck Ghosthorse
January 28, 2022 • 48 mins
Jan and Karen talk about when Jan met Buck Ghosthorse and began her learnings in the Lakota way of ceremonies and shamanism.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-shamanism-a-21st-century-a-30941199/episode/storytime-with-jan-how-i-met-92177367/

Jan is Jan Engels-Smith https://www.lightsong.net/about/jan-engels-smith/
http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=5446.0

Jan Engels-Smith says her Lightsong School is part of or related to the Ghosthorse group. She says she continues the teachings.
Within the last few years she did some sort of virtual ceremony with Paul Ghosthorse.

She was recruited by the group when at an event in Portland Oregon. She for 2 years attended Buck's Saturday night talks, that were rambling affairs that could go on til midnight.

She helped build and operate the fraud sweat lodges.

When she first met Buck he informed her that she was not allowed to wear pants in his presence. She immediately changed to a skirt. He had very strict rules which were excused by the fact that he had been in the military. He traveled in an entourage of about 7 entitled people. Hosting them required a lot of work.

Buck recruited Jan. He scolded her, yelled, and even slapped her at times. She relates all this now as something she is completely fine with. Implied is that she has been well trained and is special.

During ceremonies she was not allowed to lift her gaze from the ground. She was praised for responding submissively to any harsh actions.

Buck called her "little slave girl". Jan laughs about this.

Jan's generalizations about Native American elders are racist: according to her they are "right brained folks" that are "off talking to the trees".

Jan says she was gifted with songs that she uses in her own group.

[Sandy S]

Earlier discussion containing Medicine Men for Rent by Avis Little Eagle Lakota Times Jul 9, 1991:
 www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=44.msg91#msg91

In a note in that thread one of his wives Donna A. “Sincereray” Scott Mattern is mentioned. Her Find a Grave memorial includes an upload of her death certificate. R.I.P. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185697718/donna_arthurine_arthura_mattern

More of Avis Little Eagle's work can be found in this book "Visions of an enduring people : a reader in Native American studies". Get a free account with Internet Archive in order to borrow book and access it all. https://archive.org/details/visionsofendurin0000unse/mode/2up

From the article Prophets for Profit:

"Mr. Two Elk said Buck Ghost Horse's ex-wife, Donna, charged him with child molestation."

"Most of his vision quest interpretation comes from cowboy and Indian comic books."

Buck Ghost Horse also used the names Ghost Bear or Two Bulls.
Claimed to be Hunkpapa Sioux and also a Sicangu Sioux.
Neither office of enrollment had records supporting his claims.
Claimed he was an ordained minister of the Methodist Indian Church of Los Angeles. Signed himself as Reverend Buck Ghost Horse.
He regularly scammed people with a "Healing Light Ceremony". This ran about 3 hours beginning at sunset. There was an admission price. Participants described as white, from ages 12 to 40.
He used pipes, crystals, points, feather fans, fire. He scared people by claiming that a horrible cleansing was coming very soon and that people should turn to true teachers (such as himself) to save them.
He used readings from Edgar Cayce.