Interesting. There are two ages listed for him on one... And no mention of Teton/Oglala on any of his records, except for what he's claimed. So, my main concern would be if he is not, then he's fraudulently selling items as Native-made, and it's possible he's unlawfully in possession of eagle feathers, etc. Unless he's bought a tribal allowance/permission of some type. I will get someone I know who has Oglala relatives to ask about him.
Piff, again, you totally rock. I've learned some better record sites for research from you all here. Brutal efficiency comes to mind.
Public records databases (consisting of voter records, utility records, phone directories etc.) sometimes mistakenly combine the info on two different people into one, especially when the names are similar. Also records can be mistakenly combined for various people of the same extended family.
Records sometimes are transcribed a variety of different ways. The same record may be indexed one way on ancestry.com, another way on familysearch.org.
Occasionally an individual themselves may use differing birth dates for records.
Martin has weighed in himself in conversations about frauds:
Submitted by Martin KnifeChief, Mar 6, 2007 18:47
Time and time again, I see these people who say they are "medicine men". One that charges money is not. The medicine men of my growing up years may ask for a donation of tobacco, a blanket or other items but not mazaska (money). These people who pop up and have a following are cultists. For some reason, they have a power that draws people in. Our world is the world of mountains and plains, not New York high rise!! We do not teach that any place is where the Creator resides....and certainly there is no power in a high rise in New York for a Lakota!! A sweat lodge should always be connected to the earth. It must be done as our ancestors have said. One cannot have such a ceremony in a high rise, covered in plastic and duct tape! This man has found a captive, needy, audience, willing to pay for his services!! He should be given the black feather and told to stop!! Hecitu welo!!
http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1225.0Does anyone know of this James Ecoffy that Martin lists on his own bio:
I'm not from around here.Teton Lakota...Oglala/Hunkpapa. Relocation family from rez to city 1950's. Brother family James Ecoffy Oglala
https://www.pinterest.com/knifechief/---
I could embellish my nickname to Piff the Brute.
Especially when it comes to white baby boomer aged frauds. I'm glad to help, Diana and Loudcrow and others do great work too. Together we are all able to bring the light of reality to the murk that frauds try to spread.
