He is also a director of the walkingstick.org.
Would be interesting to find out more
I just had a look at the walkingstick site. They say they combine Jewish shamanic traditions with ndn traditions. They have bought premises in New Mexico; on the first page it says these were surrounded by four ndn nations, while at the second, introducing this Retreat Center, it says: "We have purchased 83 acres surrounded by thousands of acres of public land and undeveloped ranch land". The Retreat is described here as: "At present, we have a small dining hall, two cabins, two tipis..." and a camp ground where tents can be put up.
I then looked at their programme for 2006, which offers the following courses/workshops:
"Jewish Shamanic Healing: Introducing the THIRD Two-Year, Four-Week Training Program"
From May 26-28: "Shamanic Healing: From Torah to Tipi. A Workshop for Healers of Self and Others"
Aug 10-15: "Lighting the Story Fires Within" - "A rare gathering of Native American and Jewish spiritual teachers and elders".
They announce the following NA speakers:
- David Carson (Choctaw), Medicine Teacher and Pipe Carrier, Co-Author of: Medicine Cards, The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals
Further below, Carson is said to be the guardian of the ancient sacred Choctaw pipe. "Raised on the Choctaw reservation in Oklahoma, David was introduced to animal and stone medicine by his aunts and later by Mary Gardener, a Choctaw medicine woman. He also studied with elders and medicine carriers [sic] of northern plains nations".
- Kam Night chase Lau (Lakota)
- Blue Spruce Standing Deer (Tewa), Medicine Singer
Further below, BSSD's name is given as: Pba-Quen-Nee-e; he is described as a "Tiwa Medicine Singer and Painter (Taos Pueblo)"
- Mary Night Chase Lau (Lakota), "Sun Dancer and Teacher of Lakota Feminine Wisdom".
Now to the prices charged:
The workshop on stories, Aug 10-15, costs USD 950 if paid for by credit card, and USD 850 if paying by check, cash, money order. The sum includes: "tuition, all meals, lodging", but: "Accomodations are very rustic: 1-4 person tents, tipis, a cabin with no amenities".
The workshop on Shamanic Healing, May 26-28, is USD 550. The warning reads: "Facilities are rustic, with limited water supply, two indoor bathrooms, four outdoor enclosed chemical toilets..." Only here, at the bottom of the page, it says that - at least for the May event - attendence is limited to 40 participants.