"educated_ndn" <educated_ndn@yahoo.com> Add to Address Book
Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 01:31:29 -0000
Subject: [newagefraudsplastichshamans] Pledge for Former & Recovering Nuagers
--- In newagefraudsplastichshamans@yahoogroups.com, "barnaby_mcewan"
<barnaby_mcewan@y...> wrote:
>
> I had a couple of other ideas for Al's visit.
>
> 1. Funding. Would you consider approaching the Onaway Trust for
help
> with costs, or any other help they might be able to give?
>
http://www.onaway.org/>
Thanks for this Barnaby, I'm writing to them.
I'm contacting some documentary filmmakers too, and see if they
could not only film it but help defray some of the cost.
> 2. A pledge. We ask people to sign a public pledge not to
participate
> in fake ceremonies, buy 'medicine cards', etc. Maybe this could be
> incorporated in Trisha's website?
I think this is an excellent idea. And I think we could already
start asking people to sign this, pass this pledge around and post
it in as many places as we could.
A big part of it would be asking former Nuagers to contribute their
own comments, since some Nuagers would be more inclined to listen to
them than to us.
Here's my suggestions. Everyone feel free to add to this:
1. I recognize that New Age Imposters and Exploiters posing as
Native Medicine People and Native Elders is a huge problem and very
damaging to Native Peoples and Causes.
I realize now I contributed to that problem, perhaps unknowingly.
2. I recognize that TRUE Native Peoples, Native Activists, Native
Medicine People, and Native Elders are overwhelmingly OPPOSED to
such Impersonation, Exploitation, and Abuse.
I realzie now I contributed to that problem by Ignoring Native
Voices in favor of empty feel-good beliefs or false versions of
Native Ceremonies.
3. I recognize that New Age Imposters and Exploiters posing as
Native Medicine People and Native Elders DISRUPT Native Communities
by trying to build their own power bases and in some cases cults.
I pledge to avoid being part of or contributing money or support to
such cults.
4. I recognize New Age Imposters and Exploiters posing as Native
Medicine People and Native Elders spread RACIST STEREOTYPES of
Native Peoples that make it hard for others to see Native Peoples as
they TRULY are, diverse, adaptive, and unbeaten.
I pledge to no longer believe in or pass along such stereotypes.
5. I recognize now that New Age Imposters and Exploiters posing as
Native Medicine People and Native Elders are very disrespectful
towards Native Beliefs when they sell Native Ceremonies, or False or
Inaccurate Versions of them, for profit to outsiders.
I pledge to NEVER PAY TO PRAY AGAIN.
This includes any and all:
Ceremonies (including Sun Dances, Sweatlodges, and Naming Ceremonies)
Workshops
Seminars
Readings
Healing Sessions
Apprenticeships
6. I recognize that Ceremonies are VERY SACRED THINGS, and
potentially, VERY DANGEROUS if done by those who are not Trained,
Authorized, or Respectful.
I realize that Native Ceremonies have NO Place or Value outside of
the Traditional Context of their Native Communities, or practiced by
Outsiders with little understanding of their History or Place.
I PLEDGE TO NEVER SEEK TO TRY TO BECOME A WANNABE NATIVE OR SHAME-
ON, or to pay someone seeking to exploit my misplaced desires.
7. I Do Hereby Pledge to Always Listen to Native Voices First, and
to Show Respect and Honor for Native Peoples, Beliefs, Values,
Traditions, and Cultures by Working WITH Them on This and Other
Issues, and Not by Working AGAINST Them Based on Misplaced, Selfish,
or Fantasy Images of What I Would Like Them To Be.
