Naomi Archer aka Ana Oya AmetzIn her visits to Europe, Archer has been (is) passing herself off as an indigenous person. Probably she's not too precise on what heritage she claims, i.e. 'indigenous European', and since she speaks both on hurricane relief and ndn issues, she gets presented by some European organzisers as 'indigenous American'.
Here is one example:
http://absolutartist.de/HofNaoLecture with Naoim Archer: The world seen from the view of North American natives“
Tuesday, August 7, 7 p.m.
Naomi is an activist for the rights of indigenous peoples in the USA and leader of Four Directions Solidarity Network, promoting the dialogue between different cultures and works for keeping sacred places and a sustainable relationship between humans and nature. Naomi is also an adoptive member of the Cante Tisa [sic], the traditional Strongheart Warrior Society of the Teton Oglala Lakota Nation. During her travels, Naomi strives to mobilise solidarity support for the Strongheart. During her visit to Magdeburg this year she will speak on the meeting of indigenous inhabitants at the US Social Forum which took place in Atlanta/Georgia at the end of June.
Her new website does not offer much in the way of contents, but there are a few sentences on her alleged ancestors:
http://www.iladurarrak.org/history.htmlLiving History of the Iladurarrak and Our Ancestors
Creation: Our Birth
The telling of our creation story is a sacred experiential ceremony and cannot be communicated properly on a webpage.
Zahar Asabak, Our Ancient Ancestors: 40,000 to 15,000 BCE
More than 40,000+ years ago, our ancient Ancestors emerged onto the ice-covered European continent beginning a lifeway that will survive tens of thousands of years and mass climate change before significant outside disturbance. Living in the warmer southern regions of the continent where steppe and taiga dominated. our ancient Ancestors are responsible for beginning the famous European traditions of cave painting and carving 'venus' figurines.
Emergence of the Iladurarrak: 15,000 - 10,000 BCE
Around 15,000 years ago, the real cultural roots of the Iladurarrak began. At this time our Ancestors were primarily horse and caribou hunters though bison, auroch, birds, and fish were also relied upon. The cultural remains that survive in Mother Earth (and should not be disturbed) reflect our Ancestor's reliance on the Horse and Caribou for their food, homes, tools, and all aspects of their lifeway.
Migrations and Travels: 10,000 - 4000 BCE
Around 10,000 BCE, the glaciers and cold weather of the Ice Age began to retreat. Steppe grassland and the large herds of caribou and horse also retreated north and gave way to birch and pine forest which then transitioned to oak and elm filled with deer, boar, and smaller game. The coastline changed and the large continental area connecting Britain and NW Europe (often called Doggerland) flooded as sea-levels rose.
For the Iladurarrak ancestors, this was a time of great transition as some groups left to follow the reindeer north towards what is now Scandanavia, some moved north into the British Isles, while others remained in the continental forests. Still others, like the Iladurarrak, moved north to the coastline to become hunter/fishers in the ocean and coastal rivers. So our lifeway, while reflecting the millenia that came before, also began to reflect our reliance on the water.
With the retreat of the Ice Age and milder weather, the European continent became much more accessible to travelers and merchants. During this time our people had contact with other cultures including the Indo-European (IE) farmers in the southeast, northern Finno-Ugric people, and Mediterranian cultures farther south.
Apparently Archer not only gave herself a new name, but also had second thoughts about the name of her alleged people. Anyway, whether she claims to be „Moaene“ or „Iladurarrak“ - google these terms, and most of what you get in the way of results are sites maintained and entries written by Archer herself. Tribes/peoples of these names are unknown to anyone else dealing with early European history. The word „moaene“ does not even seem to be Basque, because, in a google search in all languages, there are many results in Slavic languages coming up. Once again, neither Moaene nor Iladurarrak happen to be known names of ethnic groups in Europe in the Paleolithic or Mesolithic eras, and the sites claiming so are either Archer's own sites, or people repeating her garbage to promote events with Archer.
As one example for this latter category:
http://www.newfrontier.com/asheville/past-virato-live-2007.htmVirato's guest this morning is the director of Four Directions Solidarity Network, a grassroots movement of both native and non-native people coming together from the four directions to preserve traditional indigenous culture, support the health of Elders and traditional keepers, as well as provide tools that return us to a sustainable relationship with our relations, and our Mother, the Earth.
We are not only talking Native Americans, we will discuss all indigenous tribes, including the indigenous Europeans known as the Iladurarrak or Moaene,, which means 'sacred moon people'.
The Iladurarrak were semi-nomadic tribes of hunter-gatherers whose ancestors developed a rich society and culture over portions of the European continent for more than 40,000 years, before giving away to the better known proto-Celt, Celtic, and Norse cultures. They are one family in the larger complex of Paleo-Mesolithic tribes that extended from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to Eastern Russia.
Now, after a long period of slumber, the Iladurarrak are returning as people of European heritage are called back to the ways of their Asaba -their Ancestors during this great time of change. Hou! Hou!
Just take a look at the other guests of this radio show host, it reads like a who-is-who in the esoteric scene. Now if this is who take Archer's claims serious.... (BTW, I can't help but wonder about this „Hou! Hou“ Archer is using in her texts – it rather sounds like a bad imitation of Hollywood's grunting ndns.) It is also interesting that Archer's name is not mentioned in the ad for the show, just her title of 'director' - probably to avoid embarassing google results.
It has been mentioned before, when Archer joined NAFPS some time ago, that her claims about descendancy from a pre-Indo-European ethnic group is pure fiction and rhubarb. Her former website titled „inituitivepath.org“ indicates Archer relied largely on intuition instead on facts.
The date of 40,000 B.C. mentioned by Archer happens to coincide with the migration of modern homo sapiens sapiens into Europe eventually. Apparently Archer tries to link her alleged heritage to this first wave of HSS migration. Claiming the emerge of her alleged people at between 15,000 to 10,000 BC still goes back into the Paleolithic era – however, while historians and archeologists found remnants of the European population of the Paleolithic era, they
do not have the means to establish their respective ethnic identity, let alone any language spoken by these peoples. The same is true for the following period, the Mesolithic, between 9,600 and 4,500 BC, during which Archer sees the alleged Iladurarrak people retreating into remoter areas of Europe. The artefacts found in no way permit conclusions to the ethnicity of their makers, nor do they provide information on the language(s) spoken and regarding religion(s) practiced by these peoples, the artefacts may present a few hints but this is it.
Archer also continues to link these alleged Iladurrarak to the Basque people of Europe. The Basque language is indeed singular in Europe, and it is an isolated language as there are no related languages known. It is, however, just
one theory that the Basques represent a remnant of an earlier original and widespread European population which has not been proven. It is further nothing but
one theory about early European population that Basque resp languages related to Basque may have been spoken widely across Europe prior to the migration of Indo-European speaking peoples.
All in all, Archer presents a lot of rhubarb and stuff made up to further her claim of being indigenous. She is not any more indigenous than I am. This is not her only strategy to pass off as indigenous (cf further down).
Here's Archer's profile at tribe.net – especially take a look at the groups she joined:
http://people.tribe.net/ee7ae9ce-2775-4987-8fd5-b7cf8f408c47Tribes
* Basque Pride *,
American Indian(Native American)Original,
Asheville, NC,
foot in two worlds,
Outdoor Educators,
queer anarchists,
queer pagan,
Secret Life of Plants,
Shaman,
Shamancircle,
Shamanic Society,
Shamanic women,
Shamanism,
Sustainable Practices and Technology,
Voices of Earth/Na Leo o ka 'Aina,
Year 2012,
? medicine wheel ?
A good part of these groups deal with nuage issues, five of them on shamanism alone.
There are two threads in the 2012-group in which Archer gives a little detail about her alleged ancestors:
http://2012.tribe.net/thread/8a4fb076-1333-4ceb-aeb1-e4e2534b4ca8http://2012.tribe.net/thread/7d5dda67-77e5-48ba-bd24-00bb2b938d34The following is a link to a more recent profile Archer published at myspace. Apparently Archer has undergone a change of name and now calls herself „Ana Oya Ametz“ - allegedly terms from 'her' pseudo-language. Again, if she really were in a position to have discovered the language of a Paleo- resp Mesolithic European population and even were in a position to speak it, scientists from all over the world should be knocking on her door and worship her.
All Archer really does is create a fantasy of a Paleo-/Mesolthic population, and she uses some Basque and/or Basque sounding terms in the hope to support her claims with them, as well as aspects taken from ndn cultures.
http://www.myspace.com/tzorihouEpa! My name is Ana Oya Ametz, which in my language translates loosely to "Dreams in the Forest". My english name is Naomi Archer.
"Ana" is an ancient word that has no English equivalent. It is a kinship word that exists between "sister" and "brother". Native people call this "two spirit" or "whole spirit".
In this spirit, I am humbly making my way though the juxtaposition of modern and the ancient - hearing the voices of my Iladurarrak Ancestors and our Old Ways - relearning what it means to be Indigenous to a homeland and a people.
I currently live in North Carolina, USA but travel to Europe on a regular basis to share native European culture with individuals and groups, walk the land, and do ceremony for the reawakening of my people and Haize Herria - Land of the Wind! I'm working to make 2009 the year I make it home for good. Hou! Hou!
I also work with other members of my Indigenous family - mostly on Turtle Island (North America) - in order to fight for Indigenous rights and the preservation/renewal of traditional ways which keep us strong. I founded Four Directions Network and I'm a member of Cante Tenza- the Strongheart Warrior Society of the Lakota. I also support the sovereignty of the Lakota Oyate - free Lakota nation. I do this work for the people, Our Ancestors, future generations and Amalur - Mother Earth.
There are two things I always try to remember. First, freedom isn't something that's given to you, its what you claim for yourself within your own heart. Second, liberation is called a struggle for good reason.
Whereas Archer used to claim to be
adopted by the Cante Tinza, she now claims full membership. While the Cante Tinza are a warrior society which doesn't do adoptions, Archer also claims to have an indigenous family „mostly on Turtle Island“, and it might be interesting to hear which family Archer is talking about. Thus Archer is exploiting ndns not only by taking up cultural aspects she favours, but also by claiming adoption, membership in traditional groups and an „indigenous family“, and last not least by not being too precise in her travels in Europe how exactly she defines her being 'indigenous' and allowing misinterpretations of her being ndn.
And you simply got to love this: a white US citizen traveling back to Europe regularly to „share native European culture with individuals and groups […], and do ceremony“. We don't know jack sh!t about history on this continent, were it not for the efforts of a white middle class Euro-American coming to teach us. However, what she teaches aren't facts but fantasies.
Like e.g. this year she did two lectures in Belgium:
http://www.jnm.be/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=674thu jun 11, 2009 13:11 pm
At the weekend of June 20/21, Naomi Archer, an native/queer activist from the USA, will do two workshops in the town of Gent – against donation. You can read some more about what she does beneath this text and what these two workshops will be about:
1/'Stealing the sun back: the message of Indigenous solidarity and
traditional understandings'(20 juni)
2/'The Two-Spirit pathway to the Earth: A Workshop Gathering of Healing
and Decolonization for LGBTIQ People'(21 juni)
The workshops will take place in a yurt in a meadow in Mariakerke, but let us know if you want to participate and then we will let you know the exact time and place.
PS: we are still looking for accomodation for Naomi (except for the yurt) where she can probably stay several days/take showers/... please let us know.
FREEDOM LESSONS: U.S. LAKOTA SIOUX SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT EXPLORED
Indigenous Rights Activist Shares Stories, Workshops, Traditional
Understandings
From 5 June to 12 July, Indigenous rights activist Naomi Archer will travel through Europe to share workshops and talks about the emerging Lakota Oyate Freedom Movement and the movement's lessons for all people who yearn for freedom in their own lives.
Naomi is Director of the Four Directions Network (www.eswn.org), an organization that brings native and non-native people together in a respectful way to preserve traditional Indigenous culture and restore a sustainable relationship with our Mother Earth. Her free workshops and talks share the traditional lessons she has learned with others in order to empower health, healing, and a renewed respect for all of our relatives in the natural world.
Naomi is also an adopted member of the Cante Tenza, the Strongheart Warrior Society of the Teton Ogalala Lakota Nation. Along with work to support the Lakota Oyate Freedom Movement, she is helping to organize the upcoming June 28th protest and blockade of White Clay, Nebraska to stop the continued genocide of the Oglala Lakota through illegal alcohol sales near Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
“With the onset of global warming and environmental catastrophe, we need to rediscover a better way of living with Mother Earth and all life before it’s too late. Native traditions tell us the answers are in the past, within the wisdom held by our own ancestors. My role is to help people find this history and this balance.” [Naomi travels in the traditional way, and while no speaking fees are demanded, donations are humbly requested to offset the costs of her travel. Thank you.]
Workshop 20 juni:
Stealing the Sun Back: The Message of Indigenous Solidarity and
Traditional Understandings
Language: English (translators to other languages needed)
Length: 1 hour - 2+ hours, flexible
Type: Interactive. Includes music, presentation, and audience feedback.
Workshop 21 juni:
The Two-Spirit Pathway to the Earth
A Workshop Gathering of Healing and Decolonization for LGBTIQ People For more than 40 thousand years lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed and queer (LGBTQI) people have played vital roles in our communities. We two-spirited or whole-spirited people were healers, spiritual people, knowledge keepers, innovators, ambassadors and even warriors. We were embraced for representing and sharing balance. We were essential to the spiritual and emotional health of our peoples and our relationship with the interconnected living world around us. Today, many LGBTIQ people struggle to find their place in an often uncaring and hostile modern world. Our unique spirits are too often seen as threatening, not healing. Our unique gifts have been diminished. The important roles and knowledge LGBTIQ people held has been forgotten leading to dis-ease and imbalance. Please join us for a Gathering of Healing and Decolonization for LGBTIQ People. This is a gathering to learn our history and understand the power of our gifts... to begin the process of decolonizing our minds from the destructive ways of modern consumptive thinking... and to heal the unique spirit that resides in each of us and is needed to help heal Mother Earth in this great time of change. We will share knowledge, exchange perspectives, and build kinship for the greater benefit of us all.
Your guide in this workshop is Ana Oya Ametz, or Naomi Archer. She will share her experiences and lessons learned on the path to becoming a traditional "Ana" or two-spirit of the Iladurarrak people, who once lived along coastal France and Belgium. She will also share her experiences as a two-spirit person participating in international Indigenous gatherings and as an adopted and active member of the Lakota Sioux warrior society known as Cante Tenza. Naomi has also worked at the local, state and national level in the United States for LBGTIQ equality and has been a sexuality/gender educator.
Please note that Archer uses the nuage concept of „two spirited“ people. Archer has also – and probably for the benefit of drawing paying clients to these lectures – adjusted the original habitat of the alleged Iladurarrak to the coastal areas of France and Belgium (the coastline in 10,000 BC looked completely different than today, and was not even accessible for some time to come as it was still covered by ice). Another rather suspicious aspect about these two lectures is the apparently clandestine way in which these were organized and promoted.
I would like to point out especially that Archer claims to „share her experience as a two-spirit person „participating in international Indigenous gatherings and as an adopted and active member of the Lakota Sioux warrior society“ - this is clearly exploiting her contacts to ndn activists to further her own agenda. In a similar way, Archer puts forward the idea of her being indigenous, and it is not only by her forgetting to mention which indigenous people she actually means that this is a rather racist attitude. A white privileged person calling herself indigenous because presumably some faraway ancestors tens of thousands of years ago happened to match the description – this rather sounds like the well-known Euro one-upmanship: the better ndn.
And this last one is a real gem:
http://astheteachingdrumturns.blogspot.com/2006/03/tamarack-song-you-fool-did-you-even.htmlArcher is being defended by Tamarack Song (I kid you not) first, and then, in the text below, Archer herself sheds a few tears about NAFPS having treated her badly while she came in aaaaaall respectful. Is it really Archer's concept of respect to join an indigenous project by claiming indigenous herself and presenting a fantasy scenario?
On a more personal note: Since Archer sees herself as part of the anarchist movement, she should have learned about racism, institutionalized racism, racist oppression, and white supremacy, and how to behave in different ways. One of the most basic principles is that each person's freedom ends where the freedom of other persons begins. However, Archer has crossed this line considerably, she declares herself indigenous against all facts, and she exploits native cultures and spirituality for her profit. She has taken down her original website and replaced it by another one not as outspoken about offering an alleged alternative for desoriented Euro-Americans and Euros who want to get back to their 'true roots', but she is still doing lectures she gets money for. She is not longer openly calling herself a 'shaman' and offering her respective services via her website, but she is 'teaching' her audience she belongs to a group of persons who were chosen for such work by her alleged ancestors. This does not only imply she is still into the 'shaman' stuff – it also is quite a bit in conflict with anarchist thought on the equality of people. Ms Archer, you cannot have it both ways: an anarchist activist AND a predestined better-than-us 'shaman' plus exploiter.
