Yesterday I wrote an email to her org. (nicely & politely) asking them to cease & desist the sale of Sacred ways and/or items...the following is what I sent and their reply I found this morning--OH and I'm being threatened with a lawsuit for LIBEL (odd since I used HER OWN WORDS & CLAIMS--hmmm is repeating someone's own words libelous? NO!!)
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To prophets@greatmystery.org
From: xxxx xxxx xxxxxxx@hotmail.com
Sent: Mon 12/27/10 3:10 PM
To: prophets@greatmystery.org
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to you in reference to the above mentioned workshop. It has been brought to my attention that
Keisha Crowther aka Little Grandmother will be speaking at your workshop. As a mixed blood Native American,
I would like to inform you that this woman is considered a fraud by both the Lakota and Salish Nations.
She has taken it upon herself to use the most Sacred of items to the Lakota and use it in a very wrong way.
The Canupa (ceremonial Pipe) was gifted to the Lakota Oyate by the White Buffalo Calf Woman. It is not for use
in ceremonies of any kind by others who have not been taught the proper use and or tenants of the Lakota Spiritual
belief system.
The following is a statement sent to me via a friend that came directly from Salish Elders regarding Miss Crowther:
Official Statement from Salish Elders Regarding Kiesha Crowther
"The Culture and Elders Committee of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation protect the intangible cultural resources of the tribes including language, songs, stories etc.
"No tribal Elders or elders have met with nor do they condone the claims and actions made by Kiesha Crowther.
"She is not their 'shaman', she has no right to claim this title and the Elders and elders of CSKT of the Flathead Reservation would like her to cease and desist immediately from making such false claims that erode the traditions that members of the CSKT Culture and Elders Committee are trying to preserve."
The posting of this statement came with the permission and urging of the Salish elders. Anyone doubting this message's authenticity can contact the Flathead Reservation.
It is with a most humble heart that I besiege you to cancel this function and help the Salish and Lakota Peoples to stop the theft
of their spiritual ways as a way to earn money. We do NOT condone the selling of things that are sacred.
Thank you for your kind consideration in this most serious matter.
I remain,
respectfully yours,
(my real name here)
(French-Mi'kmaq-Chitimacha/Irish-Scot)
-------------------Their reply that I received today (12/28/2010)---------------------------
RE: Little Grandmother?
12/27/10
Little Grandmother Admin Little Grandmother Adminbeautyawakens@gmail.com
From: Little Grandmother Admin (beautyawakens@gmail.com)
Sent: Mon 12/27/10 8:28 PM
To: xxxxxxx@hotmail.com
Dear XXX XXXX,
I would like to advise you that Kiesha Crowther has sought an attorney and will seek legal action against those are attempting to slander, libel and defame her. The below statement was posted to Kiesha's web sites yesterday regarding these Native American issues and these allegations, clarifying her position. The facts are clear, and transparent, and we are prepared to defend them. Kiesha is not teaching Lakota or Native American traditions at this workshop and does not teach them in general. She is not conducting Native American ceremony or in any way representing specific tribal traditions or culture at this workshop, and will not be using any Native American sacred implements publicly, at this workshop or in the future. She has issued a statement clarifying these issues and what she will and will not be teaching and doing in the future.
IIf you do not cease this libel and malicious activity we will pursue legal action against you. As of yet we have received no official communications from a tribal council or official on these matters, and Kiesha has done her best to be transparent and cooperative with any concerns raised by native people.She has always been open to dialogue and to resolution, but many it seems are intent only upon attack and malice. Why not contact her first about this, as a responsible mature adult would do? She is not hiding anything, and is completely open to critiques and tribal concerns. What has this elders council not contacted Kiesha directly, and why is no one in charge willing to sign it or put their official name on it? Kiesha herself has already contacted the tribal council, as you will see from the statement below.
Kiesha stands steadfast in the truth of who she is, and will not cower in the face of these bullying tactics. Kiesha recieved her medicine as gifts from indigenous peoples, and has every right to use it. She will not be using anything at all publicly that is Native American, and this workshop has nothing to do with Native American ways. So please cease this attacking and libelous activity, and be clear that we will not have untruths spread about Kiesha to her personal and professional contacts. We are seeking legal protection, and keeping track of all of these emails and communications. If you are part of a group concerted effort-- please share this information with them, and have them contact us directly with their concerns.
Official Statement Regarding Native American Issues
12/26/2010
Kiesha (Little Grandmother) was initiated into shamanism at age 30 by a Native American elder named Falling Feathers. Kiesha’s mother’s side of the family live on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Falling Feathers was also most likely from the Flathead Reservation, though this is not 100% certain. When she was called she was told that the “elders of the tribe had been watching her” since she was a child and that it was time for her to step into her role as shaman. Falling Feathers personally guided Kiesha’s initiation and taught her many things about how to conduct ceremony, and how to pray in traditional ways with the chanupa, pray while in inipi and conferred upon her the name “Little Grandmother”. While never certain what this elder’s official title was in the tribe, she assumed him to be an authority since he seemed to speak for the tribe—and most likely was responsible for referring several tribal members and families to her for blessings and healings in the year after her initiation. For example, this past year, when one elderly woman on the Flathead Reservation died at the hospital and no family could be located, Kiesha was called. Her name had been given by someone official as a recognized spiritual representative of the tribe. Therefore, Kiesha had every reason to believe her status as “shaman” was somewhat official or at least recognized by the tribe. As we have stated previously, Kiesha was not raised on the reservation and therefore does not know how such matters are officially decided or conferred within the tribe. Very recently, Kiesha called the tribal council office to inquire about her official standing in the tribe. She was told that Falling Feathers had not acted with the permission of the tribal council—therefore she was not recognized officially by the tribe. You can imagine how shocked and dismayed she was to find this out.
Kiesha believed that her initiation was widely recognized in the tribe—this is why she spoke in the first talks she ever gave, as a “shaman for the Sioux and Salish” people—she had every reason to think that she was recognized—since tribal members had been referred to her as shaman in the first year of her initiation.
Needless to say, ever since her initiation as shaman, she received medicine and sacred implements from individual tribal members from different indigenous tribes across the world, who said they were guided to create this medicine for her, the one called “Little Grandmother.” Somehow these people found out who she was. Some of these said they had been waiting for her for many years to come, and knew of her already from visions they’d received.
We would like to state, unequivocally, that Kiesha is currently recognized as shaman by the Continental Council of Indigenous Elders, whose members come from indigenous tribes all over the world led by Don Alejandro Oxlaj, the grand elder of the Mayan people, by indigenous spiritual elders who have participated in ceremony with her, and by many Native American individuals who can see the inner truth. Whether she is “officially recognized” by any Native American tribal governing council is another matter.
She has never wished to misrepresent herself or any Native people or tradition—She has acted based on her knowledge of what was true, what was expected of her, and as she has been guided, in a very real way by her spirit guides, ancestors, living elders, and Great Spirit. In order to stay true to the global and universal nature of the message she has been asked to share, and to avoid misrepresenting any Native American peoples or traditions, Kiesha will continue her speaking in public and conducting the healing ceremonies she is asked to for the benefit of Mother Earth—without using Native American regalia, Native American sacred implements or specific rituals. This is to prevent misunderstandings and any offense to tribal members and to honor the global nature of the work she has been asked to do. She will also do her best to remove those videos or portions of videos where she speaks in any way of a specific tribal affiliation, or tribal tradition.
She will continue to follow Great Spirit and her spirit guides and ancestors in how she is to conduct ceremony for planet earth and serve humanity at this time. She has the deepest respect for indigenous peoples and their wisdom and traditions, and therefore does not wish to offend anyone who feels she does not have the permission or right to use these specific sacred tribal implements in public. She will continue to work with indigenous peoples all over the world and with the Continental Council of Indigenous Elders to perform the sacred work she has been called to.
Kiesha has always, and will always, act from the guidance she receives from her ancestors and spirit guides—While she is a human being and no doubt makes mistakes, what she is here to do on this planet at this time is clear—and that the Spirit is with her is clear to anyone who has done ceremony with her, who has worked with her in a healing session, or who has heard her speak from her heart about matters of truth.
She never “wanted” to be a shaman, and did not even know what the word meant before she was initiated. Anyone who knows what her life path has been knows that she has paid the price, has suffered, and has had to sacrifice much to serve in this role. Those whose hearts are closed to the message of Love and healing that is needed on the planet right now will bicker and accuse, and —and refuse to see the big picture, as well as the validity of a “tribe of many colors.”
Kiesha will gladly step away from a Native American- specific framework in order to respect tribal protocols, preserve her integrity from being attacked, and to preserve harmony around the sacred work she has come here to do at this time as shaman of the “tribe of many colors”. She will not deny the facts of her heritage and how her initiation came about—and that she is being guided by ancestors who are indeed Native American, as well as spirit guides from the South American peoples.
It is Kiesha’s deepest wish that we can all work together for the good of Mother Earth, see beyond our differences, and move forward now in shifting the consciousness on the planet from the Ego and Mind to Love!
===================
Just as sort of a "CYOA" I asked my daughter (who is a legal asst. @ a prestigious law firm in CO) if what I wrote could be considered libelous. She said emphatically NO! "You used her own words.Statements that she herself has declared in videos posted on Youtube & all over the internet for public viewing. Words that she spoke herself and has also written on her website(s). *she chuckled here* No worries!! I just showed this to one or the Atty's as he was walking by--he LAUGHED!!! Not that I'm ignorant/stupid, I just thought it was a good idea to get an "expert" opionion. Hmmm wonder what they would say if I write back stating that I AM SEEKING LEGAL ADVISE
hahahaha I will not back down on this!! They can threaten if they wish to do so. I was taught that NOTHING SACRED IS FOR SALE!!! And THAT philosophy/belief is what I will stand behind 110% until my dying day arrives! They can say she does not use Lakota ways or Sacred items...yet there are pictures all over the internet with her holding a Four Winds Canupa in her hands (while dressed in her Wal-Mart regalia haha) and it is SMOKING which means it was loaded and lit (DUH) She claims she is a "shaman" (more like SHAME ON) for the Lakota & Salish(according to the "statement" it looks like she is now retracting this hmmmm) Sooooooo all I did was REPEAT what she herself has declared from the very begining of her "shamanistic journey" (cough cough GAG!) I've been blessed to get to know quite a few wonderful Lakota (and even a few Salish) throughout the last few years--I've talked to many of them...ODDLY NONE OF THEM KNOW WHO SHE IS!!! Not surprised
