Hi NAFPS,
I am a supporter of your website to defend the integrity of Native traditions and to expose frauds, hucksters, etc. I also believe in the Declaration of War, and I encourage your efforts.
I personally have joined this forum because there are a number of new-agey books and authors who are disrespectfully teaching the appropriation of Native traditions, and I feel like there should be a place online that exposes these people from a perspective that is concerned with defending. I am glad to have recently found this forum, because I was thinking of trying to write a blog, or a book, or something for this purpose.So from time to time I will make a post about a book, author, etc, which I have investigated, and who appears to be fraud or such, at least the ones who are not already listed on this website. I think there should be a big list of all the frauds and fake Indians and plastic shamans promoting a fake and delusional "indigenous mind". I am glad that there is a group like NAFPS, who tries to educate the public about what is happening as the result of the invasion of colonialists and consumerists into Native spirituality and other traditions. So many people are clueless about these issues.
As far as my personal background: I am a culturally militant woman of mixed ethnicity in my mid-20's. My ancestry is Korean, Irish, and Flathead (Montana Salish ancestry). I also study and practice traditional healing, meditative, studies, and spirituality. Because I see so many books and "healers" that look appropriationist or disrespectful (new age has actually appropriated Eastern healing in superficial way in addition to Native ways), I have a habit of investigating them, getting a few laughs, and then critiquing them to some of my friends. Ultimately, I would like to see all the information posted online, or in a booklet, a page for exposing every single fake Indian or fraud who has ever written a book or started a workshop to either misrepresent or steal Native culture (thus perpetuating the invasive ignorance and arrogance of a culture based on colonialist and consumer values). This consumerist age has given birth to a plastic world.
I do not like to spend an overwhelming amount of time at the computer, but I look forward to posting and participating in discussions from time to time. I will be adding some more fake-NDN frauds to investigate in the "needs research" section soon.
"they might have taken your land,
raped your culture and raised their flag,
sent in their missionaries to change your god...
but don't let them define who you are!" - Jahlani Horton
