I have noticed a lot of people using this as a criteria to base whether a ceremony is fraudulent or not. I agree that Indns have never "charged" for ceremony and that if there is a dollar amount on a website its like charging. There is some history here that people need to be educated about. In the old days prior to white invasion and up until about 5 or 10 years ago, traditional tiospaye's who came together to help a person heal expected that person to gift the leader/healer/medicine person and to provide, at the very least, a package of tobacco and food for everyone who prayed with/for them. What is left out here, is the intrinisic practices of respect toward a place to pray in the Indigenous way. While money is usually not involved who pays for the chainsaws, the gas, the oil, the chairs you sit on, the gas to go get real rocks, for the general upkeep of the ceremonial land? In the old ways people brought horses, sheep, blankets, food out of gratitude and respect, not just for the medicine and healing, but in a holy response to The Holy Creator for health and help received. I sense that there is a general message here that it is acceptable to seek help without regard for the life of the people helping or their resources, which is very wasicu in attitude. Native Americans have ALWAYS believed in the Circle Of Life, in reciprocity, and if you ask someone for help and healing then you need to give to them out of respect and gratitude. Its not a new age thing to do that, its a traditional, cultural way of life that has been going on for thousands of years. Go ask a Chief for help and prayers without an offering and see what happens.
