This man is actually Native but he claims to be a medicine man, specifically a "healer". I come from the same neck of the woods that he does and the teachings he gives are not of our tribe. He wrote a book called "A Voice in the Wilderness" about his experience being "chosen" by Creator. He lives in Ottawa with his family and says that he is not accepted in his home community because of the Christians who demonize traditional spirituality. This description about my tribe as militant Christians is sadly pretty accurate, so I believed him at first. But, after talking with some respectable people who know him from way back, he isn't accepted because he's a fake, attention-seeker. With this knowledge in hindsight, I remember him becoming immediately distant and aloof during our introduction when I mentioned where I was from. I know that he does ceremonies, specifically the Sun Dance and naming ceremonies in a questionable way. From what I know, the Sun Dance is not part of our practices. Also, his "naming ceremonies" were advertised through a Native organization in Ottawa as if it was a drive through. Like anyone could come and receive their spirit name from him over the span of one afternoon. From what I've been told, these sorts of ceremonies are not supposed to be done in a haphazard way like that.
The main reason I think he is a fraud is simply the fact that he proclaims to be a healer. I've been told that anyone who advertises themselves as a shaman/medicine man/healer/etc. is probably a fraud.
