https://www.facebook.com/nolumbekaproject?fref=tsThis organization has a lot of good work to protect and restore sacred sites. However, I grew concerned as I realized that there were a lot of frauds in and around the organization. When confronted, they become quite defensive.
President, Joe Graveline, claims to be Cherokee and Abenaki and was leading and charging for sweats and other ceremonies on his land for years, though I believe that as more authentic Native people have become involved in festivities, he may be more on the down-low regarding leading his own sweats.
http://nolumbekaproject.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_2151.htmlThey continue to bring Loril Moondream to festivals to promote the project, despite my notifying them that she is a fraud. I met her years ago and she told me she was "adopted by the Cherokee people"! This is from their FB photos: Loril Moondream at the tipi with traditional children's games in the foreground, Pocumtuck Homelands Festival 2014. Pocumtuck Homelands Festival 2015, a celebration of Native American art, music, and culture, will take place on Saturday, August 1, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., at Unity Park Waterfront, 1st Street, Turners Falls, MA, The event will feature activities that appeal to all ages, including children. There will be music and vendors, a wigwam and tipi to visit, an authentic birch bark canoe to examine, storytelling, traditional games, and primitive skills demonstrations! The festival is free and handicapped accessible.
Apache storyteller Loril Moondream (pictured above) of Medicine Mammals will present two sessions of spellbinding tales from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and from 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Medicine Mammals are also bringing traditional Native American children’s games that will be available throughout the day. There will be one session of children’s crafts ($2 fee) from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. All of these activities will take place at the tipi.
https://www.facebook.com/nolumbekaproject/photos/pb.503964243028350.-2207520000.1439180999./839949089429862/?type=1&theaterI also have concerns about this woman Strong Oak who sells her drums at their festivals. She is a social worker and works with a local battered women's organization, leading "spirit circles" for victims of domestic violence. Her work makes it hard to question her...but I don't believe for one second that she is Native. She shows up to public events in full regalia, always. She lives in Wendell MA. "My name is Strong Oak. I am Maliseet and Micmac. I am so happy to be a drum builder."
Barry Higgins, "Native American Flute" ...though on his website he has changed the wording to "Native Style Flutes"
http://www.whitecrowflutes.com/Bio.htm He also states: "Today I make a flute based on the good things each teacher and each flute has taught me, refining others, aided by good research/development techniques, and by honoring my mixed Anglo/Native (Pennacook-Abenaki) heritage. The flute journey has taught me much and I hope you will allow it to teach you as well.
Thank you for considering White Crow Flutes".
I could go on and on listing the people involved. This is enough for now.
The thing that upsets me most about this organization, aside from the false identification, is the fact that they promote "forgiveness for genocide"! And when they are confronted by people who tell them that it's not their place to call for forgiveness OR to accept apologies, they try to guilt people by saying they are advocating for hatred.
