The proliferation of religious cults and the abuse of Native American ceremonies by both Natives and non-Natives has raised concerns among people who are trying to learn or share their own tribal cultures. The following article on the topic is by Ed Littlefox, a Tsalagi and the "caretaker" of the Soquili Center. Our thanks to Ed for allowing us to share his widsom with our website visitors.
Ceremonies, Cults and "Teaching" Native Spirituality
What is and is not Proper Teaching.
The proliferation of Cults based in Native Spirituality, specifically, and false teachers / "leaders", unfortunately, has thrown roadblocks directly in the path of those of us who would share the Truth of our cultures with others. Cults not only exist, but abound and are ever growing, as more and more non-Indian, and mixed-blood People, dissatisfied with conventional beliefs, seek a more Whole and truthful basis for their beliefs.
It needs to be understood that we are 9 years into a set of prophesies which are shared by many, widely seperated, North and South American tribes. A part of the prophesies tells us that it is time to begin to share our spiritual culture(s) and the basis thereof, with others. A problem exists in doing that because of the cults and false teachers, and, moreso, that many of them have organizational support within the Native Circle. (Yes, that's true.)
The Facts.
Are there, Really, Spiritual "Truths" to Share ?
Yes, indeed, there are. what must be understood is that there was NO "Cultural Discontinuity" on any but a physical level. Many of the major tribes in America, because of the pressures of the Church and the government, took the spiritual cultures underground, some more than 300 years ago, in order that they be preserved, intact, for the future generations. For the most part, the spiritual traditions and ceremonies have been held by "secret societies" within the tribes; and, the societies went even deeper with the knowledge after the Wounded Knee Massacre and subsequent ban on Native spiritual practices --- which lasted until 1978 and 1981. In many cases, after the ban, and because of the continued oppression by the government and Church, many of the societies, and members thereof, moved off reserve lands and into the general populations; out from under the oppressive agencies and watchful eyes.
Both the Federal Government (BIA/BLM/FBI) and the Church; the former out of fear, and the later out of fear of competition, and both because it has represented a threat to their control, have, and continue to, oppress Native spirituality, and the outside sharing thereof, with "divide and conquer" tactics. No place is this tactic more openly prevalent than on Indian Reservations, and Pine Ridge/Rosebud particularly. This began more than 140 years ago between the factions of Red Cloud and Crazy Horse --- and that civil war has not ceased to this day. The turmoil caused by this conflict has served to tear apart, and keep apart the hoop of these People, both physically and spiritually, and not much will change until this deep and old wound is healed. The Protection of Ceremonies Statement (by Chief Arvol Looking Horse) is an attempt, by at least one man, to initiate this Healing process, and that is why I have supported it.
Remember, I said "most prevalent" --- and by that, understand that this goes on elsewhere, only more silently and with less violence. The major divisions in my own tribe is between the Church and the Traditionals, and this has been the case since settlement in the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains by non-Natives. The reasoning is the same --- divide and conquer.
Recognition
How do you recognize these Cults ?
That is really simple. Most of these cult people will follow one person --- one teacher --- whether Native or non-Native, to the extent that they will hear from no-one else. Most are "ceremony freaks", wanting to attend Lodge and other ceremonies with the thought that "this is where its at" and "that is Native culture". When you ask these people what the ceremony means, they will tell you that it is a "purification rite" and they can tell you no more than that --- such as the meaning of the Altars, the posts in the Lodge, none of the symbolism, etc., things they should have been taught in order to understand what they are doing and why. Most of them are NOT taught even the very basis of our spiritual beliefs. When asked about these things, or their teacher, they become extremely defensive, and shut down. I have personally had dealings with several people in this area in exactly this atmosphere in connection with Floyd Hand. There are others.
Backup
True teachers of Native spirituality have "backup". In other words, they are from, and taught within, a long-standing blood-line of a medicine circle which is known to the People and culture they represent, and it can be checked out. CDIB cards, tribal enrollment, and any other physical documentation is NOT at all enough here, and is, in the fact of Spiritual Teaching, irrelevant, and it only documents "what" a person is, not "who" he/she is.
Lacking the above, there is another way, and that is whether this person is teaching "provable Truth". By that I mean, can you, hearing what is being said, prove the truth of it to yourself through comparison with and in the environment? ALL of our spiritual teaching and life-way comes directly from provable Truth which is evidenced in Nature, and any true teacher should be able to readily show you these things and the laws that govern them. The only "given" in all of this, is the acceptance that Great Mystery exists -- and even that can be proven without doubt by the same means. Not only should a teacher be able to show you these things, but he/she SHOULD show you, as it is of prime importance to your relationship with All-Things, and will set you free of any bonds -- including those with any cult leader. This is about spiritual freedom for individual human beings, and not about group authority. True teaching is about teaching individual spiritual freedom, and NOT about gaining a "following" of dependant persons. Any true teacher knows that his knowledge does not make him any more or less important than any other person or living thing on this planet --- and that is the fact of it.
Things to Avoid
Avoid anyhing which reaks of cult. Avoid criticism and contact with AIM National as it is the job of this organization to supress and oppress true teachers and to turn the public eye AWAY from the true issues facing Native American People and the tribes. Understand, there are two AIMs -- AIM National and the Old Warriors. The Old Warriors are NOT "Autonamous AIM" -- as some would have you believe. If you look deeply enough, you will see that AIM National will support many of the false teachers -- and it does NOT take a rocket scientist to figure out what is actually going on here.
Be aware of anyone who sells ceremony. Remember, I said ceremony -- there is no charge to be exacted from anyone for ceremony. Donations, given from the heart, are acceptable and should be considered as the people qualified to do these ceremonies have to eat and they need to be supported. Education is a different matter, so be prepared to pay for it, the same as you would for college tuition or to buy a book or a tape. Don't expect "the moon" for a pack of cigarettes, you won't get it.
The idea that all it takes is a tobacco offering to recieve knowledge is a myth, started by AIM National to facilitate the PREVENTION of the teachings we must, by prophecy, share -- by restricting the ability of true Medicine People to move about and support themselves. Traditionally, a Tobacco Offering only initiated an action on the part of a Medicine Person to consider helping someone -- and any action would ensue only if the Medicine Person accepted the offering. That tobacco would be used to load a Pipe for that person, and nothing else.
Teaching on the Internet.
I agree with restrictions on that, as it is impossible to "be in the energy" with a line of text, regardless of who is talking. Much in the way of teaching Native spiSituality revolves around first-person, real-time, encounter --- and that cannot be had on the net. There are no fingers to point, and no environment to point at. That being the case, it should not be done.
I hope this rather long letter helps some of you to understand more about these things, our Prophesies, and why things are the way they are, and a little about what gets in the Way. At any rate, what I have said is the Truth.
Donodagvii,
Ed Littlefox
Tsutlasdi Anida Ada
Adawehi, Ani Noquisi Sakoniga
"It is time for the people to gather and perform their old ceremonies and make a final effort to renew the Earth and its Peoples -- hoofed, winged , and others."
-- Vine Deloria, Jr., Sioux
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