Indian spiritual traditions not for sale!

Editor, Asheville Global Report,

Brenda Jo McManama’s editorial “Selling American Indian Spirituality - cheating us, cheating them” was right on the mark.

We are tired of New Age “shamans,” wannabes and Indian “hang around the fort” sellouts perverting, distorting and marketing our sacred, spiritual practices for a big buck or even a few trinkets! Many Indians — including members of the American Indian Movement — have taken an active role against what we see as cultural rape — genocide — by “new agers” and other parasites who “boutique shop” other cultures spiritual practices in a desperate attempt to improve their own empty, consumeristic Yuppie existences.

Perhaps not all of these misguided or profit-seeking individuals are mean-spirited or intend to be disrespectful to Indians. Some may even be well-meaning , but they should listen up: Traditional Indian ceremonies and spiritual practices are not for sale!

Unqualified non-Indians (or Indians) twist and distort these teachings, especially when taken out of the cultural context they are intertwined with. Many Indians feel that these sacred, spiritual traditions are practically all they have left that hasn’t been stolen from them by an often barbaric, conquering nation — that continues to violate some 370 treaties made with Indian Nations. Many of whose inhabitants still live in dire poverty.

When Indians march for treaty rights, environmental justice, improved health care, etc. these “new-age” Indian wannabes are conspicuously absent. They use their real (or imagined) “Indianness” to make a buck and then desert Indian people when they are sorely in need of their help.

According to national American Indian Movement (AIM) grand governing council member Vernon Bellecourt, there is an epidemic of “culture vultures,” people who usurp Indian culture for monetary gain. “Not only do they masquerade and play Indian, [but] they are also co-opting the real Indian community in getting [federal] grants and other funds from the government.

According to Matt Sherman, AIM’s regional coordinator, The Bear “Tribe” — who plan to hold a local “Medicine Wheel Gathering” are a group of Charlatans who should cease and desist from their practices. I urge others who care about real Indians to boycott events of this type. American Indians deserve respect and dignity — not insults to our sacred traditions.

David Thundershield (Cherokee)