108 lines
4.8 KiB
Plaintext
108 lines
4.8 KiB
Plaintext
SOME THOUGHTS ON SHAMANISM IN THE PAGAN COMMUNITY
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BY BOB GUSTAFSON
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(Bob is a Warrior of the Mohawk Nation who fought at the
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historic battle of Wounded Knee, a leader of the United
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American Indians of New England, and a founding member of the
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Thomas Merton Alliance.)
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An oft-told story in Indian country concerns a Plains
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Elder who traveled to Washington DC to express a long-standing
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grievance with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In an effort to
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butter the old man up, the BIA official took him out to dinner
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at an expensive restaurant and told him he could have whatever
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he wanted on the menu. The old man promptly ordered a steak
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and made quick work of it when it was served. Seeing the
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elder's still-hungry look, the official told him to go ahead
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and order another. The old man did and ordered and ate a third
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as well.
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In awe, the BIA official said, "Gee, Chief, I sure wish I
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had your appetite." To which the old man, shaking his head,
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replied, "you've stolen our land, taken nearly everything we
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have, and now you even want my appetite."
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This story reflects the feelings of many of us as we watch
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non-Indian Pagans take over our traditional ways--vision quests
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and sweat lodges, for example. The current vague, and often
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erroneous, articles and discussions of Shamanism in the
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non-Indian Pagan community are the most recent and disturbing
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manifestations of this takeover.
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Before delving into native Traditions, be they the Way of
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the Longhouse, the Sun Dance, or the Kiva, non-Indian Pagans
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should keep in mind the following points:
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First and foremost is the fact that our Warriors have
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fought and died as recently as the last decade to defend and
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preserve our old ways. That struggle continues.
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Second is the fact that all of our medicine ways are
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tribal and intended to serve the People. Ours is not a
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tradition where "you do your own thing."
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Third, true sharing comes only between equals--not between
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oppressor and oppressed. Let there be no mistake; we are still
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an oppressed People in our own homeland.
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Fourth, our traditional elders do not advertise in the
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pages of NEW AGE or in Pagan publications. Indeed, our
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traditional elders are among our most militant political
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leaders. Many of them urge total separation from the dominant
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society.
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Fifth, Europe was once as tribal as we continue to be.
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Non-Indian Pagans have their own roots to draw upon.
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Sixth, some of our spiritual leaders have taken under
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their wings a select number of non-Indians. In my experience,
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these have been people who have helped us in our struggle,
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e.g., non-Indian medics who served inside Wounded Knee.
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Learning our ways is a privilege that must be earned.
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Finally, keep in your minds that my ancestors presented
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Dutch invaders with a two-row band of wampun. The two rows
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were to symbolize that the two cultures were intended to live
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separately, but in peace, on this continent. The wampum band
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still exists. Peace with justice is still a dream.
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Oneh.
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THE THOMAS MERTON ALLIANCE
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7 MARLBORO STREET/NEWBURYPORT, MA. 01950/617-465-0825
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TO: the Pagan Community
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We, the undersigned participants in the Thomas Merton Alliance
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Conference, September 14, and 15, 1985, Cambridge, Mass.
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unequivocally condemn the practice of selling Shamanships,
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Vision Quests, and Sweat Lodges.
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It has forcefully come to our attention that this practice is
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currently being carried out by a number of Pagans across the
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country, and we believe it is past time for responsible Pagans
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to speak out in opposition.
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Because this practice is:
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-- Theft of Native American spiritual tradition.
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-- An attempt, in the instance of selling Shamanships,
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to accomplish in a short period of time that which it
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takes an authentic Shaman a lifetime to learn,
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-- An affront to the tradition, both among Native
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Americans and European Pagans, of NOT selling
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medicine/magical services,
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-- An unforgivable insult to the memory of Native
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Warriors who have been killed while defending their
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People and their traditions,
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We call on all persons engaged in selling Shamanships, Vision
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Quests and Sweat Lodges to immediately halt this practice.
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Earth Religion, Earthly Concerns!
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(signed)
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Linda Rutherford Denise M. Jones
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Branwen of Faerie Fire Bobbie Honey
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Henry Anasazi (Charlie Murphy) Lierre Keith
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Jodi Jennings Nanette Nakeeta
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Gae Sidhe (for Faerie Fire) Melizma Chase
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Meredith Hobart Bob Gustafson
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Chris Hayes Darkfire of Ravenscall
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Lisa Tennyson Leslie Love
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Boudica of Bean Sidhe Jeff Kelinbard
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Marcia Womongold
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