Pt 2
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This is the letter she sent regarding the question about her link to the Kahnawake. This lady performs sweat ceremonies cleansing ceremonies etc. along with giving pricey lessons to her followers on her own brand of spirituality. She does live in a community in Chiapas and is supposedly working with the spiritual community there. She says she never represented herself as Mohawk. It sure seemes to imply that on her site though. She also never mentions who her Mongolian teachers were or where in Asia these Mongolian Shamans found her. Anyway. Here is the letter.
"Kwe, Kwe,
I am writing you and your most respected community to clarify my situation on who I am. I was recently approached by two sisters who called you to investigate me and were told by you that you did not know me. I will try to be as brief as possible.
I was admitted by the Clan Chiefs at the Long House in Kahnawake, southern Montreal in 1985. I participated in the various ceremonies of the Long House and the False Face society for two full years, and this, each time I was invited by your people. I was working in Montreal and I traveled to the reservation two or three times a month sometimes. I am of Mohawk descent. My father and mother are both half French Canadian and Mohawk as their genealogies state.
I was raised in Montreal and sent in French Canadian schools. My grandmother was the daughter of a Chief at Kanasetake, Oka and married a white man. She left, therefore losing all entitlement to her land in the Mohawk community. Her name was Marie Rose Simine. My parents were not part of the Long House or the community.
Prior to my approaching the people at Kahnawake in 1985, I had been to Europe trying to find my way in the white world. But my path took another course when Mongolian shamans showed up and I went to Asia where I was initiated into their ways. Upon my return to Montreal in 1985, every night I dreamt I was surrounded by a Council of Chiefs drumming insistently loud in my ears and I would wake up all sweating. My roots were calling me back and I had to do something about it. I was invited in several occasions by the Montagnais people, northern Quebec and inititated in their Medicine Wheel. But still the dreams were insistent. A Huron friend told me then I had to contact the Mohawk people, not just natives in general, and the dreams would stopped.
So it is with these "credentials" that I approached a woman living in Kahnawake through this Huron man. If my memory is correct her name was Anne or RoseAnne. She brought my request to the Clan Chiefs and she informed me I could join the Long House. I arrived there and I explained my situation to the Chiefs. I remember a Clan Mother said as a joke: "Yes, let's accept her, she looks more Mohawk than the whole tribe together."
I was introduced to Mr. Joe of the Turtle clan and to Mr. Earnie (is it how you spell?) of the Wolf clan as well as the Wolf clan mother. My memory is failing on her name (may be Susan?). I was told to sit on one of the benches with the Wolf clan women. I danced with the women for two years. And I remember once several women came up to me telling they really liked me because I am so focused on the dancing and give them the inspiration to stand up and dance. People are so kind, it felt to me. I also assisted to a few ceremonies where several families were leaving their Christian religion and returning to the old ways at the Long House. I remember some of the speeches Mr. Joe of the Turtle clan gave (although mostly in Mohawk) and how moving it was. My time with your people was truly a healing one. And I can only be forever grateful. I discovered a dignified & proud people who has suffered and endured, as well as the ancestors, to keep the ways alive through the Termination times.
However, it is more than possible that no one remembers me. I was quiet, most often silent, in the back top benches, and the people very discreet as is all native people everywhere. No one would talk to me a lot, and not often people would ask my name. But the fact remains that I was with you for that period. I ate bear meat with all of you after some ceremonies, meat that the men had hunted in other Mohawk territories in Quebec. I drank in several occasions with all of you the sacred strawberry corn drink the women prepared with such heart. I also remember when the Bear Chief shared with me how great it is to see me so committed and showing up at each event and festival. "That it is so important we reclaim our roots, he said, even as metis people like yourself". How kind it was of him to even bother and come up to tell me this, I was nobody among you all. I had even started learning Mohawk but my path took me away two years later.
My time with you has been a tremendous honor and privilege. I will always remember what Mr. Earnie, head chief of the Wolf clan, told me when we were driving together in his car as we were passing in front of his hot-dog stand: "Having been admitted in the League of Peace, you know, it is forever, even once you are gone elsewhere, you are still part of us." May be he was sensing my time with you all would be brief and be called away.
In the Mongolia training I received, the last time I saw the main shaman, he told me two things: one is that I am a born teacher and he gave me a series of transmissions of their knowleldge. He also told me that after him, my path was to receive deeper training from other shamans. So when I was back in Canada at the time and was admitted by your council, I approached the False Face shaman. He replied to me they only accept men in their society. Here, I was at a crossroads and did not know what to do. Spirits sent me other clear dreams and strong signs and sent me to Mexico.I arrived end of 1986 and within a month I met Maya shamans ---hard to find normally-- and was initiated directly in their ways. Then after a few years, they sent me to teach.
Since then, I have followed to the best of my abilities the design that Spirits and my teachers had for me. In no way, I have said what is not. This is too a serious matter to play with. For 20 years, I have constantly and consistently presented myself in my work in the same way always: (all of this is stated in the introduction of my only book, find info at
www.redwindcouncils.org)
-That I am of Mohawk roots or descent, that I do not have a registered number, nor do I come from a reservation
-that I have been admittted at the Long House in 1985, and that I am NOT representing in any ways the Iroquois League of Peace as I am not entitled
-that I left for Mexico two years later and that I live in Chiapas, Mexico since 20 years
-that my work strives to help the Maya indigenous in resistance among whom I live
-that I teach a synthesis of Medicine wheel ways between the Mongolian, Maya and native ways, as there is a common, ancient root, knowledge I was fully initiated to impart by my teachers and entitled by them to share with non- Indian people.
Any other information that can be read or heard about me that is not this description above has been distorted by the writer or the speaker.
I wish to bring one more point to your attention, which seems important for you to know. I was invited to give a plenary talk at Bioneers conference last Oct. in CA on the Chiapas zapatista resistance. After asking permission to the zapatista authorities, I accepted their invitation.The organizers of Bioneers asked then for my biography. Of a full page I sent, the mention of my admission into the League of Peace is only one line and the date is stated clearly, 1985, and the date of my leaving Canada for Mexico two years later is also stated clearly. What they did is that they printed 5000 brochures of their program with the mention:
Ohki Simine Forest, Canadian Wolf Clan Mohawk ....will be speaking on the Chiapas Indigenous Resistance.
I received their brochures in Mexico three weeks after it was printed. Needless to say, I reacted with much concerns and immediately wrote them this was total mis-representation, that this was only a line in my biography, how could they not make the relation that living in Mexico since 20 years (as the founders of Bioneers know well) that I am not in Canada anymore, therefore, how can I be representing the League of Peace? I asked for immediate correction which they did on their web site but the harm was already done in their 5,000 brochures. I urged them that in all occasions they should have the final approval from their speakers before printing anything, especially with any native descent people, as these are sensitive matters as you know.
Hoping this helps clarify. In no way, did I make up false information about my time with you nor share about the ceremonies there, as I know very well it is not my place. Attached please find a photo of myself with the hope someone can recognize me.
Niawen... from my heart and above all, for your so kind patience,
Ohki Simine Forest"
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