Cante Tenza Statement on Mike Spisak aka "Hawk Good Fire", First Nations, Inc. and Protection of Sacred Buffaloby Lakota Oyate on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 3:46pm
Cante Tenza Okolakiciye - Strong Heart Warrior Society
Free & Independent Lakota Nation
Box 512, Hill City, South Dakota 57745 | 605-454-0449 or 605-517-1547
Cante Tenza Okolakiciye: Traditional Strong Heart Warrior Society of the Lakota Nation Statement Concerning Mike Spisak aka “Hawk Good Fire”, First Nations, Inc. and Protection of the Sacred Buffalo in Pennsylvania
November 10, 2010
Cante Tenza Okolakiciye also known as the Strong Heart Warrior Society of the Lakota Nation is an ancient Lakota warrior society that honors Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull among its members. Based on Pine Ridge Reservation, Cante Tenza, works tirelessly to protect the Lakota People, enforce and restore treaty rights, civil rights, and sovereignty of Native people, and protect Native culture across Turtle Island.
In November 2009, Cante Tenza was invited to Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania and asked by Mike Spisak aka “Hawk Good Fire” to lend their endorsement and protection for a white buffalo and black buffalo sacred to the Lakota People that are being housed there in a 40 acre enclosure.
Unfortunately, just a year later, Cante Tenza is now alarmed by the violation of traditional protocols and agreements made concerning the two sacred buffalo, use of the Lakota Inipi or sweat lodge ceremony that has been practiced on site, as well as public statements and actions of Mike Spisak, who claims to be the buffalo’s overseer.
Cante Tenza’s concerns are three-fold.
1. We are concerned that traditional protocols (ways of doing things) are not being observed regarding the raising of money in the name of the two sacred buffalo and also regarding participation in the Lakota Inipi (sweat lodge) ceremony. Mr. Spisak and others involved with the buffalo such as Mark "Kingfish" Wassler agreed to honor these protocols as explained by Lakota Cante Tenza and Tokala warrior society representatives on their visit to Nemacolin in November 2009.
2. We are alarmed that a non-profit organization is being created under the name First Nations Inc., and this organization has appealed for 501(c)3 United States tax status to raise money in the name of, or that will capitalize on, the existence of the sacred buffalo and displays of Native culture located next to the buffalo enclosure. Such activities are inappropriate for association with the sacred animals and appear to contradict the organization’s own stated vision, “sharing of Indigenous principles, traditions and wisdom rooted in the Original instructions given to all Nations.”
While often difficult for non-Natives to understand, activities that raise money in the name of, or capitalize from, sacred and traditional culture is considered exploitation by Native people.
And if the stated vision of First Nations is to be taken seriously, then why are they already ignoring the “principals, traditions, and wisdom” of the Lakota People that has been explained by the traditional Lakota warrior society known as Cante Tenza?
We offer the idea there are ways to create an organization that honors traditional ways of doing things, and without U.S. Government oversight. This seems to be a gross lack of imagination on First Nations, Inc. part that has alarmed many in Indian Country and is being watched by traditional Lakota Grandmothers on Pine Ridge.
3. We are saddened to see the statements of Mike Spisak concerning Cante Tenza and Cante Tenza Headsman Duane Martin Sr. (Canupa Gluha Mani).
In a November 8, a Pittsburgh Tribune Review article by Richard Robbins entitled Fayette birthday party plans for white buffalo escalate dispute, Mr. Spisak was quoted as saying,
“That’s not true” regarding the raising of money in the name of the sacred buffalo. Also, "Nobody is raising funds off the buffalo," Spisak said. "Nobody."
The actions of Mr. Spisak and others involved with the buffalo indicate otherwise.
In June of 2010, Cante Tenza contacted Mr. Spisak to express concern over raising money from a book written about the sacred buffalo and containing interviews with Native Elders entitled “Message of the Sacred Buffalo” which is sold for $14.95 on multiple websites including
http://www.sacredbuffalos.com/ and
https://www.createspace.com/3456595. The book is authored by Marci Lynn McGuinness with First Nations, Inc. We attempted to share our concerns about this book but they were actively rebuffed.
In October 2010, Cante Tenza became aware of the development of the First Nations corporation and their desire for U.S. non-profit tax status in order to raise $100,000 for a so-called “Indian Village” located immediately adjacent to the buffalo enclosure.
Cante Tenza communicated to Mark Wassler, President of First Nations, Inc. (
http://www.buffalomessengers.org/Board_Members.html) how these actions were not consistent with care for the sacred buffalo and violated the original agreements made with Cante Tenza. Cante Tenza never agreed that a nonprofit corporation was a good idea, and in fact, our concerns went unheard and phone calls now remain unanswered or unreturned.
These two incidents also aggravate the existing concern that the buffalo (and future Indian village) are being used as a tourist attraction and financial draw for the multi-million dollar Nemacolin Resort. Nemacolin currently advertises a wild animal zoo, shooting range, and other “adventure” activities for its guests. The white buffalo is also mentioned on the Nemacolin website under “Wildlife Habitats” (
http://www.nemacolin.com/activities/wildlife).
The Lakota People offered a year ago to provide hay and other resources needed by the buffalo for their well-being. Money does not need to be raised by a corporation to take care of these sacred animals.
Mr. Spisak also said, “I brought Duane Martin Sr. here to see what was going on. He decided he was going to take over.”
Cante Tenza was invited to Nemacolin to make sure that traditional protocols were being observed in the care and treatment of the buffalo. At the same time, there were concerns expressed by multiple activists in Indian Country about inappropriate behavior in the Inipi – or Lakota sweat lodge led by Mr. Spisak – a non-Lakota.
In our November 16, 2009 press release sent from Nemacolin, Cante Tenza explained in clear detail the reasons for our participation:
On Monday November 16th, Cante Tenza the Strong Heart Warrior Society of the Lakota Nation, announced the warrior society will oversee protection for the sacred white and black buffalos living at the Nemacolin Resort near Farmington, Pennsylvania.
Cante Tenza Okolakiciye...and the Tokala Okolakiciye Kit Fox Warrior Society sent representatives to the Saturday Wopila (thank you) ceremony to protect the ceremony and its participants and to ensure traditional protocols are being followed related to the Inipi (Lakota sweat lodge) ceremony and other sacred aspects regarding the care of the buffalos and the donated land for their sanctuary…
…We want to bring our Lakota Elders to visit these sacred beings in the months to come. Ensuring traditional protocols are being followed will help to support the visits from our Elders and Elders of other Indigenous nations.
At the time, our announcement was met with some criticism from activist organizations in “Indian Country” because of concerns about Mike Spisak. In essence, Cante Tenza shielded Mr. Spisak from attacks and controversy so he could better understand traditional ways of doing things and reconsider if his behavior was consistent with traditional protocols. For example, he was asked to stop running sweat lodge ceremony because he is not Lakota and does not understand the Lakota language and lifeway.
Cante Tenza clearly communicated to Mike Spisak and Mark Wassler the protocols involved for Cante Tenza support. Mr. Spisak was eager for endorsement from Cante Tenza to legitimize his involvement with the buffalo and when this support was offered, he gladly accepted.
As a sign of his word, Mike Spisak prominently displayed the Cante Tenza warrior symbol on the buffalomessengers.org webpage (
http://www.buffalomessengers.org/cante_tenza.html) along with our November 16, 2009 press release. As of November 9, 2010, the symbol and press release were still on the website.
Spisak said Martin "seems to think I answer to him. I will be damned if I will listen to Duane Martin."
Mr. Spisak did in fact agree to “answer” to Duane Martin Sr. by his acceptance of Cante Tenza endorsement and support. Duane is Headsman of Cante Tenza and has also communicated the interests and concerns of the traditional Lakota Grandmothers he is responsible to on Pine Ridge. For Mr. Spisak to now claim he is somehow unaccountable to Cante Tenza and the Lakota people seems to be a contradiction.
In consideration of the previous information, Cante Tenza must honor its responsibility to the sacred buffalo, and take action as needed to bring balance back to this situation and correct the violation of agreements that has been undertaken by Mike Spisak and those of First Nations, Inc. We hope that those involved reconsider their plans and return to honoring traditional protocols that have been shared by elders and knowledge keepers to ensure fairness and balance now, and for future generations who may experience these sacred animals.
For additional questions or support please contact Cante Tenza Headsman Duane Martin Sr. at 605-454-0440 or 605-517-1547. We can be found on Facebook as “Lakota Oyate”.
