NAFPS Forum
General => Frauds => Topic started by: Cat on May 20, 2008, 03:33:54 pm
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http://www.worldcouncilofelders.org/calendar.html
I have spoken to a good family friend in Hawaii who is Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) he says he has never heard of this Woody Vaspra guy..... My question is "Who is on this Council" and why are they running International Sundances???
Here is a you tube vid with him....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR5FYTByxTQ
Cat
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This friend of yours should contact me to check on the song in Holzwarth's book that is titled "Hawaiian Prayer Song" on Page 3. If it is one of the traditional songs from the Hawaiian Peoples, they may want to do something about it.
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Hard to find out who they are. There is more than one that calls themselves by that name. This one is World Council of Elders. I remembered Earth posted this, first time I heard his name. Looks like has ties to Sedona. http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1549.0
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Looks like they may be in Boulder??? Maybe i will drop in;)
cat
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http://www.phoenixvoyage.com/AboutUs.cfm
Native American Coalition / Woody Vaspra
Woody Vaspra (Hawaiian-Chinese), President of the World Council of Elders of over 50 countries, served on the government-sponsored International Committee Studying the Affects on Global Warming, a former Viet Nam pilot, pro football and baseball player, turned skier, biologist and aeronautical engineer and Chief adviser to NVF and the Native American Olympic Steering Committee. Council members will advise world leaders and conduct teachings for the public on topics such as: peace and reconciliation; restoration of sacred lands; disclosure of sacred documents; sharing of traditional healing methods; preservation of native languages and ceremonies; and ecological balance and sustainability. In addition, Council members will help form local and regional councils to carry out the vision of the Elders and the mission of the World Council of Elders, Inc.
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So many accomplishments, but at least some of them are hard to find out about. I couldn't find any site mentioning what pro sports teams he's been on, for example, outside of those that promote him and his council. Same with his being a vet, a biologist, and an engineer.
The only one that I could confirm is his appearance at Olympic events, where he gave a blessing with...you guessed it, Benny Lebeau.
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http://www.snow-riders.org/info_pages/salutesponsors.html
"...with Snow Ceremonies led by Eddy & Betty Box, Woody Vaspra, Bennie "Blue Thunder" LeBeau, Lisa Santana (Lummi VP of NW Indian College), and Akima Casteneda..."
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Endorsing a book, Five Minute Healing. Why a Native Hawaiian elder would be an expert on chakras, angels, and color and sound therapy, I have no idea.
http://www.whitecrane.org/book.html
At least one of the "elders" he works with is an outright fraud, Maria Naylin/Yraceburu, the fake "Qero Apache." Here he led a group of people to "adopt" flutes on the Hopi rez. (You adopt a flute by buying it.) A Nuager filmed the whole thing to make a DVD for sale or to be given along with the flutes.
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http://www.returntomagic.co.za/hopiland.htm
As Woody Vaspra head of the World Council of Elders pulls up with Grandfather Martin a Raven circles overhead, as the group gathers in circle around Prophecy Rock Kent Romney and I set up our Cameras and recording equipment in preparation for the sharing, Talia from Peru sings Grandfather a song and sets the tone for the heart felt sharing......Grandfather smiles and steps up in front of Prophecy Rock as he hunts for a pointing stick and asks in English if we and the video cameras are ready to begin..... Grandfather shares the Prophecy in English the whole way through, and allows questions at the end...
Afterwards we all take turns in laying down our prayers and offerings at the base of Prophecy Rock, I bring out the 108 Star Children (flutes) and set them against Prophecy Rock and they are blessed by Maria Yraceburu and everyone here....
The DVD of this sharing will be given away to all the adoptive parents of the Hopi Star Children (Star Children are beautiful wooden flute which Blue Star makes and sells) (Adoptive parents are those who have purchased or received one!) and is also available to anyone who wishes to have it, Just E-mail me, as Grandfather Martin wishes this to be shared openly and freely!......
In the evening we are blessed with a gathering with Woody Vaspra as he shares story and prophecy from his Hawaiian lineage, Once again I was blessed with the opportunity to film most of this sharing....
We all meet in the evening and gather for a prophecy sharing by Maria Yraceburu, where she goes over all that we had witnessed and as she shares prophecy from her Quero Apache lineage,
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He also shows up in sites with UFO people.
http://groups.msn.com/soulquestlearningcenter/ascension.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=15061&LastModified=4675626366989027221
"When people ask us where we're from, the first place we look up to is the Pleiades, the star people. But also, there are those down here and, the way it was explained to me is that the star people came down here and we were seeded... and we're still related to our star people, our star brothers and sisters, so we must not forget that. Woody Vaspra"
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Now I certainly don't claim to be an expert. But I thought Hawaiian traditions say they and all life came from the oceans, created by chants from their gods.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/ku/index.htm
A bigger problem for me is that his council does not say who they are, doesn't name any elders besides him. I had to search quite a bit to find any evidence at all of who these alleged elders might be, and even that is very vague:
1. A Hopi named Martin.
2. A woman from Peru named Talia.
3. And of course the imposter Maria Naylin.
He seems to be at many events with frauds like Sonny Reyna, but also sometimes shows up with genuine good people like Oren Lyons.
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Here is all I coould find, and it is just a gathering. http://www.earthdance.org/sf/hi_elders.html Woody Vaspara, a native Hawaiian, retired Air Force pilot, Vietnam veteran, former corporate director of several companies, co-founded the World Council of Elders a 501 (c) 3, education organization in 2000.
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-from corporate director to head honcho of the world council of elders - sounds like a fast descent into schizophrenia to me......
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Woody Vaspra is planning a "sundance" on the island of Hawai'i in November in an area that is sacred to Native Hawaiians. When questioned directly last week he said "he has the right to do this because it was given to him by Lakota Elders who told him to take it out in the world." He also claimed to be Native Hawaiian.
Hog Wash!
If you look up the World Council of Elders on guidestar.org you will see it is registered in Colorado and lists a Boulder address. Guidestar is an excellent resource for nonprofit information, even has their 990 tax returns.
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It gets scary now..I spoke with an elder on Kauaii..and was told that some of the elders are going to suppport his "dance" because he has supported the Kanaka Maoli on some rights issues lately..and apparently they believe what he tells them..how do we find out more about this guy????
c
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I get the feeling from people who have met him that he is very convincing. He probably got connected to the Kanaka Maoli on Kauaii through the person he has been staying with. I looked up the records for the "Council" which lists his name as Lenwood H Vaspra. At that time (2006) he had an address in Boulder Colorado which is also where the group was headquartered. It truly is scary because so many Kanaka Maoli take people at their word when they say they are indigenous. A few years ago there was a guy calling himself Jack Happy Bear putting on sweats in 20 foot "Costco" tents for $250 a person on Hawai'i who had everyone convinced he was the real deal.
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I get the feeling from people who have met him that he is very convincing. He probably got connected to the Kanaka Maoli on Kauaii through the person he has been staying with. I looked up the records for the "Council" which lists his name as Lenwood H Vaspra. At that time (2006) he had an address in Boulder Colorado which is also where the group was headquartered. It truly is scary because so many Kanaka Maoli take people at their word when they say they are indigenous. A few years ago there was a guy calling himself Jack Happy Bear putting on sweats in 20 foot "Costco" tents for $250 a person on Hawai'i who had everyone convinced he was the real deal.
Maybe Hawaii is becoming the new Sedona??? Although I know there alot of staunch and traditional elders there on the islands..alot are also very trusting which leads them to believe the garbage these people feed them...
So the question is.. who are the Lakota Elders (if there are even any)who gave Woody this right to run this sun dance...
Cat
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Just found this - does anyone know Frank Settee? I am "assuming this is the elder that Woody is saying gave him this altar.
shortened link to Google cache (http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:_zhiFr6S0kcJ:www.santabarbaratherapy.org/news/pdf/tn_0710.pdf+Woody+Vaspra+Sundance&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us)
Hello, my name is Kymberlee Ruff, MFT and I have just returned from the World Council’s First International Sundance. The Sundance was sponsored by the “World Council of Elders??? that was formed in 1999 by Woody Vaspra at the request of Grandfather Martin Gash-weseoma of the Hopi Nation. Grandfa-ther Martin said that all of the Indigenous People have calendars and Prophecies that coincide with major Earth shift changes from the years 2000-2012. If you would like to read more about this, you can investigate the web site at: www.worldcoucilofelders.org. I will explain a little about how I came to attend this magnificent event. I am 1/4 Cherokee and was born in a town in the Cherokee Nation. In the last few years, I have been blessed to be able to get to know the “Old Ways??? of my An-cestors and it has affected me profoundly. I believe that it has deepened the way I practice psychotherapy. I have worked in the field of psychology for the last thirty years and I’ve been licensed since 1986. In the last few years, I have seen such an increase in the levels of anxiety, dread and hopelessness in my clients and in the world in general. My experiences in the last few years have been the great-est antidote to all of the global fear. The Indigenous People believe that we are at the threshold of a New Beginning where all races love each other.
In 2002, I was asked to come to the Hopi Reservation to meet with Grandfather Martin Gashweseoma. He is the last liv-ing Elderly Elder of the Traditional Hopi Nation. He is the Keeper of the Sacred Tablets of the Fire Clan. Last year Grand-father Martin gave me the great honor of becoming an Honorary Hopi Elder. Last February, a group of people gathered at the Hopi Reservation at Grandfather’s request to make a documentary of the Hopi/Tibetan Prophecy. This is where I met Woody Vaspra and it was at this time that Woody invited me and my two sons to the First International Sundance. “The Sundance??? is one of the Seven Sacred Rites of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. For many years the Native Americans were forbidden from perform-ing their sacred ceremonies and rituals even though the U.S. Constitution guar-antees the Freedom of Religion. The Na-tives practiced their Sundances and Ghost Dances “underground??? at great risk to keep the traditions alive so that one day, the vision of all nations dancing together would come to pass.
The American Indian Religion Freedom Act was passed in 1978 and this opened the door to begin the creation of the First International Sundance. The Opening Ceremonies began on August 28, 2007 to coincide with the Lunar Eclipse, fol-lowed the next evening with the Tree Ceremonies coincidentally, there was a huge electrical storm in Santa Barbara and around the West that night. The Sundancing began on August 30 where the Sundancers fasted and danced for four days. This Sundance was called the “First??? Sundance because there is to be a Sundance every year in a different loca-tion until 2012 which will be in the Ma-yan temples of Tikal to coincide with the ending of the Mayan calendar. When I was at the Sundance, I saw the beginnings of hope for the future of our world. There was this moment when I was standing in the Sacred Circle of the Opening Tree Ceremony. I looked around and saw all of the Elders and Wise Ones who were there representing all of the cultures and races of this world. It was a sight I will never forget. Every culture was represented. The Elders came dressed in their traditional regalia. There was Woody Vaspra in his lava-lava and kukui bead, Michael Tamura in his Sam-urai skirt and fans, Maria Yraceburu in her traditional Apache dress, there was even an Aborigine they call “Major??? with a bone through his nose. The Mayan and Inkan Elders were adorned with bright clothes and feathers.
I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to attend this wondrous occasion and to bring my two precious sons, Jesse and Joe, with me to participate in the events. The most powerful moment of all for me was when we were gathered together in the Sacred Circle around the Sacred Tree that we had brought up together. The drumming stopped and you could smell the sage and looked around at the cloud formations in the sky of the White Buf-falo. At this point “Uncle??? Frank Settee the Lakota Grandfather of the Sundance spoke. He is the descendant of the last Chief at the Battle of Little Big Horn and the Massacre at Wounded Knee. Uncle Frank brought the Sacred Bundle of the Peace Pipe of Wounded Knee and we all smoked it together. Uncle Frank said:
“I don’t have to tell you what difficult times we live in. We are all here together help restore the Peace and Harmony to our Mother Earth.???
The Hopi have a saying: “We are the Ones we have been waiting for.??? It was a moment in time when I had complete faith that everything is going to work out perfectly on our troubled planet. I only hope that I can carry that feeling into my sessions with my clients.
Please see the next page for a photo of me, Sal Yepa the Elder from the Pueblo Nation and Jesse and Woody carrying the Buffalo Heads of the Four Races up to the mountain. We placed them around the Sacred Tree in the Four Directions. I cannot even find the words to adequate-ly describe what a magnificent and life changing experience that week on the top of that mountain was for everyone. I can only say that for that short time, we were living in The Fifth World: we were all ex-tremely happy and committed to creating a society of World Peace. I will spend the rest of my life trying to live up to the hon-or of being part of such an historic event.
Asqauli (which means thank you in
Hopi), Kymberlee
Kymberlee has an office at
1035 A De la Vina St.,
you can reach her at
(805) 962-5564, or email
KRuffMFCC@aol.com.
Thoughts and sayings of the H
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http://www.ralph-abraham.org/new/fulspec/sedona.html
Meeting Tribal Elders
Sedona Arizona, January 25-28, 2008
A sporadic dispatch from Ralph Abraham on February 05, 2008
Background
Long ago I met Andrew Bailey in London. He stayed in Santa Cruz for a time during the Hip days of the 1960s, and we met again in the 1990s in East Hampton NY when I first began consulting at the Ross School. We kept in touch over the years and almost met here and there. Eventually he divorced, left the Hamptons for points West, and met up with Connie Baxter Marlowe. I think it was about four years ago that they decided to include a short interview with me in a documentary they were working on, and we met a few times to record interviews. The film --- IN SEARCH OF THE FUTURE. What do the Wise Ones Know? --- featured elders of various indigenous tribes. My role, I supposed, was to represent the views of the lost tribe of Hippies. Last summer an early draft of the complete film was shown at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA. Some of the tribal elders attended but I was unable to go. So when they planned a further gathering of elders in January I decided to attend.
Friday, January 25
I flew to Phoenix where I was to meet some of the group upon arrival at the "Sky Harbor". Even if I had not seen photos I could not miss John Renesch (like me, a non-indigenous elder), Woody Vaspra (Native Hawaiian, founder/president of the World Council of Elders), and Chief Sonne Reyna (of the Yaqui-Carrizo Nations). After rendezvous and introductory hugs we found Nicoloa Gradon, our ride to Sedona. Two hours later we arrived at the INNstitute, where at dinner we met the entire cast, including of course our hosts, Connie Baxter Marlow and Andrew Cameron Bailey, and also Sakina Blue Star (Sioux, Choctaw-Cherokee and Scottish heritage), Mona Polacca (International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers), Wachan Bajiyoperak and wife and daughter (Incas from Cuzco, Peru), and some Sedona regulars who dropped by, such as Suzy Chaffee, the 1968 Olympic skier from Rutland, Vermont, and cofounder of the Native Voices Foundation, and Adam Yellowbird.
Saturday, January 26
This whole day was devoted to a public event, opened with a dance and ritual by the Inca family. Each elder gave a brief exhortation, then the audience participated in a talking circle. The day closed with a performance of tribal chants with Adam Yellowbird, Chief Sonne, and Woody Vaspra. Revolutionary socializing filled the evening and into the night, with me and John Renesch boggled by a plethora of native stories, myths, alternative histories, and so on. This crowd has a lot of fun and warm hugs.
Sunday, January 27
Breakfast and the whole day we continued the subtext of the public event: our own private gathering of elders. In addition to more stories, myths, tribal lore, and so on, we learned of various efforts to unify indigenous peoples all over the globe, send native teams to the Olympics, recover native lands, etc.
Monday, January 28
I flew home. Most memorable, for me was the revelation of the global integrative movement involving the World Council of Elders, the International Sundance Movement, the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, and the Eagle-Condor Project. The tribal elders are fully functional with the internet, and are rapidly evolving an intentional global society. Besides grokking the global system comprising biosphere and human population, and the primacy of love, they are given to good times, hospitality, much laughter, and of course, high wisdom.
Links:
* Visioning the Future
* In Search of the Future
* World Council of Elders
* The INNstitute at Sedona
* The Native Voices foundation
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I tried to attach a jpeg of Woody with something that looks like a sundance crown but..it appears to be one of those plastic leis?????? If it doesnt upload here is the link...
http://www.robertdespain.com/node/120
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"Kymberlee Ruff, MFT and I have just returned from the World Council’s First International Sundance. The Sundance was sponsored by the “World Council of Elders??? that was formed in 1999 by Woody Vaspra at the request of Grandfather Martin Gash-weseoma of the Hopi Nation. "
And yet on Ruff's online workshop and seminar selling site, it says this:
http://www.thedreammasters.org/hopi/martingashweseoma.php
"I get dozens of emails a month for Grandfather Martin requesting he look at websites, come to events or call people. At this time he does not want to travel at all to anywhere. He cannot hear and does not use computers or phones. So, please know these requests will not be fulfilled. -Lisa"
It appears Gashweseoma is very elderly and ailing and being badly used, much like Roy Steevensz did to a Hopi elder.
Some other strange things on that site.
"A note from Kymberlee Ruff....
Dear Friends,
....Miriam Delicado drove all the way from CANADA when to talk to the Hopi Tribal Council. Even though in the end, they said "No", they almost agreed and it was still the respectful way to proceed."
But you went ahead and did it anyway. So you were not being respectful.
"I also would like to thank Michael Mohoric who did a Qigong session IN the car on the road driving through the Navaho reservation when the Navaho police stopped us."
What the...?
"The trip was an enormous success. The Hopi Tribal Council said that we could not film on Hopi land so we went to the Painted Desert.
Bet you're proud of yourself, weaseling around what the elected Hopi officials explictly told you not to do.
Bio of Lisa Rhyne, that Ruff works with on dream masters:
"....a promoter for the biggest names in entertainment including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks....a guest correspondent on A Current Affair and has also been a featured guest on numerous international talk shows such as The Phil Donohue Show, Eye to Eye with Connie Chung, The Maury Povich Show, The Jane Whitney Show, CNBC's America's Talking and The Oprah Winfrey Show....
Her studies are nurtured and guided by some of the greatest living Teachers, Mystics, Healers and Shamans including Hopi Elder Martin Gashweseoma, Hank Wesselman & Jill Kuykendall, Alberto Villoldo...but most are in other Dimensions and those realms of Light and Love - the ethereal realms....
Lisa's Certifications and Trainings:
Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications/Theater from Ball State University
Master Hypnotist<<<
Master Ericksonian Hypnotist<<<
Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)<<<(commonly used by cult leaders to control others)
Master Trainer of NLP
Master Practitioner of Creation Technologies™
Master of Neurological Repatterning
Master Results Coach
Master Performance Consultant
Chekhov Technique Master
Yuen Method of Chinese Energetics/Energetic Healing
Matrix Energetics"
Here Ruff claims to be an "honorary Hopi elder" and "carrier of the Tibetan/Hopi prophecy." She tried to set up an event for fraud Maria Naylin/Yraceburu.
http://sanjosecircle.com/category/special-events/
And here she claims to be a Cherokee shaman.
http://realityshifters.com/pages/archives/jun08.html
Back to the worldcouncil link and Ruff:
"I am 1/4 Cherokee and was born in a town in the Cherokee Nation."
What town? Which of the three Cherokee tribes? And it's been my experience that it's PODIAs who say "part tribe X."
"In the last few years, I have been blessed to be able to get to know the “Old Ways??? of my An-cestors and it has affected me profoundly."
There's nothing even vaguely Cherokee I can see in what she does.
"I have worked in the field of psychology for the last thirty years and I’ve been licensed since 1986."
Working unlicensed for 10 years?
"...Grandfather Martin Gashweseoma. He is the last liv-ing Elderly Elder of the Traditional Hopi Nation."
Oh please, more racist "traditional Indians are dying off" nonsense.
" Last February, a group of people gathered at the Hopi Reservation at Grandfather’s request to make a documentary of the Hopi/Tibetan Prophecy. This is where I met Woody Vaspra and it was at this time that Woody invited me and my two sons to the First International Sundance."
It's not the first one by a long shot, you just claim it is.
"The American Indian Religion Freedom Act was passed in 1978 and this opened the door to begin the creation of the First International Sundance. The Opening Ceremonies began on August 28, 2007"
Why did it take you almost 30 years then?
"Every culture was represented.... There was Woody Vaspra in his lava-lava and kukui bead, Michael Tamura in his Sam-urai skirt and fans, Maria Yraceburu in her traditional Apache dress, there was even an Aborigine they call “Major??? with a bone through his nose. The Mayan and Inkan Elders were adorned with bright clothes and feathers."
There's thousands of cultures that aren't represented, and at least two of those elders are frauds. Three counting Ruff. One man cannot make you an "elder."
"....Frank Settee the Lakota Grandfather of the Sundance spoke. He is the descendant of the last Chief at the Battle of Little Big Horn and the Massacre at Wounded Knee."
Big Foot was the chief at Wounded Knee, and he was killed along with most of his family.
"Uncle Frank brought the Sacred Bundle of the Peace Pipe of Wounded Knee and we all smoked it together."
Smoking a bundle? Maybe she just worded that wrong.
Found these on Settee:
http://www.shared-vision.com/20061101/the_healer
http://www.hellocoolworld.com/assets/WAVAW_GCC_Smudge_Backgrounder2.pdf
He looks to be a serious man. Perhaps he's unaware of just what this "council" really is and is up to.
"The Hopi have a saying: “We are the Ones we have been waiting for.???
We have a thread on that. It was a Black civil rights leader who first said that.
"Please see the next page for a photo of me, Sal Yepa the Elder from the Pueblo Nation"
Yepa is a pottery maker and artist who is promoted by the fraud Naylin/Yraceburu.
"I can only say that for that short time, we were living in The Fifth World."
Don't the prophecies say that this already is the Fifth World?
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Here is the flyer that was sent to me... also Woodys and others emails do not work on his main site.
Cat
Welcome to International Sundance 2008!
The International Sundance is the manifestation of a vision carried for many, many generations – an extraordinary gathering of family from the four directions in sacred ceremony to honor the Great Spirit, our Mother Earth, and all life. This second annual gathering is so unique because Elders from indigenous cultures around the globe will come together to add their traditional ceremonies and teachings to the time-honored wisdom of the Traditional Sundance of the first peoples of North America. It is a time for celebration, for sharing, for remembering our true selves, for healing, for prayer, for guidance, for restoring balance between female and male energies, and for reaching out to our brothers and sisters all around the world. We are honored that you will be adding your prayers, love and support to this joyous celebration of family.
“The essence of this International Sundance was granted by the Great Spirit
thousands of generations ago to our sacred and holy ancestors. It has been
enhanced by the guidance and direction of the Great Spirit through many
humbling ceremonies to this time and day.???
- Frank Settee, Cree/Ojibwe/Lakota Ceremonial Elder
Grandfather of the International Sundance
The Second International Sundance will take place in Hawai’i from Wednesday, November 12 – Sunday November 16, 2008 on magnificent, sacred land in Hawai’i. Like all Traditional Sundances, International Sundance will take place entirely outdoors, and our goal is to leave the smallest possible footprint on the land during and after the ceremonies. Therefore, we are bringing in all facilities and equipment for the event, and will be packing them out again.
As mentioned above, International Sundance is a gathering of family, and requires a community effort. We invite you to assist in the preparations, and to experience and harmonize with the heart and spirit of this sacred place as part of your personal preparation for the ceremonies. Then during the ceremonies, everyone will help out with community activities in addition to supporting the Sundancers and assisting the Elders. This sacred gathering will be a wonderful opportunity to actively practice earth-honoring and community-supporting skills while joining in prayer and ceremony for the benefit of our Mother Earth and all life.
More information will be forthcoming regarding the International Sundance agenda, how to prepare, travel & onsite logistics, registration, key contacts, what to bring, and protocols for the ceremonies. Also, please contact us anytime with your questions, and to find out how you can help.
Thank you for choosing to be a part of this special event to honor the Peoples of the Four Directions and the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians).
Mahalo nui loa & Mitakuye Oyasin,
Woody
Woody Vaspra
International Sundance Chief
WORLD COUNCIL OF ELDERS
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Maybe Hawaii is becoming the new Sedona???
For decades now, some areas of Hawaii have been Sedona for people with even more money. Tourism is a major industry there, and I think as early as the seventies spiritual tourism started becoming part of it. The Rebirthing cults I encountered in the eighties had retreats on Hawaii, and used Hawaiian terminology for some of their Nuage constructs. There's also at least one American witchcraft tradition that claims to be based on Huna. I don't think there's any connections in any of these to anything authentically or traditionally Indigenous Hawaiian. But people like their tropical vacations served up with their spiritual fantasies...
And WTF on the "Hopi Sundance"... geez....
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Is there anyways we could contact the Native Hawaiian Elders and ask why they are allowing i come about ,,, Sheesh
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I am waiting for replys to letters sent - I only know one elder there and more activists... The activists usually take a long time to get back to email so we will see..does anyone else have contacts there??
cat
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I spoke to a respected elder friend of mine on the Big Island; apparently Arvol Looking Horse is trying to track down Woody Vaspra. I would assume that this sundance would not be authorized.
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I know Woody, and up until five years ago, spent a lot of time with him in Canada while he was visiting Grandfather William Commanda and Grandmother Lillian Pitawanakwat.
I have a lot of stories about him that I would be glad to share privately.
The most important thing to know about him is that he is deeply involved with a new age cult called Kryon (you can Google their website) based in Boulder, and that this World Council fo Elders is a part of their efforts to basically steal the medicines of Native peoples for thier own purposes. The story that Grandfather Martin was the one that asked him to start it is not true.
The other important thing people should know is that he is using a pipe that was given to him by Grandfather Commanda with the explicit instruction that he was not to smoke it or use it in ceremony. This was at a time that I was a helper to Grandfather and I was there when William decided to give him that pipe.
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The Kryon cult is a big part of the Indigo Children nonsense, covered in a couple other theads. Also
http://www.autism-pdd.net/testdump/test20164.htm
From their own site, they seem like paranoid conspiracy theorists as well. "Secret world govt" "neural implants" etc.
http://www.kryon.com/k_38.html
Apparently the indigo/Kryon people do a lot of exploiting of Mayan and Hopi beliefs.
http://indigosociety.com/archive/mayan-prophecies-f31.html
BUt do you have anything you could show us as proof of Vaspra's ties to the Kryon cult?
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anybody have an update on the event which was supposed to be held 12 Nov 08?
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Here is proof of Woody Vaspra's connection to Kryon ..http://www.kryon.com/k_42.html .. Go to Chapter 14. He also was a part of Kryon events in Ottawa about four years ago"honoring" Grandfather Commanda. And there are numerous references to him on the main Kryon site.
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I have known Grandfather Frank Settee for 8 years. I have sat in Ceremony with him many times, had many conversations with him, traveled with him once and attended his family’s Sun Dance. What I know of Frank comes from him and my experiences of him. Of course, I am just one person, and in a forum like this you cannot know who I am, if I am a decent person of sound reasoning and good character (I like to think I am), or just spouting BS. And in the end, as Frank says, if you have an issue with a person, or questions, go and sit with that person, as no-one else can address them. And if you have a dispute with a person, sit down with them to resolve it, and if you cannot, pray for them and look at your role in the dispute, for that is all you can act on and none of us are entirely innocent. The only one who can truly know our path and judge us on it is the Creator.
As such, Frank would not expect or even wish to have someone speak on his behalf.
I choose to do so here as I have a deep respect and affection for him, as an elder, and as a human being.
I will address some misinformation that was in a previous post, regarding Frank’s heritage.
Frank’s grandfather traveled to Canada with Sitting Bull, and remained when Sitting Bull returned South. Frank is originally from Manitoba, where his Ojibwe grandmother lived, but has lived in British Columbia for many years.
He reconnected with family in South Dakota a long time ago, and when I met him he carried many teachings and ceremonies from his Grandmother, and was responsible for the family Sun Dance Pipe, which he passed on in the traditional manner to a younger man in the family about 4 years ago.
As to Woody, I have met him only a few times.
I first met him at a small gathering of elders our community hosted in 2001 and had the impression that he was a sincere and spiritual man with a good heart and a big dream: to bring elders together from all around the world to work together for the good of people and our Mother Earth. He spoke a little of his Hawaiian roots and traditions at that time. I witnessed him dance at Frank’s family Sun Dance in 2003, saw him at Grandfather William Commanda’s gathering in 2004, and spoke to him a year or so ago when he was at Frank’s home, it was at that time I learned that he had been passed the Sun Dance.
That is all I can say that I know of Woody.
I have never met a more spiritual, non-judgmental, or giving person than Frank. He is kind, compassionate, accepting, respectful, humble and has a wonderful sense of humour. He will not speak ill of others and does not approve of gossip, conjecture or game-playing. I have never heard him refer to himself as an elder, nor have I seen him behave or speak in a manner which would indicate he thought of himself as any more important than anyone else, yet always held himself to a very high standard of responsibility for the ceremonies, medicines and tools that he carried and his availability to the people for ceremony and leadership.
There is much more I could say, but I will leave it at that.
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No one is questioning Frank Settee that I can see, except to wonder if he realizes he is being used by Vaspra to appear legit.
From your own post, you don't know Vaspra very well, and the fact that you were naive enough to believe an obvious white man is Hawaiian, or that a white man claiming to be a Hawaiian healer would also be given the right to do carry out a Sundance, says that there is much about both cultures you do not know.
It would also help clear up matters if you would introduce yourself.
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The reason I posted regarding Frank was Post 11: "Just found this - does anyone know Frank Settee? I am "assuming this is the elder that Woody is saying gave him this altar."
As well, as I said, clearing up some misinformation, from another source but in the same post, regarding his heritage.
While I can't see Frank allowing himself to be used by anyone meaning ill, I can't say that it is impossible either.
As I indeed said, I don't know Woody well. I did not say that I believed he was 100% Hawaiian nor that he claimed to be, only that he spoke of his roots and traditions - why wouldn't I believe him, as I do not, in fact, know anything of the traditions or culture of the Hawaiian people ? I was only providing an impression I had received, and a few facts, some of which concerned some of the questions here.
Nor do I claim to know anything of - I don't.
I don't claim to know much about the Lakota traditions or culture either, just a very little.
As I said, there is more I could say.
Please don't assume that ignorance = naivete.
You will find my introduction in the appropriate place, posted shortly after I posted here. Mind you, I don't understand how that will "clear up matters". Or was there a list of required information I am to provide that I missed somewhere?
Or is it just that newcomers are suspect without a pedigree?
Sorry, that was a bit sarcastic, but the tone of your post seems a little agressive and dismissive.
Nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you as well. You'll notice that Pat greeted you warmly in your intro. What I was asking is if you could tell us more about how you came to know Vaspra and Settee. You mentioned ceremony with Settee, but I don't think you are NDN, or you would have mentioned it as NDNs generally do upon meeting other NDNs. "Who are your people?" etc. So I'm only guessing when I say you seem to be a non-Native interested in taking part in Native traditions. And as I think you'll see by looking more at NAFPS, there are many such people who get misled.
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Hello Educated,
Sorry I haven't been back for a long time, hope you don't think I have been avoiding...
First off, I have no First Nations ancestry that I am aware of, nor have I attempted to find any (I have been encouraged to as my genealogy on my mother's side is hazy, and my father's ancestry may well have Mi'qmaq heritage) as it would be so far removed as to be irrelevant IMO, and I do not feel the need to be able to declare that my great-great-great... was an Indian.
So, I consider myself to be a true Canadian mutt - I look white, was raised white, know some of my European genetic ancestry, and the rest is anybody's guess.
"My people" are my family, friends and spiritual community.
I would not say that I am interested in taking part in Native traditions so much as that they are part of my life, that is, the ones that I have been taught about and experienced over the years, by an Elder who is acknowledged as such within his own traditional community.
I don't dabble in different ways or "mix medicines", and have no interest in participating in new-age, pagan, wiccan, shamanic or "rainbow" activities. Not that I deride them, if they are occurring in a good way, do no harm, don't manipulate or try to take advantage of others, etc. etc.
I've been educated about, and seen firsthand, people (of all backgrounds) who abuse, misuse and profit from traditional ways and ceremonies, and who use, manipulate and take advantage of people who do not know any better (or don't care to).
I am well aware that many people are "seeking" and are easily misled - in that regards, I have also attempted to educate some about asking questions and not blindly believing anything, and to check out sites like this one.
As to further details, I prefer not to post them on a public forum, but have no problem with conversing via PM with you.
I have already given the information in regards to meeting Woody, I really don't have any more to add.
As I said, I cannot claim to really know him, and it has been years...
As to Frank, I first met him at a sweat lodge ceremony I was invited to just over 8 years ago. Over the years, Frank has been an important part of my spiritual life, but is also close to my heart in a personal way as well.
My original post was prompted by someone asking about Frank, and to correct some misinformation (that he was a descendant of Sitting Bull, amongst other things <roll eyes>).
I have no issue with this thread, and perfectly understand it - my concern was addressing the question regarding Frank.
Hope this answers your (and anyone else's, too) questions.
If not, feel free to contact me.
Happy Spring!
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Vaspra is still at it, and it looks like he may be trying to expand, with an upcoming pay-to-pray in Australia in November where they're charging $250 a head to participate in a fake Sun Dance.
L/D/N spiritual leaders have contacted us to say that Vaspra is also violating ceremonial protocol by telling participants that it is not necessary to have the sacred items required for the ceremony (and indeed the things required for any legitimate L/D/N ceremony. But he does remind them to bring sunscreen!). They say it is clear that Vaspra is not a member of any L/D/N community, nor does he know the language. They say he is probably fooling the Australian Aboriginal people into going along with this.
http://www.worldcouncilofelders.org/calendar.html
This annual gathering is so unique because Elders from around the globe come together to add their traditional ceremonies and teachings to the time-honored wisdom and practices of the Traditional Sundance of the first peoples of North America. Every year, the International Sundance will travel to a different location around the world including Australia in 2010, Central America in 2012, and later to Africa, Asia and Europe. Each one-of-a-kind gathering will honor the traditions, ceremonies and wisdom of the host cultures and other international participants as well as those of the Traditional Sundance.
Vaspra sent an email to those whose participation they are soliciting, with dates, locations, recommendations on air travel, and prices to participate.
The 4th International Sundance will take place from Tree Day, Wednesday, November 10 through four days of dancing, Thursday, November 11 – Sunday, November 14, 2010. The Sundance grounds are located on Ngarrindjeri Elder, Major Sumner’s (“Moogy”) sacred land on the Coorong (“long water”) in South Australia approximately 12 miles (20kms) from the nearest town, Meningie, and approximately 100 miles (160kms) from the nearest airport in the city of Adelaide.
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While in South Australia, we selected the Sundance site on the Coorong, and met with local ISD-Australia Committee members to kick-off onsite preparations for the International Sundance. With the help of committee members and other contacts of Moogy’s, the grounds are being cleared and prepared, lumber is being collected for the arbor, and other necessary materials and supplies are being gathered. There’s a lot of interest in the Sundance around Australia, and we’re planning for a larger gathering this year including Elders from many Aboriginal cultures!
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Also, we’re planning a public event or two for the weekend before International Sundance (November 5-7) to include indigenous music & dance from many cultures as well as visiting Elders sharing aboriginal wisdom and teachings. That’s another reason to arrive in Adelaide the week before Sundance!
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Sacred Items… We recommend that you don’t bring feathers unless you have a tribal affiliation card. Even so, uninformed Customs agents could confiscate your items. You may want to avoid that potential by leaving your sacred items at home. Please contact Woody with any questions.
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Donation… We’re asking for a donation of $250.00 each from Sundancers and Supporters to help cover the costs of providing ceremonial materials & supplies; kitchen facilities and food; portable toilets and sinks; camping gear; ground transportation, etc. as well as to help fund travel costs for Elders coming to share wisdom and ceremonies at the International Sundance. If you (or someone you know) can help out with a larger donation to help with Elders’ travel, etc., it would be greatly appreciated! The best way to make your donation is via PayPal on the www.worldcouncilofelders.org <http://www.worldcouncilofelders.org/> website. On the home page, click on Donate Now, and then click on the Donate button. Or you can send a check to: World Council of Elders, P.O. Box 7915, Boulder, CO 80306. Please make your donation by September 22, 2010 to ensure that needed advance funds (including travel costs, deposits on equipment, kitchen items, toilets, etc.) are available in time to prepare for the International Sundance. Mahalo (Thank you) !
Traditional LDN spiritual leaders are trying to contact the Aboriginal people who are hosting this, to let them know Vaspra has no right to conduct these ceremonies, and certainly no right to run them as pay-to-pray, mix and match, events by and for non-L/D/N people.
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The "International Sun Dance" sponsored by the World Council of Elders is gearing up for its ninth iteration, this time to be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
To support this pay-to-pray event (I won't call it a ceremony) their website includes several buttons to accept donations through paypal to pay for travel, supplies, etc . . . and participation is by invitation only.
"The Ninth Annual International Sundance will be held August 11-15, 2015 in Manitoba, Canada approximately 45 minutes from Winnipeg. The International Sundance site, on 40 pristine wooded acres of Anishinabeg traditional land, is home to abundant wildlife, and has previously hosted many ceremonies including sweat lodges, fasting, Full Moon and Sundance. We’re expecting approximately 200-300 participants, including several indigenous Elders from Guatemala, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Canada, U.S.A., and possibly Africa, Asia and South America, at this year’s International Sundance in Manitoba. . ."
http://worldcouncilofelders.org/gatherings/international-sundance/ (http://worldcouncilofelders.org/gatherings/international-sundance/)
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shame
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Some info on Woody Vaspra / Lenwood Henry Vaspra, born 1945:
He did serve in military:
Lenwood Vaspra Second Lieutenant Lenwood H, Vaspra, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Vaspra of Waialua, Hawaii, has been awarded U. S. Air Force silver pilot wings upon graduation at Reese AFB, Tex. Lieutenant Vaspra is being assigned to Griffiss AFB, N. Y., for flying duty with a unit of the Strategic Air Command. He was commissioned in 1968 upon completion of Officers Training School at Lackland AFB, Tex. A 1963 graduate of Kamchameha High School for Boys, the lieutenant earned his BA degree in 1967 from Beloit Wis. College and is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. His wife, Cheryl, is the daughter of Mrs. Wallace C. Reid of 2509 Summit Drive, Irving.
1969 http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/51067769/ (http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/51067769/)
His father Henry J Vaspra was also military https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8GT-DPD (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8GT-DPD), listed as white.
Kamehameha Schools is for Native Hawaiians "and has excluded all but two non-Hawaiians from attending since 1965." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamehameha_Schools (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamehameha_Schools)
I believe his Hawaiian ancestry is through his mother, Virginia Maile Vaspra:
Virginia Maile Vaspra, 87, of Waialua, died July 4, 2009. Born in Nawiliwili, Kaua'i. Retired medical secretary for Waialua Plantation Hospital. Survived by sons, Lenwood and Steven; daughters, Antoinette Leahy and Bernadette Vasconcellos; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild. Visitation 8 to 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Michael's Catholic Church; Mass 9:30 a.m.; burial 11 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Flowers welcome. Aloha attire. Arrangements by Mililani Mortuary.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2009/Jul/23/ln/hawaii907230355.html (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2009/Jul/23/ln/hawaii907230355.html)