General > Frauds

J.-Michael Kohfink/Kalagin aka Tacansina Kalagin aka Tacansina Miwatani

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Ingeborg:
Tacansina Miwatani ( hereinafter TM for convenience) claims to be of ndn descent, sells ceremonies in Gemany and Austria,
and courses in which he trains more 'medicine persons'. His original name is nowhere mentioned on his shame-on site
although it's a dot.com.

Some other websites give the name as "Tacansina Kalagin" or "J.-M. Kalagin". His legal name might be/might have
been J.-Michael Kohfink, as I found the following expertise with his name, a few titles, and postal and e-mail addresses:

http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:ecrOq3gEPYIJ:www.umh-wassertechnik.de/Gutachten/Kohfink-Test.pdf+Tacansina&hl=de&ct=clnk&cd=50&gl=de
"Institute for radio geology
J.- Michael Kohfink
SENATOR OF THE FIRST NATIONAL UNIVERSITY B. VI.
Senator for Environmental Protection – EUROPÄISCHE WIRTSCHAFTLICHE INTERESSENVEREINIGUNG DER SENATOREN
e-mail: tacansina-miwatani@t-online.de"
This Association of European Senators is somewhat obscure, as they have got a website, but get mentioned nowhere
else in the net, nor in any other media.

Mr Kohfink apparently married a person by the name of Kalagin and seems to have decided to take on her family name
as it sounds less German. We may assume the lady is Russian, or of Russian descent.


Here's a part of his website in translation.

http://www.tacansina.com/info.html


--- Quote ---"Mitakuye Oyasin!*"
--- End quote ---
There is a footnote on this page explaining the alleged pronounciation and meaning. The pronounciation was
incorrectly given as  /mitakoodje oyassin/ until a 2006 update of the site when it was changed to /mitakudsche/
which is simply more favourable for German non-English speakers to pick up.


--- Quote ---Tacan'sina is a descendant of the Numataki-Mandan. The Mandan lived in North Dakota/USA and
 Canada. His greatgrandfather was a shaman and one of the last Mandan to survive the epidemics in 1837.

Tacan'sina grew up in Suebia/Germany. Having finished university, he went back to his people at Turtle
Island (North America). He spent many years with his Tunka'shila, his grandfather, on the reservation in
Meander River/Alberta in the North of Canada. There he learned the wisdoms from his grandfather and has
received his knowledge from great teachers and shamans. In 1992, Tacan'sina was appointed a shaman by
the "Council of Twelve". In 1997 he received his last initiation and took over the shamanism of his grandfather.
--- End quote ---

How can someone *go back* to *his* people when in fact he goes to meet someone for the very first time?
Another aspect is that apparently TM assumes his grandfather to be extremely long-lived, if he was to be a
survivor of the 1837 epidemics. It is, however, even more unlikely that said grandfather, even if born not
earlier than 1837, should have been alive in 1997  - at the age of 160! Apparently, simple mathmatics is not
among TM's talents, nor does it seem to occur to his 'scholars' here in Germany. Well, either that, or the
Guiness Book got an entry wrong.

According to: http://www.frsd.ca/communities/meander_river.htm the people living at Meander River are the
Dene Tha' Band. But perhaps the Canadians can't tell the Dene Tha' and the Mandan apart?

It is also quite evident that the alleged Mandan grandfather used Lakota expressions, like tunkasila and
mitakuye oyasin etc. So it gets even more mysterious: a Mandan living among the Dene Tha' speaking
Lakota. However, granddad's knowledge of the Lakota language, unsurprisingly, was somewhat limited, as
further parts of the website will reveal - plus we will see gramps did not know how to pronounce Lakota, as he
taught TM more quite exotic pronounciations of the mentioned /mitakudshe/ quality.


--- Quote ---For many years now he has been working as a shaman in North, Central, South America, and Europe
in the tradition of his ancestors and the other Natives of America (Indians). Taca'sina acts on their behalf
bringing Indian knowledge to Europe.
In North America he received the name TACAN'SINA MIWATANI (Great Bear of the Mandan)
In South America, he received the name of INTI'C WAIRA (Sun Wind).
--- End quote ---

I wondered about the translation TM gives, but then found out that the Lakota name for the Big Dipper is
'Tacansina', while the German name for this constellation is 'Grosser Baer', i.e. Great Bear. One should take
due note that the term 'tacansina' in English means 'corpse carrier' - which apparently TM does not know. But I
very much like the name and think he has chosen aptly: The Corpse Carrier of the Mandan....

Perhaps a reader knowing the Aymara language can fill us in about the real meaning of TM's alleged 'South
American' name Inti'c Waira.


http://www.tacansina.com/info.html


--- Quote --- About Tacan'sina's work

Tacan'sina is available for various sacred acts like Indian wedding, blessing of children, rites of passage,
initiation rites girl ->woman and boy ->man, consecration of appartments and houses, going back to former   
lives, calling back souls, search for power animals etc.

In case of severe illness, he helps as a mediator and pathfinder to the healing-spirits (healing rituals
according to ancient Mandan tradition).
He also does medicine wheels, rituals of healing Mother Earth, sun rituals, moon rituals (half moon and full 
moon), sweatlodges, drum journeys, pipe rituals, vision quests, spiritual journeys to North, Central, and
South America and much more.

Tacan'sina offers help to protect against negative influence from outside (black magic problems) through
cleansing rituals, protection rituals, production of protective totems etc. In case of burdening by spiritism,
possession by demons or ghosts which harm the body and exert an influence in house and environment, he 
gives help with smudging ceremonies.

He does seminars and speaks about issues of shamanism, keeping and healing of "Mother Earth", of every
day life and soiritual love.

He also supplies different incense and power stones from temple and power places like Machu Picchu (Peru),
Tiahuanaco (Bolivia), Black Hills, Serpent Mound/Ohio and Pipestone/Minnesota (USA), Palenque and Monte
Alban (Mexico, Tikal (Guatemala) etc."
--- End quote ---

TM offers a variety of esoteric rituals, though it is not quite the 'usual' mix, as he also covers black magic,
demons which, needless to emphasize, do not belong to Mandan tradition.

There are several words from indigenous language(s) to be found at TM's website. It does not make TM's
story of a Mandan grandfather all that plausible when one realizes that some of these words are Lakota, not
Mandan, while other words can't be found in Lakota/Dakota dictionaries and speakers of this language do not
recognize them.

- Miwatani
TM uses this term for the Mandan people. It is, however, the name the Lakota gave them, instead of the name
the Mandan use. A granddad fluent in Mandan, as a medicine man must be, did not teach TM that basic
piece of information?

- tunkashila
TM uses this term correctly as 'grandfather'. It is once again not a Mandan word, but Lakota.

- okandada wakan
According to TM, this term means 'medicine wheel'. 'Wakan' again comes from the Lakota/Dakota language,
however, the word 'okandada' cannot be found in either Lakota or Dakota language, according to my
research. 'Sacred hoop' in Lakota language would be 'cangleska wakan', so perhaps we'll see a few hasty
corrections made at TM's site once he discovers this thread at NAFPS.

- canglesa takata
According to TM, this is the name of his very own 'medicine path'; TM says it means 'Circle of Future'.
However, 'canglesa' is not to be found in Lakota/Dakota, while 'cangleska' exists and means 'circle'. 'Takata'
again cannot be found in Lakota/Dakota, while there is the word 'tokata' which means 'future'. I again predict
hasty adjustments at TM's website once he has read this entry.

- inipi, han-ble-c'iya
Again taken from Lakota language

Persons made 'medicine people' and 'shamanic students' by TM apparently receive their own 'genuine' ndn 
names, as one can see in a text TM wrote on a trip to Canada taken in 2006. His students received the
following names:
Mato Witko - a Lakota name, no glitch this time
Mato Huka - 'mato' means 'bear', but the word 'huka' is not Lakota
Sa Sunali - 'sa' could be Lakota (red), but 'sunali' definitely is not
Orgato Me - cannot be Lakota as this language does not have 'r' and 'g' sounds
I would also like to point out that TM does not give translations for any of these names at his site. He seems to
tell students the alleged translations, as some of his students use their 'genuine Indian name' for promotion at
their own websites (cf part two).



http://www.tacansina.com/aktuell.html

Please do read this - you never heard the legend told like this before....


--- Quote ---The Legend of White Buffalo Calf Woman

In the year of 1753, the same vision came to various Indian peoples (Hopi, Zuni, Navayo [sic], Cheyenne,
Shawnee, Mandan, Cree etc.) at the same time.The vision said:

'... there will be a summer when a white buffalo calf is born. When this white calf is born, the Red Man will soon
leave his path.'

This white buffalo calf was born in 1890. In 1890, the Indian had to leave his path of freedom and his natural
religions - by being forced onto reservations. The "White Man" defeated the "Red Man", almost to extinction. 
The same vision said:
' ... many summers will pass, then another white buffalo calf will be born. This is a token that the Red Man will
return to his path.'

In 1994, a white buffalo calf was born in Nevada/USA. Since this time, the Indians once again are living deeply
in their ancient natural religions. The ancient ceremonies are being practiced again, the Sundance is done
again etc. Since 1976 the Indians have regained their religious freedom.

The vision continues:
'... after a short time there will be a summer which will bring four white buffalo calves at the same time. When
these white calves are born and have come to the age of four years, then Ptecin'cala Ska Wakan Winan
(White Buffalo Calf Woman) will come and bring the New Cosmic Laws to the people.'

In the summer of 2000, four white buffalo calves were born at four different places in North America. These
calves were strongly guarded and hidden at differing locations. Because there were orders from high up to kill
these calves.

In summer 2004, the four white calves were set free after their fourth birthday.
We all must help with the power of our prayers to prepare the ground for the return of the White Buffalo Calf
Woman to receive the New Cosmic Laws!
--- End quote ---



http://www.tacansina.com/termine.html

This part of the site contains ads for TM's various events. Please note there are price tags.


--- Quote --- Detailed description of the seminars and workshops may be seen in the seminars section.
Please apply in due time and in writing to Tacan'sina (cf. Contact). As soon as a down payment of EURO 100
has been received, participation is fixed. Cancelling will only be possible up until 2 weeks prior to the seminar.

May 9-12, 2008
Whitsun Seminar with spiritual sweatlodge, fire, and thunderlodge ritual
The seminar starts Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m. when we begin to arrange the sweatlodge. We will work intensively
in the medicine wheel with healing ceremonies and vision quests. Sunday night we will do a thunderlodge, a
healing ceremony with the healing spirits according to ancient Indian tradition.
We will not have a progamme which is realized precisely on schedule. We will be guided by the momentary
energy, by the preparedness of the participants, weather conditions, situation in the house etc.
We will practice trust from which the qualities of wisdom will grow, like clarity, objectivity and letting go. We will
speak about changes in our life, our actions in bordering situations and rituals which will help us to cope with
loss.
The seminar will be closed by a chanunpa[sic] ceremony (holy pipe ritual).

May 31, 2008
"Nature seen from the Indians' view"
Seminar from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., fee: EURO 85
Place: Hamburg For exact info pls call [...]

June 1, 2008
"Conscious thinking, acting, living - overcoming anxieties"
Seminar from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., fee: EURO 85
[...]

June 20-25, 2008
"Indian Summer" in Lackenhof
Friday June 20: "Nature seen from the Indians' view"
Meeting 'mother earth', ceremony of giving thanks to earth
Saturday June 21, "Inipi - spiritual sweatlodge"
Ceremony of cleansing in the Mandan tradition
Sunday, June 22: "Power animals - totem animals"
Seeking the power animals, working with and treatment of power animals
Monay, June 23: "Herbal walk" at the Oetscher mountain
Gathering healing herbs in the Indians' tradition
Tuesday, June 24: "Natural beings and their tasks in nature"
Finding natural beings. How to deal with gnomes, dwarves, fairies, trolls etc.
Wednesday, June 25: "The Indian nature religion"
The "spiritual world" as seen from the Indians' view
Place: Hotel**** "Jagdhof" Lackenhof [Austria]
Fees: double room/full meals EURO 70 per person and day, single room: EURO 85 per day, workshops in
total: EURO 280, singular day: EURO 90

August 11-17, 2008
"Indian Summer" in Murrhardt/Kieselhof
Tuesday: Aug 12: "Inipi - spiritual sweatlodge"
Wednesday, Aug 13: "Nature seen from the Indians' view"
Thursday, Aug 14: "Power animals - totem animals"
Friday, Aug 15: "Ceremonial painting and dream cathcers" in the tradition of the Indians
Saturday, Aug 16: Initiations, chanunpa and inipi ceremonies
Sunday, Aug 17: "The Indian nature religion"
Pls inquire exact fees for accom and meals (in the seminar house or tent resp.)"
--- End quote ---

Both the seminar at Whitsun as the 'Indian summer' seem to be regular events and have already been offered
in the previous years, at the following prices:

"June 2-5, 2006 Whitsun Seminar, Kieselhof
[...]
Fee: EURO 210, accom please inquire (EURO 15-35 per day plus full meals for additional EURO 27 per day) [...]"

"June 13-16, 2006 Vision Quest in Glottertal/Black Forrest
Searching for meaning and self healing: 4 days and 3 nights on your own and fasting in the wilderness.
Tacan'sina will remain in an accessible basis camp and will see to physical and psychic safety and supports
the vision seekers with ceremonies and rituals all around the clock.
Fee: EURO 350,- Limited number of participants, please apply early in writing with Tacan'sina!"

"July 14-23, 2006 "Indian Summer" in Lackenhof am Oetscher/Austria
Summer workshops for cleansing and healing
Arrival: Thursday July 13
- Friday: "Nature from the view of the Indians"
Meeting Mother Earth, ceremony of giving thanks to earth
- Saturday: "Inipi ceremony" (spiritual sweatlodge)
To cover the lodge, everyone should bring two old woollen blankets, please, as well as a large towel and a
smaller towel to sit on.
- Sunday: "The Power Animals/Totem Animals"
Search for power animals, working and dealing with power animals
- Monday "Herb Walk" at the Oetscher mountain
Gathering herbs in the tradition of the Indians
- Tuesday: "Nature beings and their task"
- Wednesday: "The Indian natural religion"
The "spiritual world" from an Indian view"
.........
"Additional offer (more details please obtain from Tacan'sina per phone):
Thursday: individual session with Tacan'sina
- Saturday/Sunday: shamanic family constellation
[....]
Fee: EURO 280 for six days and EURO 80 per day. Booking per day possible. Please bring wool blanket and
mat (for outside work).
Accomodation in the Bio-Wellness Hotel Jagdhof, A-3295 Lackenhof
EURO 50 -60 per person with two meals a day.[...]"

Judging from the schedule, he seems to prefer speaking about the same issues during his seminars; the
comment 'same ole, same ole' comes to mind.



TM has created his own TM for his 'shamanic work':
http://www.tacansina.com/canglesa.html


--- Quote ---"Canglesa Takata - the Circle of Future

This is the internationally protected trademark for the shamanic work of Tacan'sina.
This logo may only be used with his approval by persons belonging to the circle as students, supportive
members, and appointed regulars.
And here, again after all, is the link to the protected membership part.
--- End quote ---



TM also exploits ndn projects and ndn spiritual leaders in an attempt to achieve credibility. To this end, he
links to the buffalo project of Henry Red Cloud and to KILI radio. Both, once again, are not Mandan but Lakota.


It is quite an insolence that TM also uses the Declaration of War against exploitation of ndn spirituality signed
by various spiritual leaders in order to 'prove' his credibility as a spirchul person while he clearly presents
himself as a rather uninformed imitator and exploiter of ndn spirituality.
Furthermore, TM also 'allows' other persons to publish the Declaration of War on their websites:
http://www.indian001.de/me.htm
There is a statement by TM:
"This declaration - which has been slightly abriged here - was published by all Indian media and caused
some commotion.
Those who sold participation in sacred ceremonies to New-Agers and white esoterics against money will have
a difficult time to continue this in future.
Tacan´sina Miwatani"

TM seems to organize camps for his 'students' - he publishes photos of last year's camp at his site:
www.tacansina.de/stammestreffen/pages/P4290120.html
Judging from the word used, TM and his followers see these annual gatherings as 'tribal meetings', as this is
the English translation of the German term 'Stammestreffen'.


TM also does Family Constellations (Hellinger), cf. the following ad:
http://www.visionsunlimited.de/familienaufstellung.html


--- Quote ---"Family Constellation

In many cases, past events or disharmonies in the family will burden us, even though we are not conscious of
them. These burdens may have effects on the physical, mental or psychic level.
The Indian shaman Tacan 'Sina[sic] creates family order with us and thus solves these blockades. Often a
pioneering step to the path to physical and mental wellbeing. Through is ability to see the aura, he knows
when order has been achieved.
25.01.2008
23.03.2008
24.03.2008
23.05.2008
26.09.2008
21.11.2008
Pls book quickly!
Seminar leader: Tacan 'Sina
Your possibilities:
Constellation of family of origin (EURO 150,-)
Constellation of present family (EURO 150,-)
Participation as a supernumarary (EURO 20,-)
For the dates listed below, individual counceling by shaman Tacan 'Sina will be available. Pls book quickly. Fee: EURO 70
24.01.2008
28.01.2008
20.03.2008
25.03.2008
22.05.2008
26.05.2008
25.09.2008
29.09.2008
20.11.2008
24.11.2008
--- End quote ---



Amazon comes up with a video by TM, although it is not available any longer:
http://www.amazon.de/Was-ist-Schamanismus/dp/3934228267
The brief text says:
An Indian discloses the secrets of shamanism to us. What is shamanism? This video lecture is marked by the 
ancient knowledge of the Indians and peoples close to nature. This lecture offers a deep insight into the secret 
knowledge of these peoples and their teachings of salvation, their spiritual connection to the spirit world and
its rituals with the elements. Tacansina Miwasanis [sic] is an important figure and gives you an introduction to
this knowledge."


................

According to information obtained from former students of TM, he is not able to speak any ndn language, and
even his command of the English language is modest, despite his claim of having lived with his grandfather 
for seven years and having been trained by him to become a medicine man. His attempts at pronoucing the
few words of Lakota and alleged Lakota were said to be deplorable, so e.g. he mispronounces his name
as /takann seena/ or /takann zeena/ which is far from correct, and also mispronounces the term 'tunkashila'
badly.

The usual price tag coming with a weekend seminar was said to be EURO 180, although reductions can be
negotiated. With reports claiming about 50-60 students for one weekend seminar, this makes for a nice intake
for two days. Ex-students report there are seminars on almost every weekend, during which TM also offers
individual treatment which is not included in the seminar fee and must be paid additionally.

Former students also report that the amount of spiritual 'teachings' during these weekend seminars is fairly
limited and that TM spends most of the time indulging in anecdotes from his past which get repeated time and
again. They also mention that TM does not do any songs in an indigenous language, so one should perhaps
assume he does not know any. According to information received, TM will accept women on their moons in
sweats, and proclaims female 'pipe carriers' and medicine women even though these persons did not yet
arrive at their menopause. He is also said to never put down the quite numerous metal jewelry he wears on
hands and wrists before taking up his pipe.

As is reported by former students, not only does TM pass out titles of medicine men (after some 2 months of
'teachings'), but apparently also bestows the right to these persons to take on students themselves who will
also receive titles by the persons having been trained by him. This rather sounds like a snowball system of
'make shame-ons, make more shame-ons'.

Ingeborg:
Part TWO   --   TM's Students

Some of his students meanwhile are active frauds, too. Below a few sites maintained by several of these students:

http://www.christian-wuenstel.de/mein_roter_weg11.htm

The paragraph is the usual BS about 'my red path' and thanks to TM for accepting him as a student. I would also like to point out that he writes "philamayaye" instead of the correct term, and again this is not Mandan, but Lakota language.


http://www.bluemlinger-praxis.de/per.html
The site of a naturopath; he announces he is a 'member of Caglesa Takata since 2004'.


http://www.belebe.de/vereing.htm
This lady claims she is a medical doctor (calls herself 'Dr. med'), but according to her bio is working as a naturopath. The last paragraph in her bio says:

--- Quote ---"Another main emphasis of my work is the Indian shamanism. Since 2005, I'm a student of Tacansina Miwatani, an Indian shaman of the Mandan (Lakota).

In 2007, I received the initiation to become a student of Indian medicine woman, as well as my first Indian name, Wahanksica. After a vision quest, I received the name Sentasiá ohé."
--- End quote ---

Someone please tell Fantasia ole - errrm, sorry: Sentasia ohe that the Mandan are not part of the Lakota nation but different nations. I haven't checked this name, but I'm confident no Lakota or Mandan speaker will be able to identify it. Perhaps we may coin the term 'TM speak' for these names.


http://www.skan-pejuta.de/index.php?mich
Another lady who says she has been trained by TM; she uses Lakota terms for the name of her website.


Another Austrian TM student:
http://www.wurzerin.at/ich.html


--- Quote ---"As a student of the Indian shaman Tacan'sina Miwatani it is my aim to reconnect to mother earth and father sky.
I have been initiated as
- sweatlodge leader
- teacher of Cosmic Laws for children
- keeper and carrier of the chanunpa (holy pipe)
- student to become an Indian medicine woman (carrier of a medicine bundle)
Mato Tau Win - The Woman to whom the bear came
Wi Sunali - Morning Moon"
--- End quote ---
Her site also provides a photo - http://www.wurzerin.at/index.html . Judging from this photo, I severly doubt this lady is past her menopause.


Another Austrian site:
http://www.gallery-art.at/raindrop.html


--- Quote ---"The Raindrop Technique®
During the 80ies, Gary Young in cooperation with Lakota medicine man Wallace Black Elk developed this aroma application in which two worlds unite: one the one hand the world of etheric oils, produced from the most exquisite plants of nature, and on the other hand the world of energetic grips of the Lakota Indians. By their strong deep effects this treatment will have effects both at a physical and an emotional level.
A raindrop treatment will take between 60 and 90 minutes at EURO 65,-. For more information and arrangement of appointments see my contact data here.

My training:
Since July 2005, I am a student of Tacansina[sic] Miwatani, Shaman of the Tribe of Mandan.
From October 2006, I took a training as a Raindrop Practitioner"
--- End quote ---


This I found in a forum for commercial ads:
http://hamburg.findix.com/sonstige-dienstleist/spirituelle-krebsbegleitung_a1679.htm

--- Quote ---Categories: Services > other > offers
"Spiritual cancer companion
Fee: EURO 54 fixed price
Counceling in Bach Blossom and Master Essence, shamanic house cleansing after diseases, moving house, arguments, burglaries, or in order to energize your rooms. Students of 'Tacansina" (shaman of the Mandan)"
--- End quote ---

educatedindian:
Dene Tha are also called Slavey. They're distant relatives of Apache, similar language and culture. No relation to Mandan I know of, and don't live anywhere near them. The Slavey are in Yukon Territory in Canada, Mandan are in North Dakota.

Jodi Rave is a fairly well known Mandan journalist who went after Ward Churchill for using a false version of Mandan oral tradition. She might be interested in TM and his claims.

I'm sure the Hopi will be amazed to hear that the white buffalo prophecy is part of their tradition too.

earthw7:
Oh My God where do these people crawl out of???

Even Jodie is a descendant of the Mandan people.
The mandan have descendant on the Three Affilated
tribes.  There are NO MANDAN PEOPLE THAT LAST FULL-BLOOD DIED

Cetan:
I passed his website link along to friends on Ft Berthold who are Mandan descent. This is the reply I got back
I checked out the internet website and don't know anyone of them who are of Mandan descent. I replied with an email to them and hope they give me a reply. I believe the web designer got the tribes mixed up and should have said "Various Sioux Tribes". Have to go, have company.

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