NAFPS Forum
General => Research Needed => Topic started by: catbus on August 29, 2012, 06:00:50 pm
-
Further investigation is needed for this figure. He claims to be an etaminua ('traditionally-apprenticed Chinook/Tsinuk Shaman'), however he apprenticed with some other tribe, which he will not name. He had a website, but has since deleted it since I began asking him questions through email. On his site, he posted many misconceptions and generalizations about "Shamanic Societies", and under the "Services Offered" link, he listed things such as "Power Animal Introduction", "Chakra Healing", etc, claiming these were traditional Native practices. When I wrote him explaining that "Chakras" are not a Native term and have nothing to do with any Native American tradition, he insisted that it is a part of traditional Native American healing, but has since quit responding to my inquiries. He also stated on his site and in his emails that he is "Elder of the Canoe Clan".
His website also was selling some sort of protective crystal talisman necklaces. I think he was charging like 50 dollars each or something like that. He also stated that he does not charge for his ceremonies but gladly accepts donations. He does offer some authentic Chinook traditions, such as vision-quests and weddings, but he has also stated that his clients are all mostly white people. Perhaps he has found his niche as a "whiteman's shaman", or enabler of wannabes? (Not declaring this, just suggesting it seems this way..)
Here's the other part of the story: He is NOT connected with the Chinook Nation. According to him, he and the tribe "parted ways years ago" because the tribe wasn't interested in traditional medicine ways. But according to a tribal Elder of the Chinook Nation I spoke with (who is also a medicine person in a different tribal tradition), they parted ways because the tribe got the impression that Swadwa is a bit "mentally sick". I was also told he came in with a bit of an ego and all sorts of demands (ie. "I'm the Shaman and I want this, this, and this!"). I am not supporting either side's version of the story, just explaining the info I have been told.
(UPDATE- It has since been discovered by forum members that some of Swadwa's names and aliases apparently are: Mark Robert Lumaye, Shadow of Man, R.J Lumaye, Spirit Cougar, Shaman_Cougar, 'Shaman Swadwa'. He also claims to be a 'traditional Norse spiritual leader' under the persona Gothi Thorbjorn/ Noaidi Thorbjorn, and 'Thorbjorn the Dane' ).
"Swadwa" is Chinookan for "Cougar". He is also apparently the head of a ghost hunter group (West Coast Ghost Hunters).
He needs further investigation by other members here, as he has quit responding to my emails. Last I heard from him, he said that the Siletz tribe was contacting him, interested in his services, as they had lost their medicine traditions also.
I'm not sure what tribe 'Swadwa' apprenticed in, because he would not tell me, but whoever he apprenticed with taught him a bunch of bogus and non-Native stuff, such as the power/totem animal introduction stuff, the "chakra healing", etc. So he takes this dubious apprenticeship with some other tribe, and then uses his status as a part-blood Chinook to claim that he is a "traditionally-apprenticed Chinook Shaman" (which are also known as tahmanaawos men and etaminua). It all seems fairly sketchy to me but it requires more research.
-
Also, when I wrote him explaining that what was on his website was really much more new agey than native or traditional, he stated that this was basically intentionally because of his clients being mostly white and not knowing much about the traditions. This further supports the idea that he might be a "whiteman's shaman" or enabler.
-
He's online in a few places, ghost hunters and the become an online minister people. First link has a photo of him, heavily altered.
------
http://ministers.themonastery.org/profile/Swadwa
Hello. I am new to this site and would like to introduce myself. I am Swadwa, a Tsinúk Indian Shaman, Ordained Minister, Certified Spiritual Healer, Chief of the Canoe Clan, Senior Spiritual Leader of the Sumeš Tahmánawas (Medicine Power of the Totems) Congregation, Elder and author. Greetings and good medicine to all.
------
http://www.shamanportal.org/display_details.php?id=3648&country=north%20america&category=Resources&sub_category=Healers
Email: swadwa@hush.com
Website: http://swadwa.weebly.com/
Description:
Swadwa is a traditionally apprenticed Etaminúa (Tsinúk Indian shaman). He is available in person on the Central Oregon Coast and the neighboring Willamette Valley. For surrounding areas, please contact Etaminúa Swadwa for availability. Please note that services are best done in person, and Etaminúa Swadwa will do his best to provide his services for internet based clients.
------
http://www.yourghoststories.com/organizations/ghost-hunters.php?group=652
Helping people to deal with hostile hauntings for over twenty years, or just understanding the nature of a haunting, Shaman Swadwa helps people through these paranormal experiences.
Shaman Swadwa has found over the years that many cases of hostile hauntings go unresolved or have received partially successful attempts by groups, psychics, and even clergy to clear such activity from homes only to have the haunting return, often worse.
With his experience in the areas of spirit removal and spirit transition (aiding a spirit to move on), spirit communication, and spiritual dream contact, he has noticed that there is an ever-increasing need for these services, and is available to help you work out your issues in these areas.
With the growing interest in paranormal investigations, and many groups out there having little knowledge or experience under their belts but not knowing where to turn for practical assistance, Shaman Swadwa also offers his services to paranormal organizations. He has worked with several local organizations in the past, and is available to assist others.
---------
http://www.supernaturalconnections.com/directoryview/title_swadwa/listingid_109/
Shaman available for healings and spiritual mediation and intervention.
SWADWA
www.swadwa.weebly.com
Swadwa is a traditionally apprenticed Etaminúa (Tsinúk Indian shaman). He is available in person on the Central Oregon Coast and the neighboring Willamette Valley. For surrounding areas, please contact Etaminúa Swadwa for availability. Pease note that services are best done in person, and Etaminúa Swadwa will do his best to provide his services for internet based clients.
This is an informational website to help Etaminúa Swadwa’s clients better understand what it is that he does. Even though internet or long distance services are available from Etaminúa Swadwa, his services are best done in person.
Etaminúa Swadwa is also a firm believer in traditional apprenticeships and does not believe in modern shamanic paid education or the practice of Core Shamanism and does not offer such training.
Etaminúa Swadwa does not charge for any of his services, however he appreciates donations.
The following is a list of services offered by Etaminúa Swadwa:
Energy Healing
Life Passage Rites
Soul Retrieval
Shamanic Counseling
Shamanic Extraction
Shamanic Protective Talismans
Spirit Communication
Spirit Removal
Spirit Transition
Totem Animal Introduction
Totem Animal Retrieval
Paranormal Services...
----------
http://www.supernaturalconnections.com/directoryview/title_supernatural-encounters/listingid_110/
http://www.perception9.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=2482
http://www.westcoastghosthunters.com/community/778-shaman-swadwa/profile.html
http://www.meetup.com/members/39019542/
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rachel-hayward/3b/648/5a2
"Rachel Hayward's Education
Shaman Swadwa Medicine Woman, Traditional Path
2009 – 2013 (expected)
Apprenticeship with traditional Tsinuk (Chinook) Shaman in traditional Tsinuk Medicine Woman path. I am an enrolled member in the Tsinuk tribe, and look to bring back this sacred path."
-
The Rachel Hayword mentioned in educated_indian's post must be Swadwas current apprentice. He told me that while he and the tribe "parted ways", his current apprentice was an enrolled member of the tribe.
What I find very problematic about this: Claiming to represent traditional Chinook/Tsinuk 'Shamanic' traditions, yet he would not disclose who and from what tribe actually apprenticed him, although he admitted that the authentic tahmanaawos traditions of Chinook medicine people were lost. So he is apparently taking something he learned from another tribe, mixing it with Chinook language and what he has learned/researched about Chinook history, and claiming that he is a bonafide "traditionally-apprenticed etaminua". And then perpetuating this.
People are free to practice what they want in the realm of spirituality, even if it is bogus, but it becomes blatantly colonialistic and dishonest when it is either falsely presented as representing a certain tribal tradition or when it panders to white new age stereotypes about native "shamanic" traditions. Therefore, he would be better off to more upfront about what tribal tradition he is actually apprenticed in, and whether or not that person is authentic in that particular tribe's culture/community. One of his posts simply said he apprenticed with a "real native american, from a reservation", which doesn't at all mean an authentic "shaman" or medicine person. I am not denouncing his apprenticeship lineage, but there is alot of bogus stuff mixed in here, that he really should tell where his "shamanic" background really lies, to just be more upfront about rather than expecting people to just accept it at face value (After all, we know how problematic that can be at times, Just think of Kiesha Crowther/'Little Grandmother' who gained her following largely by claiming to be trained by a fictional Salish Elder named 'Falling Feathers'). The way it is portrayed, one would be led to falsely assume that Chinook Tahmanaawos traditions were passed down to him and that he apprenticed with a tahmanaawos man of the Chinook.
-
post deleted
-
- Post deleted -
-
Swadwa says:
November 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm
It really surprises me to see all these people reading a few questionable books on shamanism and then running to South and Central America to see traditional shamans when we have so many traditional Native American shamans here in the United States and Canada, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. I am an Etaminua, a traditionally apprenticed Tsinuk Indian shaman, and I often wonder why these South American ???traditional shamans??? make such dubious deals with these ???shamanic vacation tour guides???. I guess the first thing we teach aboriginals is capitalism.
http://dreamstudies.org/2008/03/31/the-dark-side-of-shamanic-tourism/ (http://dreamstudies.org/2008/03/31/the-dark-side-of-shamanic-tourism/)
His web site was http://sasws.net , some of it can still be seen in archives http://web.archive.org/web/20090312012125/http://www.sasws.net/ (http://web.archive.org/web/20090312012125/http://www.sasws.net/)
About SASWS
SASWS is a source of spirtual guidance, healing, and intervention; and was created as a result of a vision for the purpose of establishing an organization structured to accommodate a variety of shamans and spirit warriors with varied specializations and cultural backgrounds to create a unified operation able to provide a multitude of shamanic healing and protection services.
Our shamans work together as a team, sharing their specialized trainings to provide a broad-based shamanic service to effectively provide the proper course of treatment to our clients. We specialize in spirit healings, soul loss, exorcisms, and dream therapy, including nightmares, recurring dreams, and spiritual contact in dreams..
We are currently seeking shamans and spirit warriors with a traditional apprenticeship-based training or an equivalent educational instruction.
http://wayback.archive.org/web/20081001000000*/http://sasws.net/ (http://wayback.archive.org/web/20081001000000*/http://sasws.net/)
Staff Requirements
SASWS is seeking qualified shamans and spirit warriors. If you are interested in joining our elite team, and fit the following requirements, please contact us.
We are seeking applicants with the following:
1. Either completion of a traditional shamanic or spirit-warrior apprenticeship under a traditionally apprenticed teacher*, or a traditional cultural-based training from any culture with shamanic traditions. Shamans should have three or more years of experience in shamanic counseling, guidance, healing, or intervention.
2. An understanding of the importance of helping those in need.
3. A belief in working together with a group of shamans to best aid the client or patient.
4. An understanding of the importance and sacredness of their calling.
5. The integrity to vigilantly maintain the professional bounds of their position or status.
Note: We believe and support traditional shamanic practices and in the specialized approach to shamanism. When one attempts an eclectic approach (does it all), one does not provide the "best" treatment and is unable to excel in the treatment they are best suited to. That is why a "community of shamans" can provide the best treatment for the needs of the client.
For shamanic practitioners who do not have a traditional apprenticed background yet feel an attraction to join us, we invite you to contact us for an evaluation to see if you do have the gift of such a sacred calling. Consulting with a shaman on this matter will at least let you know if you indeed have the calling, and if you do or do not, suggestions on what direction to take to find your path in life. We do not offer teaching to just anyone, but we will know our students when they appear.
For spirit warriors, we seek those with a traditional training also and an understanding of the roles of shamans and warriors who work together as a team to accomplish such tasks as exorcisms, spirit battles, disease removal, etc. We also invite those who do not have such training yet feel such a calling, as well.
*Note: "traditional apprenticeship" is defined as "one who works under the guidance of a shaman to develop their abilities through study and assistance during the course of the shaman's practice until one has mastered their abilities".
-
The info that Epiphany has found is very helpful in getting a better picture of what Swadwa's practice is about. Based on those quotations from the SASWS, I think it would be safe to say that what is written seems fairly sincere and professional. Because of his opposition to spiritual tourism, and also because of his requirements for the shamans who work in the organization, it appears he is also fairly opposed to exploitation, which is a good sign.
The parts I still wonder about, are Swadwa's pandering to white new agers, especially with stereotypical things such as 'power animal introduction', and most of all, claiming that "Chakra Healing" is a Native traditional practice. Also, he also should really explain where his own apprenticeship lies, rather than misleading people to think he was apprenticed as and by a Chinook tahmanaawos man. However, cultural misrepresentation is certainly a much lesser problem than exploitation, which at least can be ruled out at this point. Alot of tribes out here in the Pacific Northwest do in fact use the term "Shaman", which is different from other types of medicine people but Shamanism has NOTHING to do with Chakra sciences.
I am tired of seeing westerners misrepresent eastern sciences such as Chakra-based paths and Qi-based paths. We have enough problem with white new agers trying to appropriate and misrepresent our terminology based on a superficial understanding of eastern sciences, we do not need Native shamans doing the same. If "chakra" healing is in any way Native, one needs to prove it by listing the word for "chakra" in a Native language. No such term exists in Native America, because it comes from the Aryo-Dravidian Hindu-Buddhist teachings, East Indians. People seem to get their Indians mixed up, lol.
I have met a couple of multi-cultural healers, who are bonafide representatives of their traditions, yet incorporate treatments from different cultural traditions or modalities. But multiculturalism is different from misrepresentation. Misrepresentation indicates one of the two: 1. a lack of honesty, or 2. not being educated (ie. being clueless) about what one is talking about.
-
Swadwa says:
November 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm
It really surprises me to see all these people reading a few questionable books on shamanism and then running to South and Central America to see traditional shamans when we have so many traditional Native American shamans here in the United States and Canada, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. I am an Etaminua, a traditionally apprenticed Tsinuk Indian shaman, and I often wonder why these South American ???traditional shamans??? make such dubious deals with these ???shamanic vacation tour guides???. I guess the first thing we teach aboriginals is capitalism.
He brought up a great point here. New agers prefer to travel south for spiritual tourism for a number of reasons. The most obvious are:
1. It seems more 'exotic' to travel to Latin America for "shamanic" experiences or ceremonies (ie. it makes a more 'exotic' story to tell their new age friends, regardless of whether the actual ceremonies were authentic or not). Remember that ethnic cultural experiences are like a drug to consumerist white people, so the more exotic, the more rare, the higher grade/potency the "drug".
2. New agers and hippy white people are obsessed with psychadelic entheogens, and the more 'exotic' the better as they see it. For example, they would rather travel to Latin America in hopes of trying ayahuasca, etc. Most new agers fail to realize that such entheogens exist in only a minority of traditions compared to the great diversity of tribes who do not incoporate such things. They may also be ignorant that similar substances exist right here in the Pacific Northwest also, and were known early on by local tribespeople, though they are not an important part of medicine ways, likely for good reason.
So that is the answer: drugs. The drug of cultural appropriation and the drugs of psychadelic entheogens. These are important addictions to newagers.
His web site was http://sasws.net , some of it can still be seen in archives http://web.archive.org/web/20090312012125/http://www.sasws.net/ (http://web.archive.org/web/20090312012125/http://www.sasws.net/)
The website I had seen, but has also since been deleted was swadwa.weebly.com
-
On the Rachel Hayward as apprentice of Swadwa front, worth noting that her LinkedIn bio also has this
New West Seminary
Masters, Divinity 2001 – 2004
Classes in counseling, leadership, human dynamics, rites of passage, speaking, ceremony creation, Toastmasters. Also became an initiated sound shaman in the Hungarian Basci tradition.
(my bolding)
New West Seminary doesn't seem to exist anymore.
Swadwa on Meetup http://www.meetup.com/members/39019542/ joined February 19, 2012, is this the most recent current public web presence he has?
Haven't been able to find any archives of his past Weebly blog, would like to read this essay he had up in the past:
The Time of the Cleansing By Etaminúa Swadwa We are in what is called “The Time of the Cleansing”, or as the Sioux call it, “The Great Purification”.
In the past he's been active on unexplained-mysteries.com forums
catbus thank you for posting about this region, I'm learning a lot. I live in western Washington, Grays Harbor county. If Swadwa plays his cards right he unfortunately could be quite a hit amongst new age white folks in WA and OR.
-
Tried his email swadwa@hush.com but my msg bounced right back, looks like that email account is no more.
-
post deleted
-
Tried to contact him through Meetup but his account won't allow contact.
He had something called The Omega Paranormal Eliminations Team (OPET) http://web.archive.org/web/20090529083308/http://www.sasws.net/pages/opet/opet_home.html (http://web.archive.org/web/20090529083308/http://www.sasws.net/pages/opet/opet_home.html)
OPET was created to assist victims of hostile hauntings by eliminating these dangerous entities from their homes. They also work alongside paranomal investigation groups whose clients request such services.
http://www.paranormalnews.com/article.aspx?id=1370 (http://www.paranormalnews.com/article.aspx?id=1370)
That Paranormal News site is run by Jeff Behnke from Sydney, not our guy.
In their forums the two posts on OPET & SASWS Paranormal were authored by "Shadow of Man".
Some forum posting from Shadow of Man:
New Age shamanism (Core) and traditional shamanism are two different things. Culture, location and instructional technique have everything to do with the “practice” of shamanism. Historically most “white shamans” have come from Russia. In Europe, where druidism was practiced, there may have been shamans, but there is no historical evidence to that.Traditionally, shamans were apprenticed in a lengthy, arduous process that took years to accomplish. Today, many “shamans” of the New Age either pay for an internet course or read a book and “presto” they are a shaman. Their form of study is a generic, eclectic, “watered down” version of a traditional apprenticeship, without the self-sacrifice and “true” connection to spirit. Culture and location have a lot to do with how the shaman performs their tasks and what tools they may utilize, as well as, what spirits he/she may work with.Some cultural styles are similar. For example, the native Pacific Northwest tribal shamans are similar in their practice to Siberian shamans. These similarities of course have to do with location and the exchanges of cultural contact.As far as your question of prophecies about white shamans, I’m sure there are in Russia, but I do not know their mythology, so I couldn’t give you any specifics
Sending a spirit into the light is not the right way to send of a spirit. It is an ancient trap. The following is from my tribal mythology, which I for one believe…Tah-xwuy or spirit transition is the rite with which a shaman assists the spirit of s deceased person to find their way to the Nxsaqs or the Ghost Road (literally Good Road) which takes us to Temath – the land of our ancestors and avoid the Ncsaqs or Trail of the Lost (literally Bad Road) which spirits of the dead will wander for eternity. Both paths look similar to each other and are lined with distractions such as fields of wildlife and edible plants, light and dark paths that lead away from it and into regions that trap the soul, and occasional spirits (non people) that travel them. The Organized Religion view of a tunnel of light may be one of these light paths that lead to an undesirable place if someone who guides a departed soul leads it into the wrong place, this person receives a mesachie kah’tah or a bad karmic debt that will be attached to that person forever.Again, this is just one point of view, and I am sure a lot of people out there will retort about the fictitious “Light from Heaven”.(Note: I have taken out punctuation and symbols from the words of the traditional language and replaced with letters that this site will show, so the words are not technically correct.)
http://www.shamans-and-spirit-healers-network.spruz.com/ (http://www.shamans-and-spirit-healers-network.spruz.com/) just goes to a log in page, I joined spruz.com to see what is behind the scenes, there isn't anything there now.
catbus, is it possible that he got a lot of his info from anthropological & historical books?
-
Shadow of Man identified as from Washington state when he joined http://2012forum.com/forum/ (http://2012forum.com/forum/)in 2008
His response to someone asking for more direct info:
Please understand, Terry, that this is not about enticing people towards investigating the society nor is this cheap bait to recruit support. I have taken particular measure so it is difficult to contact me directly in the past; circles of assumed names and temporary email accounts.
But there is enticement there. It is deliberate. What I am saying, in so many words and complex meanderings, is that there is a truth in motion. An undercurrent to what society is familiar with. It is there, it is functioning, and it is potentially dangerous. We are equally at risk, should I begin speaking the particulars and should you begin learning them. Such is the unseen light, such is the unspoken lore.
And the message is this. I could tell you. But it is much more important that you find out for yourself. And that, you can find out for yourself.
I dangle the carrot, not so that you might bite at my hand... but that you might be motivated to find the garden yourself.
He has written a lot of other stuff:
http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5712 (http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5712)
http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5713 (http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5713)
http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5714 (http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5714)
http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5715 (http://www.2012forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5715)
Society of Unseen Light http://societyofunseenlight.blogspot.com/ (http://societyofunseenlight.blogspot.com/)
-
catbus, is it possible that he got a lot of his info from anthropological & historical books?
Epiphany: Most certainly. I get the impression what he has done is conduct alot of research, mixed in his own understanding of what he has found with whatever tradition he was apprenticed in, and claiming he is the real deal, the traditional "etaminua" when his story is a bit more complex than that. He admitted to me through email that the Chinook tahmanaawos lineage of traditions is broken, that such tahmanaawos traditions were not passed down. So essentially he is attempting to reconstruct his idea of an etaminua.
I am not the "spiritual police", so I am not going to be so arrogant to claim that a Chinook descendant has no right in attempting to reconstruct their traditions in this way, as they were lost from their culture. But he seriously needs to be upfront about it. He is his own reconstructed idea of an etaminua, not an authentic "traditionally-apprenticed etaminua (Chinook/Tsinuk Shaman)" as he titles himself.
Sometimes cultural traditions get lost, so the descendants try to reconstruct them. This has also happened with some of the Asian lineages of spiritual study I have learned from. However, one must always be honest and upfront about the fact that such traditions were reconstructed. Because chances are, 9 times out of 10, that if you could travel back in time and compare the reconstructed tradition with the historic ancestral one: the people of old would have a lot of teachings, insights, and subtleties in practice and philosophy that were never written down or passed on. Every traditional apprenticeship that maintains a profound level practice, contains a certain degree of non-conceptual wisdom as well, that must be learned through experience and could never be written down. What I am getting at here, is that a reconstructed tradition will never be the same as the historic one, so one must not portray it as such.
-
[Shadow of Man's] response to someone asking for more direct info:
Please understand, Terry, that this is not about enticing people towards investigating the society nor is this cheap bait to recruit support. I have taken particular measure so it is difficult to contact me directly in the past; circles of assumed names and temporary email accounts.
But there is enticement there. It is deliberate. What I am saying, in so many words and complex meanderings, is that there is a truth in motion. An undercurrent to what society is familiar with. It is there, it is functioning, and it is potentially dangerous. We are equally at risk, should I begin speaking the particulars and should you begin learning them. Such is the unseen light, such is the unspoken lore.
And the message is this. I could tell you. But it is much more important that you find out for yourself. And that, you can find out for yourself.
I dangle the carrot, not so that you might bite at my hand... but that you might be motivated to find the garden yourself.
Lol, that entire quote has "ESOTERIC" stamped all over it. If I didn't know better I would have assumed such a quote was from some newage guru playing the stereotypical and condescending "enlightened/ascended master" act...
-
Here is photo of Rachel Hayward http://www.beyondword.com/about/people (http://www.beyondword.com/about/people) - in this bio she doesn't mention Swadwa as she does here http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rachel-hayward/3b/648/5a2 (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rachel-hayward/3b/648/5a2) (She lists The Education of Little Tree as a favorite book.)
She also founded a shamanic sound healing troupe named Shemaya.
Another member of that group: http://www.healingmusic.org/ShamaStrong/index.asp#musician (http://www.healingmusic.org/ShamaStrong/index.asp#musician)
Swadwa sounds like someone to stay clear of. Wonder where he'll emerge next, I'll help keep an eye out.
Personally, I think his "I dangle the carrot, not so that you might bite at my hand... " etc. is a lot of b.s. :)
-
She lists The Education of Little Tree as a favorite book.
Listing that book as a favorite is an immediate 'clueless new ager' red flag. A book written by a liar, a fake-indian who wrote about his fictional childhood and his fictional cherokee grandmother, based on romanticized stereotypes.
Swadwa sounds like someone to stay clear of. Wonder where he'll emerge next, I'll help keep an eye out.
Personally, I think his "I dangle the carrot, not so that you might bite at my hand... " etc. is a lot of b.s. :)
After that quote, I tend to agree. The whole paragraph is quite a condescending, ego-driven, and arrogantly 'esoteric' response to someone's inquiry about his organization. I kinda get the impression this figure doesn't want to be contacted or to give direct information because he will have to be more upfront about what he is about, and consequently, would make him and his practice less 'mysterious'...
-
I found a video that he made. It is called Etaminua...
http://video.zita.be/video-galerij/wasted/etaminua.aspx
-
Swadwa says:
November 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm
[...] I am an Etaminua, a traditionally apprenticed Tsinuk Indian shaman, and I often wonder why these South American ???traditional shamans??? make such dubious deals with these ???shamanic vacation tour guides???. I guess the first thing we teach aboriginals is capitalism.
http://dreamstudies.org/2008/03/31/the-dark-side-of-shamanic-tourism/ (http://dreamstudies.org/2008/03/31/the-dark-side-of-shamanic-tourism/)
Emphasis added by me
That last phrase suggests very strongly that he is white.
-
Relationship Status:
Single
I Think This Will Happen in 2012...
The Veil Will Fall
Age:
26-30
Location:
Between Planes
http://www.2012connect.com/profile/ShadowOfMan (http://www.2012connect.com/profile/ShadowOfMan)
:) I'll dig around more in the Shadow of Man 2012 forum postings later today, he does strike an arrogant, condescending, "I know something you don't" tone in most of it.
Is there a way to grab a copy of that video? Since he seems to disappear web stuff often. Ingeborg your catch on "I guess the first thing we teach aboriginals is capitalism." is brilliant!
-
Swadwa says:
November 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm
[...] I am an Etaminua, a traditionally apprenticed Tsinuk Indian shaman, and I often wonder why these South American ???traditional shamans??? make such dubious deals with these ???shamanic vacation tour guides???. I guess the first thing we teach aboriginals is capitalism.
http://dreamstudies.org/2008/03/31/the-dark-side-of-shamanic-tourism/ (http://dreamstudies.org/2008/03/31/the-dark-side-of-shamanic-tourism/)
Emphasis added by me
That last phrase suggests very strongly that he is white.
Yes, I think he is basically white. The fact that at one point he was involved in Chinook Nation tells me he probably does have some Chinook ancestry; Chinook Nation has no 'blood quantum', they simply require that you prove you have a Chinook ancestor from one of the census. As I explained, the tribal nations out here were hit by the small pox plague harder than anywhere else; and fullbloods are kind of rare in this region.
'Blood quantum' is an aspect of cultural politics I prefer to not to argue about. It gets controversial and distracting sometimes.
However, it does seem quite problematic that 'Swadwa' is posing as some ultra-traditionalist and even calls himself an "Elder", despite the fact that he has parted with the tribe and only represents a reconstructed idea of an etaminua. I believe one should be raised in the culture and designated an elder and spokesperson by their own tribe, if they are claiming to be a traditional Elder, spokesperson of that culture, etc, etc. Otherwise it is really just disrespectful, arrogant, and misrepresentation. So he is chief/elder of his 'clan', but has severed connection to his tribe, but the average person is just going to think he is a Chinook elder when he states he is "traditionally-apprenticed Chinook Shaman, elder/chief of the canoe clan". Some of his posts only say "Elder" and even leave the canoe clan part out. These are misleading claims, all made in attempt to give him 'credibility' and draw him clients, patients, students, etc.
-
Haven't been able to find any archives of his past Weebly blog, would like to read this essay he had up in the past:
The Time of the Cleansing By Etaminúa Swadwa We are in what is called “The Time of the Cleansing”, or as the Sioux call it, “The Great Purification”.
I found it and will post it below. It appears he is really trying to establish himself or views himself as an elitist visionary, one of the great shamans who will supposedly be able to save the world, and also a prophet who sees the future. This guy seems very delusional to say the least...
Swadwa wrote:
We are in what is called “The Time of the Cleansing”, or as the Sioux call it, “The Great Purification”. The earth exists in cycles. At the end of each cycle is a period of cleansing, re-alignment or balance, not only for the planet, but for all life upon it as well. Each cleansing is a lengthy period of earth changes. Historically, we are aware of a number of periods of significant earth changes filled with great disasters. We will see a great deal more of these “earth changes” as the current cleansing continues, including but not limited to weather and weather-related disasters such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and unusual weather, and also disasters such as earthquakes, tidal waves, plagues, and droughts. These things will happen not only in areas where you would expect them to occur, but also in unexpected areas.
The earth changes prophesied in the current cleansing are a series of earthquakes, floods, and great storms - many disastrous events. Along with the Earth Mother's changes, all that lives upon the earth will also experience changes, including man. There will be disease and mutations, many of which will be caused by man's own tampering. We will also see increased acts of terrorism and armed conflicts throughout the world - as the saying goes: we are all connected. Much of this has been predicted from many sources for many years – paranormal as well as scientific.
These events will not happen all at once, in one disastrous day of destruction. It will happen over the course of years. It has already begun and will continue until between 2012 and 2027. The length and severity will depend upon us – how we react and respond to these events. The one thing that must be realized here is that the Earth has energy and intelligence. She is our Earth Mother. Mankind has done a great deal of damage to her, and we need to make amends for this as well.
The physical plane is not the only realm to be affected – the “thin veil”, as it is commonly known, between the physical world and the spiritual world will tear wide open, and there will be more spiritual activity during the remainder of the cleansing than there has been in the last few hundred years or so. This activity will not only cause hauntings to become more numerous and hostile, but there will be far more cases of bonafide possessions and demonic activity.
This is a time when shamans, spirit warriors, and other people who are knowledgeable in handling spirit will be of utmost importance. Be wary of psychics who can see spirit but do not have the knowledge or training on handling spirit, as often their attempts to perform exorcisms have little or no effect – or worse, have the opposite effect by actually strengthening the invading entity’s connection.
The Lxuiná? of Chinook Indian mythology are a supernatural race from the shadowlands. They are known by many Pacific Northwest tribes to torment mortals from time to time by using their supernatural prowess. They most often arrive in the world of man by way of a fog that moves in from over the water. However, my Chinook ancestors are the only ones I know of who took the battle to them by way of a Chinook war party entering the shadowlands to rescue the abducted sister of a young Chinook chief. This was when my Chinook ancestors discovered that the Lxuiná? are deceitful and will cheat and lie to gain what it is they desire.
In a vision, I have seen these shadowlanders coming during this cleansing, creating a great deal of havoc and bringing chaos. Defeating them will take skilled shamans and spirit warriors, which there are very few of. The battles with them will be sporadic, depending on their limitations of when and where they can appear.
According to the legends, these beings have many supernatural powers including controlling the environment, mental and spiritual influence, and even inhabiting the bodies of the dead. They will be here to bring chaos, and the greater the number that arrive, the greater the chaos that will result. However, their power is limited to the darkness of night, for they lose all their strength with the arrival of Grandfather Sun.
My experience with them has taught me that anything is possible where they are concerned, as with many demonic forces, and that shamanic and spiritual warfare will be the best defense against them. And, from what I have learned, they may be the same race as the Fomorians of Celtic Mythology.
Being an Etaminua (Chinook Shaman) I have foreseen that entire process of the cleansing, including that the severity and length will depend on how soon and how well we respond and make all the right changes that will help us prevent some of the hazards, for this, as with any cleansing, can be the end as we know it. All life living here is depending on what we do to minimize the events. With this information you can see how shamans and spirit warriors will be of significant value in the upcoming years.
-
Considering the nature of his writings quoted in this thread, and also his work in forming various organizations, I wouldn't be surprised if we will be hearing more about mr. 'Swadwa', his apprentices, and/or his white following, in the near future here in the Pacific Northwest...
-
http://www.facebook.com/public/Robert-LuMaye (http://www.facebook.com/public/Robert-LuMaye) (I was not signed into Facebook when I found the following)
Activities and Interests
Native American, Chinook Indian Nation, Native American Times, Shamanism, Yes I am Native American and no I don't live in a teepee, Big Mountain Coffee House Roastery, The Oregon Paranormal Society, Hauntings / Haunted Places, Most Haunted Live, R.J.'s Worlds
Photo here is like the other one we've seen, highly altered.
How did I find him? Found this:
Robert LuMaye
Watching another one of these damn paranormal television shows and the people experiencing the haunting, contact a paranormal investigation group and again end up with trying to live with the haunting activity. Its time that these people contact those who can actually resolve the haunting like Shaman Swadwa – someone with over twenty years experience in resolving such things - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shaman-Swadwa/247351361983049
Oct 20, 2011
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10150193959446009&id=200374101008&_ft_=fbid.10150193959446009
Pen names R.J. LuMaye and M. Robert LuMaye
Shaman of the Northlands
A brand new series of shaman stories involving a Scandinavian shaman named Bjorn
http://rjsworlds.weebly.com/announcements.html (http://rjsworlds.weebly.com/announcements.html)
The Shaman Adventures is by far my favorite stories, for they are based on the myth stories of my Native American ancestry. With this in mind, I hope you, the reader, can see the passion I feel for these stories, as I believe in our mythology. – R.J. LuMaye
http://rjsworlds.weebly.com/intro-to-the-series.html (http://rjsworlds.weebly.com/intro-to-the-series.html)
-
In 2000 in Pacific County, WA Mark Robert Lumaye changed his name legally to Spirit Cougar http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/9284B64C8A8359424F6D975F3BAC8566 (http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/9284B64C8A8359424F6D975F3BAC8566)
-
In 2000 in Pacific County, WA Mark Robert Lumaye changed his name legally to Spirit Cougar http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/9284B64C8A8359424F6D975F3BAC8566 (http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/9284B64C8A8359424F6D975F3BAC8566)
Yep, Robert Lumaye is (or was?) 'Swadwa'.
So much for staying so 'mysterious'.
Also, he probably heavily alters his photos like that to maintain a sense of 'mystery', plus swirly colors and whatnot perhaps go well with the whole pseudo-mystic new age hippy vibe. The last chapter of 'The Shaman Adventures' is 'Lady Mystic', with a very scantily-clad lady on the cover. I wonder if 'Lady Mystic' is loosely based on fantasies of his apprentice, lol...
-
http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=944755&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE (http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=944755&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE)
A now inactive company out of Lincoln City, Oregon called Two Shamans, with Spirit Cougar and Silver Fox
-
http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=944755&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE (http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.show_detl?p_be_rsn=944755&p_srce=BR_INQ&p_print=FALSE)
A now inactive company out of Lincoln City, Oregon called Two Shamans, with Spirit Cougar and Silver Fox
Lol, 'Cougars' and 'Silver Foxes'. The saying is that Cougars are older women who target younger men, and Silver foxes are the older men who target younger women.
Look out single young people! Two Shamans are on the prowl! lol...
-
Very well done, Epiphany - congrats!
Could this be our tom-cat on the prowl, too?
http://www.mylife.com/c-1504746564
Mark R Lumaye was born in 1964. Mark currently lives in Creswell, Oregon. Before that, Mark lived in Long Beach, WA from 1999 to 2003. Before that, Mark lived in Long Beach, WA from 1998 to 1998.
-
Very well done, Epiphany - congrats!
Could this be our tom-cat on the prowl, too?
http://www.mylife.com/c-1504746564
Mark R Lumaye was born in 1964. Mark currently lives in Creswell, Oregon. Before that, Mark lived in Long Beach, WA from 1999 to 2003. Before that, Mark lived in Long Beach, WA from 1998 to 1998.
http://www.godessgalactica.com/earthguest_cougar.html (http://www.godessgalactica.com/earthguest_cougar.html) I think this might be our guy, the video is brief audio of his description of healing a woman.
The My Life info matches what I've come up with elsewhere - born 1964, lived in coastal communities Washington state USA. On Facebook he says he is now in Wisconsin (Updated - actually his hometown is in WI, not where he lives now). Looks like that is where he was originally from.
Maybe he will decide to focus on his fiction writing only, that would be a great resolution.
:) Since this involves some of my own regional home turf (I'm not NDN, I'm white, but I live in western Washington and know how popular pseudo-shaman stuff is out here) , I'm especially motivated.
-
http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3822.msg32030#msg32030 (http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3822.msg32030#msg32030)
I want to bookmark this part of Swadwa's writings that catbus found and posted:
My experience with them has taught me that anything is possible where they are concerned, as with many demonic forces, and that shamanic and spiritual warfare will be the best defense against them. And, from what I have learned, they may be the same race as the Fomorians of Celtic Mythology.
(my bolding)
There are lots of problems with what Swadwa preaches, this is just one such problem but I want to make sure it is highlighted. Many newagers believe that everything has a universal meaning, that everything can be reduced down to a few common themes. As if we are all alike, everything is ultimately the same, and who we are and where we come from doesn't much mean anything.
So he is claiming here that he has discovered a Great Universality. Plus he can ride The Celtic Mystic Train too.
-
post deleted
-
post deleted
-
http://www.godessgalactica.com/earthguest_cougar.html (http://www.godessgalactica.com/earthguest_cougar.html) I think this might be our guy, the video is brief audio of his description of healing a woman.
Indeed, and that link also provides an unaltered photo of him, as well as a video of him. He is sitting there talking about how he sees 'auras'.
:) Since this involves some of my own regional home turf (I'm not NDN, I'm white, but I live in western Washington and know how popular pseudo-shaman stuff is out here) , I'm especially motivated.
Whatever the race, the truth is the truth. If a questionable figure is misrepresenting Native traditions, that is a colonialistic force which should be investigated and opposed. So your assistance in finding such information is helpful, it doesn't matter what the race is. And yes, this region is a new age playground it seems, shamanic BS is really growing in popularity. *sigh*
-
http://www.youtube.com/user/Robertetter70/videos?view=1 (http://www.youtube.com/user/Robertetter70/videos?view=1) This looks to be him too. He's removed all the "Spirit Cougar" labeled playlist videos.
I read his The Shaman Adventures last night. His main char is Shadow Panther “I am a part blood Tsinúk Indian. Some call us Chinook.” - out to save the world from “The L’xuina’?.” They are what my tribe’s ancestors called the Shadow Land People. They are known by many names by many native peoples. They are a supernatural race who tormented many Indian tribes, but my ancestors are the only ones I know of who journeyed to their realm and took the fight to them on their ground.”
(Some amusing side notes: men in Shadow Panther's team wear black tshirts, women wear black halter tops, and Lady Mystic in the final story is really named Lilith).
Sometimes the enemies are represented as zombies. These stories are worth reading to get a sense of the author. I wonder if he is using them only as his fictional creative expression or if he uses them as teaching stories too. One of the details of an item used by the enemy caught my attention, hope it isn't authentic traditional knowledge being publicized this way.
-
http://www.youtube.com/user/Robertetter70/videos?view=1 (http://www.youtube.com/user/Robertetter70/videos?view=1) This looks to be him too. He's removed all the "Spirit Cougar" labeled playlist videos.
I read his The Shaman Adventures last night. His main char is Shadow Panther “I am a part blood Tsinúk Indian. Some call us Chinook.” - out to save the world from “The L’xuina’?.” They are what my tribe’s ancestors called the Shadow Land People. They are known by many names by many native peoples. They are a supernatural race who tormented many Indian tribes, but my ancestors are the only ones I know of who journeyed to their realm and took the fight to them on their ground.”
(Some amusing side notes: men in Shadow Panther's team wear black tshirts, women wear black halter tops, and Lady Mystic in the final story is really named Lilith).
Sometimes the enemies are represented as zombies. These stories are worth reading to get a sense of the author. I wonder if he is using them only as his fictional creative expression or if he uses them as teaching stories too. One of the details of an item used by the enemy caught my attention, hope it isn't authentic traditional knowledge being publicized this way.
Epiphany- Indeed it sounds like he is mixing his real-life fantasies with his fantasy writing. Recall that his writing on the "the great cleansing" talked about the same Lxuina shadow people and how they have the potential to destroy the world, and how the time is coming when the best shamans or 'spirit warriors' are the ones who are able to combat them. This guy is delusional, the only cleansing this world needs in this time is to get rid of all the human forces who persistently colonize peoples, cultures, and the Earth. 'Shadow People' are the least of the worries at this state of humanity. Personally, after all that we have found here in this thread, I tend to get annoyed reading about his delusions, so I just don't have the patience to read his fantasy stories. I hope people catch on to him sooner or later, because this guy is just another ego-case with grandiose delusions about himself and his spiritual practice. A true spiritual teacher, guide, healer, medicine person, shaman, whatever, must be humble and from the heart; this guy is just a typical arrogant amerikkkan playing on stereotypes and fantasies. He is not a traditional etaminua, nor is he a Chinook Elder, he's just catering to new age fantasies.
-
I have a friend who is enrolled Siletz (who is also Chinook/Tsinuk on the other side of his family), and I will show him this information, in hopes that he will pass it on to some other members. There's no guarantee the message will reach whichever Siletz folks are Swadwa's clients, but at least it will get the word out more down there in Siletz country where he's at. I get the sense Swadwa's ego could be rather dangerous if people get too involved with him and his teachings/services. Not to mention, the more students or apprentices he teaches, the more his bogus act will spread.
-
Maybe he will decide to focus on his fiction writing only, that would be a great resolution.
I have a feeling that is not going to happen, but I agree that it would certainly be a great resolution.
-
catbus if you want, I think you can go back and edit your first post to add in Swadwa's other names to the title: Mark Robert Lumaye, Shadow of Man, R.J Lumaye, Spirit Cougar. Maybe at least add Robert Lumaye, this will help other folks out a lot who might be researching him.
(my bolding in this post)
http://ministers.themonastery.org/profile/Swadwa (http://ministers.themonastery.org/profile/Swadwa)
He is also an ordained minister and certified spiritual healer through The International Assembly of Spiritual Healers and Earth Stewards. This congregation is dedicated to preserving and protecting the traditional totemism beliefs of its members. Totemism is a system of belief in which humans have a connection or a kinship with a spirit being such as an animal or plant. The totem interacts with a given group or an individual and serves as their emblem or symbol. This congregation's membership consists of people from multiple traditional cultures and tribes.
International Assembly of Spiritual Healers & Earth Stewards Seattle WA http://www.shes.org/ (http://www.shes.org/) - research on other people here led us back to this group too, for instance http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=836.msg4387#msg4387 (http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=836.msg4387#msg4387) (Lumaye uses "totem" themes in his fiction a lot.)
International Assembly of Spiritual Healers & Earth Stewards last updated their current affairs page in 1999. Lumaye is using the same terms as they do:
SHES provides a system whereby persons nominated by a member congregation can be ordained as ministers and/or appointed as Certified Spiritual Healers ...
So Lumaye says he is trained and certified by this SHES group. Looks like there are many ways to be "certified" by this group, including through Lynn Andrews herself:
The Lynn Andrews Center for Sacred Arts and Training:
This Certificate of Completion entitles you to be ordained by The Rev. Lynn Andrews and eligible to become a minister of sacred healing arts through an affiliation with the International Assembly of Sacred Healers and Earth Stewards subject to the regulations of your state or country of residence.
http://lynnandrews.com/lacsat/program-and-tuition/ (http://lynnandrews.com/lacsat/program-and-tuition/)
She tweaked the words a bit, but about 30 of her people (and herself) are on the SHES page http://www.shes.org/main/usefulinks.htm (http://www.shes.org/main/usefulinks.htm) as members.
-
This explains what he meant when he referred to himself as 'Certified Spiritual Healer', which I was curious about. Though I still don't see what the point of such certification is, or why any supposed traditional would feel a need to be 'certified' by such an organization.
-
Coming Soon
Shaman of the Northlands
A brand new series of shaman stories involving a Scandinavian shaman named Bjorn.
http://rjsworlds.weebly.com/announcements.html (http://rjsworlds.weebly.com/announcements.html)
That is his new creative writing project above. Following leads from his Facebook found his new site:
Gothi Thorbjorn is a traditionally apprenticed shaman. For over two and a half decades Thorbjorn has been providing spiritual guidance and healing. He has amassed a great deal of knowledge and experience in spiritual matters. He has taught several students over that time frame, and has worked with shaman and medicine people from several native cultures. As a gothi he is available for spiritual counseling, spiritual exams, spirit animal introductions, spirit healing, soul retrievals, spirit transitions, spirit communication, spirit protection, and spirit removals.
http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/about.html (http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/about.html)
A NORSE SPIRITUAL LEADER
http://www.facebook.com/NoaidiThorbjorn (http://www.facebook.com/NoaidiThorbjorn)
https://twitter.com/GothiThorbjorn (https://twitter.com/GothiThorbjorn)
Njordhof (Temple of the God Njord) is Thorbjorn's temple. Njord is the Norse god of the sea, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth and crop fertility. These are all major elements in the lives of the local people where Thorbjorn lives (on the Oregon Coast), and therefore, the most influential god upon their lives.
http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/njordhof.html (http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/njordhof.html)
-
Today gothi’s assistants not only provide such traditional services as listed above, but also provide more modern services, such as clerical duties like, maintaining client documentation, client contact, supplies maintenance and ordering, as well as assisting the gothi in client healing rites and life passage rites and ceremonies.
Training is provided with the requirements of being available when needed, and a genuine willingness to help. If you would like to assist Gothi Thorbjorn, and as such participate in healings, ceremonies and gatherings, and live on the central Oregon coast or in the Willamette Valley, please contact him.
http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/njordhof.html (http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/njordhof.html)
A creative way to get his house cleaned for free.
-
Wow. Apparently he can't even figure out who he is, or what tradition or persona he wants to sell. Since when does a supposed (and likely dubious) apprenticeship in some Native tradition qualify one as a Norse spiritual leader? And since when does being a fake Chinook Shaman/Etaminua make one a 'traditional Norse spiritual leader'? He just seems to love to create personas based on traditional spiritual leader titles, misrepresenting traditions just to feed his ego and cater to white new age ignorance. If he actually for real, he wouldn't make up these names to play on white stereotypes and explanations. He is fixated on the persona, because he does not have the true foundation for a traditional spiritual leader: community.
Thorbjorn is a traditional Norse spiritual leader called a Gothi (pronounced goe-th-ee).
He has appropriated two false titles: Etaminua and Gothi. Because new age shamanism is all the same mishmash, he can offer the same bogus services under both shamanic personas:
Gothi Thorbjorn is a traditionally apprenticed shaman.
He has taught several students over that time frame, and has worked with shaman and medicine people from several native cultures. As a gothi he is available for spiritual counseling, spiritual exams, spirit animal introductions, spirit healing, soul retrievals, spirit transitions, spirit communication, spirit protection, and spirit removals.
[Bold added by author for emphasis]
Doesn't sound all that different from his advertisements for himself as a 'traditionally-apprenticed Etaminua', as he is just peddling the typical new age-isms (spirit animals, etc...). The 'spirit exams' sound particularly interesting ::) *barf*
Under his persona as 'Shaman Swadwa' he claimed his traditional apprenticeship is with a Native tribe, though that is certainly dubious also, because he never stated which tribe it was, and he admittted that the Chinook medicine lineages were lost. So anyways, I would be really interested to hear him state which tribe's traditions qualify one as both a Chinook Shaman and a Scandinavian one too. I will add Gothi Thorbjorn to his list of aliases in the first post, and I would also suggest that the Moderators add it into the title of this thread, as they have done with his name Mark Robert Lumaye.
A gothi (pronounced goe-th-ee) is a Norse spiritual leader. There is no singular description of a gothi's duties, for they often develop their own distinct practices based on the guidance received from the gods and spirits around them. They have been described by many sources as priest, spiritualist, shaman, etc., and have even held the duties of clan/village leader or chief, for the Norse traditionally looked to their spiritual leaders as their community leaders as well.
Here, he is setting himself up to claim himself as a Chief/Elder, the same way he has claimed to be a Chinook Elder/Chief.
Epiphany: All this shows you were certainly correct back when you first noticed 'shaman swadwa' was setting himself up to ride the 'celtic mystic train'. This figure is obviously a stereotypical new age colonialist, one who seems to be online everywhere trying to draw more clients and students to himself. People like this are dangerous, people who misrepresent traditions, posing as some kind of traditional leader and spokesperson of this or that culture. If they were honest spiritual healers, they wouldn't do such things, so usually when this sort of thing happens, they are doing it for personal reasons: usually selfish and desirous motivations such as ego gratification, financial exploitation, or sex. These people really have some nerve to do all this.
-
Njordhof (Temple of the God Njord) is Thorbjorn's temple. Njord is the Norse god of the sea, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth and crop fertility. These are all major elements in the lives of the local people where Thorbjorn lives (on the Oregon Coast), and therefore, the most influential god upon their lives.
This quote is funny: A supposed Chinook man, talking about the region of some of his ancestral Native relatives, stating that some Norse god is the "most influential god" to that area. This is new age logic: Chinook, Norse, it's all the same, right?
Lol...
-
Looking over his website further - he writes that he uses rattles, drums, talismans, and stones (including crystals). A lot of his stuff sounds like nuage core shamanism now with an overlay of Asatru. Although he has changed his persona - a lot of the language is the same, including the "paranormal services" he offers.
His illogical equation of:
Njord is the god of sea, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth, and crop fertility AND local people of the Oregon coast are concerned with sea, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth, and crop fertility SO they are obviously exactly the same AND therefore Njord is the most influential god up on the lives of the people of the Oregon coast
.......is really disturbing. Pure b.s.
Please feel free to comment and share (traditional) stuff here. Also feel free to ask me questions about what I do, about spiritual things, and those seeking help with spiritual matters.
Quote inviting comment is on his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NoaidiThorbjorn (https://www.facebook.com/NoaidiThorbjorn) (link now down)
But beware, he'd like to be your Leader:
The Gothi (Goði in the traditional Old Norse) is the spiritual leader of his people. Did you know that the old Norse looked to their spiritual leader for all their leadership?
New site: http://heathen.spruz.com/ (http://heathen.spruz.com/)
-
Name tally so far:
Shaman Swadwa (Etaminua)
Shadow of Man
Robert LuMaye
R.J. LuMaye
M. Robert LuMaye
Mark Robert Lumaye
Shaman_Cougar
Spirit Cougar
Gothi Thorbjorn
Noaidi Thorbjorn
Thorbjorn of Dane
-
Another name he used was Noaidi Thorbjorn. He had another weebly site under that name, and pretty much everything was cut and pasted from the shaman swadwa site, but instead it just said Noaidi rather than shaman swadwa.
Thorbjorn is a traditional Scandinavian shaman called a noaidi (pronounced noid-eh). The noaidi’s roots stem back to the original native inhabitants of Scandinavia (i.e.the Sámi peoples). These people’s shamanistic beliefs predated the Vikings. The Norse did not have shamans, but would often hire a noaidi to provide shamanic services for them; for their beliefs often overlapped as did their gods.
He sure makes a lot of claims about being traditional spiritual leader of this or that culture. These are lies though. Based on what facts have been gathered, he is neither a 'traditional Scandinavian shaman', nor is he a 'traditionally-apprenticed Chinook/Tsinuk shaman/etaminua/Chief/Elder', etc.
Thorbjorn is also a firm believer in traditional apprenticeships and does not believe in modern shamanic paid education or the practice of Core Shamanism and does not offer such educational training.
He opposes the non-traditionals, while claiming to be traditional. Yet he basically peddles the same thing that alot of the harneristic and fake-ndn pseudo-shamans peddle. He's advertising a bunch of services all over the web, offensively stereotypical and bogus services such as 'spirit animal introduction', etc... all of these factors are white new age fraud 'red flags'.
And why the need for different names and personas? Why not just be honest and upfront? If one supposedly hails representing a traditional culture, there should be no need to hide and make up personas, that person should be proud of who they are and not have a psychological need to advertise supposedly sacred services all over the web, attempting to draw in more students and clients. He does all of this because he is not actually a spiritual leader of any traditional community, he's simply doing the new-agey 'reconstructionist mystic' roleplaying. It is sad, and it is actually pretty similar to what many appropriationist and offensive (colonialistic) anthropologists have done.
What Lumaye fails to realize, just like the anthros also usually fail to realize, is that social context and community are very important parts of the sacred traditions of many traditional cultures. One does not just research a bunch of information, mix that with an apprenticeship in a dubious lineage, and then claim it is authentic and traditional. If one presents it as anything other than a reconstructionist roleplay divorced from cultural context, that is being outright dishonest and manipulative.
-
Catbus have you seen this yet?:
Chinook Indian Spirits
From: Cougar <cougar@twoshamans.com>
Date: 3/15/2002
The following is a list of many of the Chinook Spirits:
Talapas
Talapas is the Creator Spirit. He is also known as the "Converter of Skookums". He is the Great Spirit. Talapas appears in the form of an elder or a coyote.
Illahee
Illahee is the Earth Mother. She appears in the form of an elder or a great sea turtle.
Otelagh
Otelagh is Grandfather Sun. He appears in the form of an elder.
Illchee
Illchee is Grandmother Moon. She appears in the form of an elder.
T'soona
T'soona is the "Spirit Bird of Fire and Lightning"; the Thunderbird.
Echanie
Echanie is the "Good Spirit of the Water". She is a benevolent spirit who "opened man's eyes" and "given motion to his hands and feet" because Talapas made man imperfect. She also taught man how to make canoes, paddles, nets, and all other tools to survive.
Madsu
Madsu is the Thunderer; a semi-supernatural being who is able to control the elements and has supernatural strength.
Tahmanawas
Tahmanawas is a totem spirit.
Blue Jay
Blue Jay is a semi-supernatural, shape-changing being who is a mischievous trickster spirit. Blue Jay most often appears in human form.
Tia
Tia is the Spirit of Death. When on is about to die, he is seen running through the village with his severed head in his hands and covered in blood.
Tsiatko
Tsiatko is a night roving demon.
Skookum
Skookum is a malevalent evil spirit.
Sasquatch
Sasquatch is a demon that is known to terrorize wandering travelers and small villages. He is proceeded by his horrid stench.
Shadowland People
A supernatural race from the shadowland where during the night time they come to life in human form, and during the day they rest as bones. They are known to torment mortals from time to time by using their supernatural prowess. They most often arrive in a heavy mist or fog.
Tlchachie
Tlchachie are the "spirits of the dead" or ghosts that roam the earth.
http://www.chinookindian.com/Talk/_disc1/00000058.htm (http://www.chinookindian.com/Talk/_disc1/00000058.htm)
Also this from 2009 Shaman_Cougar:
Speaking as a part-blood Chinook Indian, and as a traditionally apprenticed shaman, I have to say this about the subject…
1. I only agree with the argument against non-natives practicing Native American beliefs when the are claiming a particular tribes approach, such as some saying they are practicing Lakota or Salish when they are not affiliated or associated with that tribe. When someone claims in general that they are practicing Native American ways, they are not hurting anyone and they are giving strength to the numbers of those who are practicing such beliefs because as we all know, the dominate religions of the world, such as Christianity had learned one thing that the Native cultures didn’t – ORGANIZATION. The more numbers behind you the stronger the voice in this world. If shamanic believers would come together, perhaps some of our federally recognized holidays could be other than Christian.
2. A religion or spiritual belief system is an ideal not a race. Is their a race requirement to be a Christian, or a Catholic, or even a Buddhist? I feel that if one feels in their soul they are a Christian, or a Buddhist or a Native American, then they should have the freedom to practice that belief. After all, in Native American history many non-natives joined tribes and worked their way up to being, chiefs, shamans, and medicine people – and they were not even born members of that tribe.
In conclusion, if they are not stepping on anyone’s toes and claiming to be a practitioner of a particular tribe’s shamanism without being of that tribe then let them. They are not hurting anyone, and they are increasing the voice of shamanism in Western Society.
http://shamanportal.org/forum/shamanism-f1/shamanism-and-nafps-t183-15.html (my bolding)
"traditionally apprenticed shaman" is a good phrase to google on when researching him
-
A religion or spiritual belief system is an ideal not a race. Is their a race requirement to be a Christian, or a Catholic, or even a Buddhist? I feel that if one feels in their soul they are a Christian, or a Buddhist or a Native American, then they should have the freedom to practice that belief.
We are each free to express our views I guess, but what he preaches here is exactly what the new agers want to hear: that anyone should be able to 'practice Native American' if they 'feel Native American in their soul'. This type of teaching, is what colonialist- and consumerist- minded white people will use to justify the further exploitation, mockery and appropriation of Native traditions. More importantly, 'Native American' is not a religion. Christianity and Buddhism are both religions and they also have written scriptures, temples open to the public, and even both have long histories of sending missionaries out to get other people in other cultures to give up their indigenous beliefs and practices. Another crucial difference is that the concept of localized community is not an important element to the teachings of those religions, but in the sacred traditions of NDN cultures, it is very important (ie. social context is often the foundation for many ceremonies).
Yet another important difference is the fact that unlike religions, the traditions of Native cultures have rarely ever been seen as religious systems of thought that need to be imposed on others. In other words, evangelism is religious, but it is not Native. So considering all this, it is dangerous to declare that a non-NDN can 'practice Native American' anything unless they are a positive part of a Native community who is open to sharing their ways with them, and it is an authentic part of their life. Too many white people just start reading a bunch of bogus books or learning from fakes, holding bogus ceremonies, and before you know it, they are selling people workshops and offensive pseudo-'shaman' stuff.
Sure, in a better world in which there were decent people, it would be nice to be able to just say "yeah if someone wants to learn, let them learn. If white people want to go seek a vision in a humble way, who should stop them? That is between a person and the Spirits, no one else." In fact, there are a few authentic Elders who do share this kind of philosophy, and that is why I mention it. I respect it, but at least in this forum, I have to say that in this consumerist and ego-centric society, it isn't a realistic philosophy. White people will not just go humbly seek a vision, they will come back declaring that they have become a reincarnated cherokee medicine man or some kind of mayan mystic or something like that, and before you know it, they are misrepresenting some culture, and/or selling people workshops and offensive pseudo-'shaman' stuff.
After all, in Native American history many non-natives joined tribes and worked their way up to being, chiefs, shamans, and medicine people – and they were not even born members of that tribe.
This is true, and there is nothing wrong with that, but something that should seriously be emphasized is that these people became a part of those tribes by living with and being a part of the tribe. It was a matter of community, rather than just simply 'feeling it in their soul'. To be a part of any social community, there has to be at least some form of mutual understanding. I could see it very likely that newagers would encounter 'Swadwa's' teachings, and not really understand the difference. I'm also a little bit curious if he even really understands the difference.
-
There may need to be a separate thread on the apprentice. A new update on her page:
Thornbjorn the Dane
Traditional Path
2009 – 2013 (expected)
Apprenticeship with traditional Shaman in traditional Norse Gythja path. Specialty - earth medicines, shamanic healing, sound healing.
I am an enrolled member in the Tsinuk Native American tribe, and spent three years learning the traditional Medicine Woman path before embarking on the Norse spiritual path.
My intuition tells me, prepare to watch this clueless shameon perpetuate a heap of new age learned from 'swadwa'/'thorbjorn'/rj/whatever.
Epiphany: Another one for the name list: 'Thorbjorn of Dane'.
-
http://www.beyondword.com/about/people (http://www.beyondword.com/about/people) Photo of the apprentice Rachel Hayward with bio
LinkedIn page http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rachel-hayward/3b/648/5a2 (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rachel-hayward/3b/648/5a2)
Her transition from "traditional Medicine Woman path" to "Norse spiritual path" sounds like it is regarded as casually as taking off one coat and putting on another. I wonder if her mentor Lumaye made this shift himself from convenience, thinking he will attract less criticism if he goes pseudo - Norse.
So in August Hayword's LinkedIn bio was:
"Rachel Hayward's Education
Shaman Swadwa Medicine Woman, Traditional Path
2009 – 2013 (expected)
Apprenticeship with traditional Tsinuk (Chinook) Shaman in traditional Tsinuk Medicine Woman path. I am an enrolled member in the Tsinuk tribe, and look to bring back this sacred path."
now:
Rachel Hayward's Education
Thornbjorn the Dane
Traditional Path
2009 – 2013 (expected)
Apprenticeship with traditional Shaman in traditional Norse Gythja path. Specialty - earth medicines, shamanic healing, sound healing.
I am an enrolled member in the Tsinuk Native American tribe, and spent three years learning the traditional Medicine Woman path before embarking on the Norse spiritual path.
LuMaye's most recent announcement of upcoming fiction writing project:
Saga of a Gothi Björn
The adventures of Björn, a modern Norse priest called a gothi and his adventures battling with hvethrungr such as trolls, demons, and the like.
back in September it was:
Coming Soon
Shaman of the Northlands
A brand new series of shaman stories involving a Scandinavian shaman named Bjorn.
-
Epiphany: Exactly, taking off one coat, putting on another. If it is possible to cut and paste all the information in the above post, it may be good use that to start a new thread. We can put a link to this thread in there also. Because that will make it so people researching Hayward will hopefully find this info also.
-
Rachel Hayward thread http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3895.0 (http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3895.0)
-
Welllllll....lemme tell ya. I did biz with this phony for a time. What a JERK. He claims to have been apprenticed by WHOM? How many Chinook 'shamans' are there in Appleton, Wisconsin? He pushed me to volunteer with 'his' tribe, because he was FAR too busy to do so himself. I spent a lot of time with him PERSONALLY. So, I volunteered, and one day the chairman comes up to me to ask me how I know him, how well I know him, etc. Because he's blabbing to EVERYONE on the Long Beach Peninsula about how he is a Chinook Shaman! (I was not raised in my culture, so I didn't know better at the time, but now I know we don't have 'shamans'). He pulled his ego trip one too many times on me while sitting at the tribal office with his mom and his soon-to-be-wife whom he met on the internet (while chastising someone else for meeting mates online, mind you), trying to tell them how lost they were, etc. Well, finally, he got called to a council meeting. He showed up, red in the face, saw me sitting there with the elders, and broke into hives. We still laugh about it to this day. He was told that unless he could PROVE he was Chinook (which he could NOT, and he was claiming as much as 1/4th, while being a big, gooney, Baby Huey looking character), he was NOT to call himself a "Chinook Shaman". He went around telling everyone how backwards 'his' tribe was, etc. He finally left the area, and ended up in Portland, making the same claims. Well, Chief Snyder lived in Portland, and his family got word back to the tribe. He took off again. I thought he'd gone back to Appleton. His brother does a comic strip about a Viking called Icy Shorts. Had an awesome cat, though, called Komkomis.
-
My email to the tribe bounced back, so I'll either call them tomorrow (and a friend of mine is on the council), or I'll just drive right down there. It's ten miles away. (better than the 40 miles it was at the time Mark was living down there). Oh, and he told me he was trained by Oneidas. His mother is a very nice person, though. She's put up with a lot from him. Whomever put that pic up of him with the sun glasses and beard...yeah, that's him...much heavier. Oh, and he did time in the military, so he's a 'veteran'...Navy. Has some sort of damage to his legs from it. Can't heal himself, I guess. And his birthday is Feb. 29th, 1964...leap year baby. What more would you like to know?
-
Just spoke to the tribal chairman...he is going to look into this, and I'll leave a phone message with the office (no one is in, despite it being their business hours...but isn't today President's Day?--would explain why NO ONE is getting back to me, I guess...), and he says the name Rachel Hayward doesn't sound familiar to him, either.
-
Tsalagi43: thank you for stepping forth and sharing the information you have shared here. I truly hope that this white devil shaman-wannabe colonialist will be stopped, and people will quit buying into his obviously fabricated, new agey and bogus act.
Moderators: it seems that this thread and that of the apprentice, should be moved to the frauds section, as these figures are unquestionably frauds misrepresenting a tribal nation and culture, disrespectfully claiming medicine tradition and services they know nothing about, have no right to be claiming and advertising, etc.
Swadwa has changed his internet identity to that of the supposed gothi thorbjorn nordic mystic. But I wouldn't be surprised that if he meets people stupid enough to buy into that act, he will still play on the (I'm also a tsinuk shaman) act also. He does still have profiles on the 'shaman' websites, claiming to be a traditionally-apprenticed tsinuk 'shaman'.
With all the respect I have for local River tribes, I will say I hope that the word gets out more, because I have met too many, young and old, who don't know anything about their own ancestors or culture, and rather believe a bunch of stereotypical garbage that the enemy taught them to believe.
-
He's moved on from http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/njordhof.html (http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com/njordhof.html), the site though is archived here: http://web.archive.org/web/20130423084930/http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com (http://web.archive.org/web/20130423084930/http://gothithorbjorn.weebly.com)
I think this is where he is online now http://heathentemple.tumblr.com/ (http://heathentemple.tumblr.com/) https://www.facebook.com/Kaerhrafnr (https://www.facebook.com/Kaerhrafnr)
-
Oh, and his business started in downtown Long Beach, called "Cougar Tracks", with a 'totem' designed by some friend of his. He lived in the back room until his mom moved to the area, then he moved in with her (I used to stay there all the time). Then he moved the shop to a house north of downtown. I and a lot of other people did a LOT of work to help him open that place. He was taken in, himself, by a guy who claimed to be from Rosebud Rez. I looked into this guy's prison record and there is no mention of being Native, so the taker got taken, as well. I'm sure it was him, who broke into the shop and ONLY stole the most expensive items. Including 'his own' works. He sold CD's, jewelry, native items, herbs (provided by me), etc.
-
First of all I would like to say great work on what NAFPS does here! I am in full support of your efforts to protect Native American culture and religion. With that said, I would like to comment on a few things about this particular case.
First, I have done a pretty thorough search for this character and have not found anything conclusive online, which is not impossible for people to hide on the net, but if he is offering services, doesn’t that seem self-defeating? Hopefully with this individual changing beliefs (to Norse heathenism) perhaps he will drop the shaman ways. I am surprised that NAFPS is persisting with this one. Is NAFPA now taking on defending European pagan traditions as well too? If so, I would hope that NAFPS has talked with the leaders of Asatru, Troth, etc. to make sure no legal action may come from their direction.
Also, this member “tsalagi43” appears to be an ex-girlfriend of this character and is taking her revenge on him through this site, and may I say may be breaking a few of your site rules in doing so.
From NAFPS Forum Rules: “You agree, through your use of this forum, that you will not post any material which is false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, adult material, or otherwise in violation of any International or United States Federal law.”
I would say that some of the information this tsalagi43 is posting may be in violation to this rule. Doesn’t NAFPS see that information such as birthdate, information about family members, etc. is invasive of a person’s privacy and may place this individual in line for identity theft. I don’t know about you, but I see a potential threat for a lawsuit here, again over what appears to be a jilted ex-girlfriend. I would think NAFPS wouldn’t allow that and keep a close check on what they allow people to post.
Also, I am quite surprised that a person like this would actually talk to a representative from this site, unless that representative didn’t identify themselves as such, and I would hope a group with such a noble cause wouldn’t do such a thing. That would just make this site look bad, in my opinion.
Again, just wanting to point these few things out.
Also, (again) great work NAFPS!
-
Hi Jim, We have contacts in the Pagan and related communities. As the Neopagan communities have become increasingly influenced by, and now overlap with, the Newage communities, we find many of the same appropriators and ceremony-sellers in all of the above milieu. It is particularly useful to know about other ethnic "spiritual" communities when non-Native appropriators try to claim their stolen and mangled pretendian ways are from a European culture. Quite a few members of this board are thankfully familiar enough with those communities to be able to spot those lies when they crop up.
There is also a serious problem with some American and Candadian Neopagans trying to misrepresent themselves as Indigenous. In recent years we've seen some Wiccans and Heathens from America and Canada trying to claim they can represent "Indigenous Europe," when they have no meaningful connection to any of the living cultures, in Europe or anywhere else. This has resulted in non-Natives trying to colonize everything from interfaith Indigenous councils to Idle No More actions.
-
Jim, could you go to the Member Introductions section and introduce yourself? Thanks.
I'm not sure where you're getting the "jilted ex-girlfriend" thing from, but unless you know something we don't, that's a pretty offensive way to describe someone. Many people who post here have had personal experience with the people we research here and we find it valuable to hear their side of what happened with these people.
-
Mr. Davis, we investigate any fraud of any background. Our biggest focus is on imposters who pose as Native medicine people, but we've discussed phonies claiming to be curanderos, Romany forture tellers, African traditional healers, voodoo priests, Siberian shamans, Buddhist holy men, and yes, fake pagan healers.
If you didn't find evidence of Lumaye being deceptive or doing harm you didn't look very hard. You obviously didn't read this thread on him. Or more likely I suspect you want to defend him. Is he a friend of yours or have you gone to him for spiritual matters?
And as already was pointed out to you, attacking his critics won't get you anywhere. It discredits you in fact.
-
Hello,
I'd like to humbly offer my thoughts here. I will speak from observation and experience, and in so doing I do not claim to represent NAFPS. Nor does every person concerned about fighting cultural appropriation and offensive stereotypes represent NAFPS. People are fighting stereotypes and colonialism on many levels. But people who wants to use this forum as a research tool may post and people will investigate the figure if it seems necessary. The mods would have delete the thread if it broke the rules.
I want to speak a little about the SW WA/NW OR area for context on this thread. There are many people in that region (the area surrounding the mouth of the River), and all over this PNW really, who perpetuate new-agey white plastic culture and call it Indian. I met various folks growing up around the region, and often white people would volunteer to bring up they are supposedly Chinook, Cherokee, Yaqui, etc, but then they talk based on stereotypes and misinformation. These people need very little to provoke them to preaching new age fake NDN bs. A typical exchange would be like this:
White person: I like your hair/skin/whatever, what are you?
Response: I might begin to tell them about my parent's history, etc, and before I can finish a darn sentence, its:
White person *taking on a preachy, noble-savage tone*: "Well I'm part Cherokee/Chinook/Mayan whatever…" and before I can roll my eyes these clowns are talking about how they have a sweatlodge in their backyard, mentioning Carlos Castaneda, or how they sell thier 'traditional' dreamcatchers. Or someone would talk about 'spirit animals' and how the land is tuned to the stars. I heard it all, sometimes it would just be younger hippie or rednecky types without a clue, sometimes it would be middle-aged new-agey yuppies (without a clue) who I'd have the misfortune of working with or encountering. At one job I had to put with up with some feminist lesbian, white women clients, and heard quite a bit of this mumbo jumbo.There is like a strong insecurity to the spiritual lives of new-agers, which seems to be the reason that they always need volunteer their spiritual beliefs and affiliation, practices, etc. None of it is personal, rather they approach things evangelically (which is why they perpetuate bs so efficiently). This is what happens with ethnocentrism as the basis of their thinking.
Well, it would be one thing to smile and nod and just walk away. Afterall, these are just clueless clowns. But upon seeing how widely the garbage is getting perpetuated, I now educate them what they are preaching is stereotypical bs. No joke, that stuff like the Don Juan teachings, "red road" stereotypes and appropriating Lakota terms, etc, are spewed condescendingly out of white mouths, especially the mouths of feminist white witches, as being indigenous ways, and even by 'educated' whites with phd's who think they know all about stereotypes and are so condesendingly pc and 'culturally knowledgeable'. All this stuff gets mixed up with an offensive misunderstanding of Asian/Eastern traditions too. It's all rather annoying.
These people do not realize they perpetuate stereotypes and lies with their misinformation. They don't even care, because they don't understand/feel the cultural and social damages that are caused by stereotypes and misrepresentation. They don't see colonialism as a cultural or social reality. Being typical arrogant white people, they have no true investment in that aspect because they think white (knowitalls who dont listen), look white, and are well-trained colonialists.
Well, alot of these clowns would surely love to stumble upon Mr. Swadwa! Afterall, he will reinforce their ideas about stereotypical new age stuff being traditional indigenous ways, and even put the stamp of Chinook on it. He will not educate them, but serve and aid them, selling them crystal talismans and telling them 'Chakra healing' is an NDN practice, and mixing it all up as being similar to his Norse pagan stuff. His writing preaches that one need only 'feel Indian' to have a right to start playing Indian. Doing all of this while claiming to be an Elder of a tribe that does not need him misrepresenting them.
And maybe some white people (who are supposedly Cherokee, Chinook, Mayan, or whatever), wouldn't see how terribly racist this all is, but the fact remains that it is undeniably promoting stereotypes, misrepresentation, and it is stomping on those ancestors whose traditions Mr. Swadwa claims to be representing.
The people here who conduct research post info because these colonialistic new age figures are perpetuating offensive, racist, stereotypes and cultural misrepresentation. I don't understand any good reason how someone could defend these ego-worshipping, self-appointed 'spiritual leaders'. They only do damage, not help anyone.
Rather than threatening NAFPS forum with lawsuits, I believe the more respectful and decent thing would be if Mr. Swadwa just stop the silly shaman stuff, or at the very least only stick to the silly Norse shaman stuff and misrepresenting white people's traditions. Most of all, maybe he'd find some inner healing if he just sat down by the River and cleared his mind of all that stuff he has crammed in his head from anthropological books and new age sources.
Peace.
-
I am most certainly not an ex girlfriend, and am very offended at you belittling my information as some sort of revenge tactic. I spent a lot of time with him before I knew better, and you are denigrating my experiences by trying to play them off as revenge. I sat at the tribal meeting where the council told him to stop calling himself a Chinook shaman. I've been questioned by the council myself for my associations with him. I have close ties within the Chinook Tribe myself. (friends, as I am not Chinook). If I wanted to get very personal, I most certainly could, due to the amount of time I spent with him, but that has no bearing on the fact that he presents himself as a 'shaman', claims to be as much as 50% Chinook, though he can't prove it, and claims to have been trained in "Chinook Shamanism" by ONEIDAS in Wisconsin. Nor does it have any bearing on the fact that he advertised his services, charged for them, and continues to do so today. He sees people getting on his trail and 'goes underground' for a bit, waiting for the trail to cool before he comes out or reinvents himself. He's doing the Native American and Norse things simultaneously. If you wanted personal details, I could give those in abundance as well, though. Just not on here.
" false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, adult material, or otherwise in violation of any International or United States Federal law.”
Can you point out where I did any of these things? I mentioned his mother, but did not give her name, so there is no way for anyone to track her down and steal her identity. Otherwise, I do not see where I violated any of these. These most certain are my experiences with this individual, so none of the above statement fits.
-
I am most certainly not an ex girlfriend, and am very offended at you belittling my information as some sort of revenge tactic. I spent a lot of time with him before I knew better, and you are denigrating my experiences by trying to play them off as revenge. I sat at the tribal meeting where the council told him to stop calling himself a Chinook shaman. I've been questioned by the council myself for my associations with him. I have close ties within the Chinook Tribe myself. (friends, as I am not Chinook). If I wanted to get very personal, I most certainly could, due to the amount of time I spent with him, but that has no bearing on the fact that he presents himself as a 'shaman', claims to be as much as 50% Chinook, though he can't prove it, and claims to have been trained in "Chinook Shamanism" by ONEIDAS in Wisconsin. Nor does it have any bearing on the fact that he advertised his services, charged for them, and continues to do so today. He sees people getting on his trail and 'goes underground' for a bit, waiting for the trail to cool before he comes out or reinvents himself. He's doing the Native American and Norse things simultaneously. If you wanted personal details, I could give those in abundance as well, though. Just not on here.
" false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, adult material, or otherwise in violation of any International or United States Federal law.”
Can you point out where I did any of these things? I mentioned his mother, but did not give her name, so there is no way for anyone to track her down and steal her identity. Otherwise, I do not see where I violated any of these. These most certain are my experiences with this individual, so none of the above statement fits.
I was confused by this post and then realized you were responding to a post by Jim Davis which appears earlier in this thread. I just wanted to clear that up in case anyone else is confused.
tsalagi43, when you are responding to someone's prior post, hit the "quote" icon at the top right of their post and it repeats their comments inside your post.