NAFPS Forum
General => Research Needed => Topic started by: Jonathan on April 25, 2011, 04:26:18 pm
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Hi all,
A friend of mine will not stop raving about Lakota ceremonies that he has attended, and has been aggressively recruiting me to participate. I couldn't help but notice a lot of red flags in my friend's description of the ceremonies:
--The fee for the ceremony was $100 per person.
--My friend was encouraged to recruit more participants, and was rewarded (free hotel rooms, etc.) for bringing more people to the ceremonies.
--The ceremonies take place in *total* darkness. The room is completely blacked-out and duct-taped off, so that there is no visible light whatsoever. The door is locked.
--Everyone is required to surrender their cell phones prior to the ceremony.
--My friend reported some unusual occurrences in the darkness, which he attributed to "spirits". For example, his beard was tugged on, and a can of soda was pressed into his hand. Most disturbingly, he said that could hear the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps, and that he was told that this was his infant daughter's spirit running around the room.
The ceremonies are led by a man named "Warfield Moose". I Googled for clues, but wasn't able to find very much. Admittedly, I don't know much about Native American traditions or history, although I know enough to know that pop-culture depictions are most likely false.
Can anyone here give me any additional information on Warfield Moose, or these types of ceremonies? Also, what's the advised method for educating my friend, and if he has a genuine interest in Native American culture, what legitimate resources should I steer him towards?
Thanks.
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1. no one pays for ceremonies
2. you can not recruit anyone for our ceremonies
3. This sounds like a fraud
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So many aspects of your friends account ring alarm bells
I found this to be especially cause for concern
--My friend reported some unusual occurrences in the darkness, which he attributed to "spirits". For example, his beard was tugged on, and a can of soda was pressed into his hand. Most disturbingly, he said that could hear the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps, and that he was told that this was his infant daughter's spirit running around the room.
as it suggests a scenario where a predatory con-man is cynically preying on a bereaved parent who has endured the agony of losing a child.
The modus operandi of this particular fraud sounds more like a Victorian parlour medium than anything to do with even fake native ceremonies.
Also, what earthw7 said.
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Thanks for the perspective. I should clarify that the child is living (not sure what was even meant by "spirit"?); the red flag for me was the manner in which she had been incorporated into the narrative.
I raised the issue of the $100 fee with my friend, and it seemed like it had been explained to him largely as "travel costs".
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While agree that the $100 fee is wrong and the focus on recruitment is disturbing as well, there's a lot of info out about Warfield Moose Jr.
He's from the Porcupine community in Pine Ridge. Here's a few links and his bio. I'm gonna reserve comment because I feel the need to know more from community members and what they think of him. I've also yet to see that he is advertising ceremonies for sale so I'm doing my best to be objective here. Not calling you a liar Jonathan ;)
Here's his website:
http://www.warfieldmoose.com/
His bio:
Bio
Warfield Moose Jr. is an Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He grew up in the small community of Porcupine and was raised in a traditional Lakota way by his parents, Warfield Sr. and Norma Moose, and by his grandparents on both sides of the family who played a major role in his upbringing. Warfield attributes much of his life philosophy and spiritual grounding to the way in which he was raised. Warfield experienced life through the actions of his closest relations who were humble people. The family spoke only Lakota in the home and Warfield did not begin to learn English until he attended school. His family taught him the history and culture of the Lakota; and honored the traditions of the relatives who went before them. Warfield enjoyed time spent with both sets of his grandparents. His grandparents Charlie and Martha (Kills In Water) Moose lived in Wounded Knee where Charlie was an Episcopal priest who also maintained the traditional ways and was a representative on the Council of Elders for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and a member of the Pes La Oyate (baldheaded clan). Martha was a Wakan Oyate (of the sacred people). Wilbur Locke and Frances (Shorthorn) Locke resided in Porcupine and Wilbur was a member of the Knife Chief Community. Warfield attributes his greatest life teachings to his parents, Warfield Moose, Sr. and Norma Moose. As a classroom teacher for over 25 years, Warfield Sr. was greatly respected by his students and a captivating teacher in the classroom. Warfield Sr. was one of the first individuals in the state of South Dakota to be honored with the South Dakota Indian Education Award for Distinguished Service. Warfield's father taught the Lakota language, history and culture - but his son remembers his father's teachings not only from the classroom - but from how he lived his life. His mother Norma still works as a classroom teacher at the Pine Ridge School where she has worked for over 30 years. At the age of 18, Warfield Jr. followed in his parents' footsteps and became a Lakota language instructor. He accepted the position at the time when interest in the Lakota language, history and culture was at an all-time low for Native Americans. However, with the encouragement and support of his family - Warfield Jr. thrived in the teaching environment, first by teaching Kindergarten through eighth grade for five years, then instructing high school students in history, language and culture. It was 1978 when Warfield Jr. first met the respected Lakota Yuwipi healer, Dawson Has No Horse and through him experienced the powerful healing of the traditional ways. Warfield's father was suffering from a serious nose bleed and bleeding internally; a condition that Western doctors had failed to diagnose or treat. Charlie Moose, the Episcopal priest and father of Warfield Sr., made a decision to seek traditional healing to cure his son. Although Warfield Jr. was very young, he recognized the gravity of the situation and accompanied his father and grandfather to meet Dawson. Dawson was a highly regarded healer in the community - and his name was spoken with great reverence and respect. They arrived unannounced at Dawson's home at 1:30 a.m., and the medicine man was awake with the lights on and waiting expectantly -- seemingly knowing they would come. Warfield Jr. knew Dawson's name but did not understand his power until he entered his home on that evening with his sick father and felt the warmth, comfort and welcoming of Dawson and his wife Emily. Dawson looked over Warfield Sr. and instructed Emily to go outside and gather three medicines to cure him. Dawson explained that she would know which medicines to pick because they would glow and reveal themselves to her. Emily returned, and the first medicine Dawson tried was a root that he ground into a powder. The second medicine was a leafy plant, and when it did not stop the bleeding, Dawson warned them that if the last medicine did not work, he would not be able to help Warfield Sr. The last medicine was a bundle of sage. Dawson broke off the soft leaves of sage from the branch, and formed a compress which finally stopped the bleeding. After much distress, the grandfather, father and son broke into tears of relief, joy and gratitude when the bleeding had stopped. They offered Dawson their thanks and asked him how they could support him. He responded simply, "From this day forward, you should always respect yourselves and the people. Respect traditional healing -- but also respect the many different ways in which we all pray. Everything we do and say in life has meaning. Each of us throws our words out into the world -- but they all come back together eventually." It was a lesson remembered, and Warfield's family began to actively attend ceremonies and support Dawson's work helping the people. One evening in a ceremony, Dawson spoke through the spirits to the Moose family and to the one hundred people who had gathered for the Yuwipi ceremony. He foretold that young Warfield Jr., seated in the room, would one day choose between becoming an artist or powerful medicine man. The possibility of Warfield becoming a medicine man was disconcerting to the young boy and his family, because they had witnessed first-hand the suffering Dawson endured. But Dawson quieted their fears and counseled Warfield's family to allow the young Warfield to enjoy his life until such time as the dream or true calling appeared. Dawson's impact on Warfield Jr's life was great. It was a great loss to him when Dawson died in 1982, and he experienced grief and loss like none other he had felt. Warfield has yet to meet anyone who instills in him the same feelings of safety, humility, openness and kindness that he learned in the presence of the great Yuwipi man, Dawson Has No Horse. The mid-80's brought about two occurrences which shaped the rest of Warfield Jr's life. The first was the diagnosis of his father with incurable cancer in 1985 and the second was the dream. When Warfield Jr. was only 12 years old, he dreamed he was sitting on a hill and praying when a man appeared to him in the form of lightening and with a voice of thunder. The man spoke to Warfield and told him that they would be friends; and that this man had a job for Warfield. In 1983, he asked a medicine man named Pete Catches to put him on the hill for his first vision quest. Pete was reluctant to allow the young Warfield to undertake the vision quest, but agreed to speak with him about his intentions. Warfield spoke to Pete of his dream and explained what he sought. Recognizing the sincerity and truth in young Warfield's dream and reason for pursuing a vision quest, Pete agreed to help him. He explained to Warfield Jr. and his father that when a dream comes directly from the spirits - there is no need to interpret it. This dream would show itself over time and reveal itself to Warfield as he lived his life. He counseled him not to struggle with the dream - or he would live his life struggling. Instead, he encouraged Warfield to embrace the dream and where it would take him. At Warfield's first Yuwipi ceremony - it was his father who tied him up. Warfield knew, simply by looking into his father's eyes that night, that for Warfield Sr., seeing his son undertake the sacred Yuwipi provided him with sense of completion in his life. It was in this first ceremony that the spirits told Warfield that if his dream was to be a part of him that he should always tell the truth. Warfield committed to the spirits that night to not take drugs and alcohol so long as they would come and help him. Although the long and painful illness of Warfield Sr. was heartbreaking for Warfield and left him with permanent sadness when his father died on May 16, 1996, he never questioned why his father got sick but instead recognized how going through the disease with his dad made him a stronger and more compassionate person -- and more determined than ever to help others. It provided him with empathy for people dealing with life threatening illness and helped him realize that this part of his journey had been laid out for a reason. His father's struggle helped Warfield to better understand God - and that though life experiences he was offered choices: to love or hate; trust or mistrust. After his father passed away, Warfield put another of his talents to use and had already begun traveling to Sundances and Yuwipis to sing for ceremonies. Over the course of several years, Warfield sang for 11 different medicine men and learned about each of their deep commitment to the sacred traditions and the sacrifices they made in their lives to help the people. Warfield was taught by these men the ancient ceremony songs that have been passed down through the generations by the Lakota people. Warfield was a teacher when he first met Shilo Clifford who was a grade school student at the time. As a young student Shilo was sincere, enthusiastic and always expressed his willingness to help. Warfield recognized in Shilo the same level of serious commitment to the ceremonies and the traditional way of life that he had. In 1992 Warfield and Shilo went through the Hunka ceremony - a ceremony held in high regard by the Lakota people. The Hunka, or making of relatives ceremony, was traditionally performed as a way for Lakota people to provide comfort or support to those in need of it. To the Lakota, there is no such thing as an orphan and the Hunka ceremony is a commitment to become like a close relative. The son of Dawson, Sidney Has No Horse, performed the making-of-a-relative ceremony for Warfield and Shilo. At the ceremony he told the young men, "From this day forward you are not just hunka brothers - you are blood brothers. You will go through hard times and good times together - but you should always still help each other because you are connected for the rest of your life." Shilo's role in the ceremonies is significant, and as both a singer and helper to Warfield, he plays a vital role. Warfield and Shilo have helped tribes from across the US and Canada with healing ceremonies and have worked to revive the Sundance ceremonies for many tribal people. Warfield began running Sundance ceremonies in 1996 on the Blood reserve for the Blackfeet tribe. After his father illness and passing, he committed to holding a Sundance in his honor - and has done so for the last 10 years. Warfield and Shilo have traveled around the world to perform ceremonies in Italy, Canada and Switzerland, and Warfield presided over the opening of the Lakota Embassy in Florence Italy. In 2002, Warfield won a Nammy in the best historical recording category for "Ben Black Elk Speaks." Warfield currently runs four Sundances annually: the LeTendre Family Sundance for the Alexis Nakota Sioux, an Omaha Tribe Sundance on the reservation in Macy, Nebraska , the American Indian Movement Sundance in Pipestone, Minnesota and his own Sundance which honors the legacy of his father. He is currently archiving and restoring other historical Lakota teachings and working on a documentary and material for a new audio recording.
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To be fair, I don't see any fees associated or asking for money. However he does seem to be booked for "cultural gatherings" in NJ, Buffalo NY, Santa Fe NM.....but there isn't anything that elaborates on that other than these are not the sundances he runs. Other than the personal account from Jonathan I'm not finding a whole lot that is that disturbing. There's a good chance the organizers of this event are behind the fees and recruitment policies, but definitely not enough info about all that yet.
I would definitely like to see more info from his community members as his myspace music page contents lots of comments in the comments section from family members and other NDNs giving him a lot of compliments or just in general talking in a normal way back and forth...not a whole lot of metaphorical bowing and kneeling that is seen with new age groups.
Superdog
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Ok here's a little more. Nothing solid, but this is a facebook page advertising a Yuwipi ceremony organized by two academics in Laguna Beach, CA, Dr. Steven Farmer, and "Green" author Chris Prelitz. Warfield is listed as the person running it, but the web page and the info on it is the creation of Farmer so I don't attribute anything written here to Warfield other than the mention of his name.
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http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118243314878925&index=1
"The Yuwipi ceremony is used for healing, divining, and for finding lost persons or objects. A medicine man who performs this nighttime ritual builds a special altar on the floor of a house and allows the spectators to tie his hands securely behind his back, then wrap him head to foot in a thick blanket so that he is entirely covered like a mummy. Ropes are tied around the blanket to hold it in place. He is then laid out full len...gth on the altar, while the other participants sit in a tightly packed circle around him and hold hands so they will know if anyone moves.
The lights are extinguished, and the medicine man prays audibly so that everyone can hear him. After a specified period of time, the lights are turned on, and without anyone having helped him, the Yuwipi man will be sitting there free of his bindings, with the blanket neatly folded beside him and his hands folded in his lap. He never reveals how he does this, and when asked always claims that the spirits come and release him.
During the time he remains wrapped and in the dark, the medicine man may pray for help in determining the cause of an illness he has been asked to cure, and in learning the roots or herbs that will heal it. Or, if he has been asked to find a lost object or person, he will pray for guidance regarding that. Surprising results are common, and there are many testimonies to the truth of this, including those given by non-Indians who have participated and been helped in amazing ways. ~“Secret Native American Pathways” by Thomas E. Mails
Dr. Steven Farmer, and "Green" author Chris Prelitz will be hosting this sacred ceremony. Lakota Medicine Man Warfield Moose will be leading this profound healing experience. Because this ceremony is so sacred it is important to prepare for it in a way that honors the Spirits who will be helping all those participating to heal and to honor the medicine man, his sacrfice and the Lakota culture.
This event will take place at a private residence in Laguna Beach. For details please call 1-866-621-0516 or email info@drstevenfarmer.com. Due to the preparation necessary, pre-registration is required. Upon registration, sacred instructions will be sent to you in order to begin this powerful healing process."
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The "registration" and "sacred instructions" leave questions for me.
The person that seems responsible for the questionable activities talked about by Jonathan seems to be Dr. Farmer. I'm guessing here, but something about his facebook page leads me in that direction. Warfield seems to have gotten in close with some New Age authors. Here's Farmers page:
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http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118243314878925&index=1#!/pages/Dr-Steven-Farmer/93018852583?sk=info
"Dr. Steven Farmer is the author of several best-selling products including Earth Magic, Animal Spirit Guides, Power Animal Oracle Cards, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards, Power Animals, Sacred Ceremony, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides guided meditation CD and Earth Magic Oracle Cards. Dr. Farmer is a Soul Healer, shamanic practitioner, licensed psychotherapist, ordained minister, hypnotherapist, and former college professor. He offers workshops and presentations on Soul Healing and other Earth centered spirituality topics. He also offers private Earth Magic Healing sessions in person and by telephone, and is host of Earth Magic Radio every Thursday, 4-5PM PST on ContactTalkRadio.com. Dr. Farmer makes his home in Laguna Beach, California with his wife, Jesseca and her two children Serena and Arianna. For further information, go to www.EarthMagic.net."
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A whole slew of new age shamanic products coming from this guy. The EarthMagic site is more of the same and mirrors as Drstevenfarmer.com when you go to it.
http://www.drstevenfarmer.com/
Superdog
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Found something on him. It is this, the second to last paragraph on first page: IN BOLD
"Ohlone leader Charlene Sul is currently working with The Art Ranch to create The Art Ranch Ohlone Black Bear Village in Northern California, slated for 2010. Recently Laurie met Warfield Moose, a Lakota Medicine Man, whose dedication to his path will have a significant effect on The Art Ranch and it’s future programs. Through this union The Pine Ridge Sustainable Project is being developed for Lakota children and families. First phase is scheduled for Summer, 2010."
Note the name, "Recently Laurie met Warfield Moose, a Lakota Medicine Man"
Found this here:
http://www.theartranch.net/nativeamerican.htm
Never heard of this so do not know anything about this at all.
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Just found another site with mention of Warfield Moose mentioned (not sure if same person or just another with same name)? Anyway, this part with name posted near bottom of page,
"We have been privileged to have had John “Many Voices” Armbruster pour as well as Dan Wenglarz, who supervised the Lodge's construction. Warfield Moose, the last Lakota Medicine person to perform ceremony in this Lodge, the third Lodge since 1996."
And found on this site:
http://www.marileeasnyder.com/Healing_Lodges/
Although, looks like the lodge was taken down/apart and maybe rebuilt?
Last part of what is shared on the page"
"This Lodge was retired in a good way on Saturday, October 31, 2009 by burning all of the Lodge poles in Sacred Ceremony after four plus years of Service.
We honored the Lodge, The Lodge Keepers and the Healing that was done by the individuals participating in the Lodge.
On November 2, 2009 we spread apples from our trees where the Lodge had been to honor and feed the Spirits and the animals in the forest.
When Creator/Source deems it appropriate, another Lodge will be constructed in a Sacred way after the Vernal Equinox."
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Maybe others making money I have had just a bit of time to read quickly through so not sure if fees. Donations mentioned but will read more thoroughly later.
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I've been wondering when this name would come up. I predict a swift move of this thread to a different category.
Watch out for this one. The Warfield and Shilo Show has been operating under the radar for far too long.
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according to this FB page
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5013268478
The Doreen Virtue and Steven Farmer Appreciation Group
Check out Hayhouseradio.com to listen to Doreen Virtue and Steven Farmer's weekly shows -- you may even call to speak with them LIVE.
and according to this interesting blog, Steven Palmer is married to Doreen Virtue , of "Angle therapy" notoriety
http://www.broowaha.com/articles/1099/doreen-virtue-angel-therapy-or-a-frauds-mental-illness
and according to the skeptic's dictionary
Doctor Farmer got his Ph.D. from Madison University, a non-accredited distance learning university located in Gulfport, Mississippi.
http://www.skepdic.com/angeltherapy.html
Maybe, as a plastic shaman, Steven Farmer deserves his own thread?
Anyway, sorry to go off on a tangent, just thought that it might be worth checking out some of the people that Warfield Moose is associated with.
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I am familiar with these two. They are solidly New Age. Farmer is core-shamanism and animal totems. Virtue is of the Hay House. She did the indigo children etc. - walk ins
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While I personally have never met Warfield Moose his name is known to me, I know people who have been to his Yuwipi ceremonies and said they are powerful. He did give a Yuwipi altar to a kola of mine from Rosebud. Yuwipi ceremonies are done in total darkness and it is not unusual to hear, see and feel spirits. However charging for ceremony is wrong. I dont know the circumstances but sometimes I have heard of a well meaning wasicu bringing a person in to do a ceremony and asking the participants to donate x amount to cover travel and donations and this is done without the knowledge of the person running the ceremony.
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I know Warfield Moose Jr. and his mother..he forgot to mention that he also has a sister and she has 5 children. Norma Moose and Warfield disowned her and she is on her own married and has a great family. The thing I seen when I met him was he isn't that humble person when he says in the ceremonies "Take care if each other, love each other." but yet he can't do that with his OWN family! He is doing this to get the money he uses for eating ,movies and caring care of his girlfriend!!
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His girlfriend(s)? Would those be the ones who flick the empty bic lighters and wear night vision goggles during yuwipi ceremonies to try to fool the people into believing he has called in the spirits? Just sayin.
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Hello All,
I am writing today as a follow up to a post from two years ago about this same topic. It does not look as if the matter was resolved. Was looking to see if more information could be provided on Warfield Moose, Jr., and if some kind of determination could be made. The previous post can be found here:
http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3304.0
My situation is similar to the person who made the initial post (Jonathan): My friend has attended a Yuwipi ceremony conducted by Warfield Moose, Jr., and has since become much closer to him and his group, attending many ceremonies. I also attended the first ceremony my friend attended, but came away with a different impression. I was skeptical and felt that there was some misrepresentation going on.
There was a charge/donation requested of $100 for the ceremony. I was later told this money was going to a non-profit that helps provide housing at the Pine Ridge Reservation. I don't have any way of verifying this information.
For my friend’s sake, I would like to know if the people who conducted the ceremony are considered genuine or frauds among the Lakota people of the Pine Ridge community. At the same time, I don’t want to contribute to damaging anyone reputation if this person or (related) people are innocent. So I would appreciate feedback only from people who know Warfield Moose, Jr., or have had direct contact with him via the ceremonies or otherwise.
I just want to be able to warn my friend if it is deemed a prudent measure.
Thank you.
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I believe my own recent personal experience might help. I would also like very much to warn people about Warfield Moose and these 'Healing Ceremonies.' I certainly wish I had had more information before I paid out £160 and attended what seemed to me to be nothing more than a very amateur magic show.
He is a terrible ambassador for Native American people; spirituality; traditions and so on.
When a friend told me that Warfield Moose was going to hold ceremonies in the U.K. during May 2013 and that she was able to book places through the friend who was organising it all, I thought it all sounded amazing. I was made to understand that invitations to these ceremonies are exclusive and are only given out through word of mouth via friends. Nothing can be put in writing because the ceremonies are too 'sacred' for that. It was also made clear that NO REFUNDS WOULD BE GIVEN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! That should have sounded a warning bell. But, no, when you believe you are dealing with trusted friends, you don't want to appear too suspicious or awkward.
The cost of £160 was for the event which we were told would run from 3 p.m. until midnight. It was also to include a huge 'ceremonial feast' and, of course, Warfield's travel expenses from the U.S.A. would need to be covered. To give you an idea of how expensive this was - a shop assistant in the U.K. typically earns £6.50 per hour before tax.
However, the organiser seemed to have a good reputation as a spirit medium and we were told she had attended four of these ceremonies in the U.S. She said they saw spirit people materialise before their eyes.
We paid for our places around January 2013. Two weeks before the event, we received an long email detailing various preparations we must make or we would not be allowed into the ceremony. This involved more cost. We were also told that the 'ceremonial feast' would be organised by those of us attending and we must cook and bring food for up to six people. When you have already paid £160 each and know there will be no refund, you really have no choice but to comply.
We arrived at the small village hall promptly at 3 p.m. but were told to wait in the car park while the room was prepared. Over two hours later we were called into the hall for a talk from the organiser. There was no apology or explanation. She wanted to explain what would happen during the ceremony. We would have to sit on a blanket on the floor. WE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BRING A DRINK OF WATER INTO THE ROOM. In fact, NOTHING would be allowed in the room - only the clothes we were wearing! No one would be allowed to leave. Doors would be locked.
I observed at this point that the fire exit was taped up. There were two or three very thick sheets of black polythene taped over every window and door. All the light fitments on the ceiling had been removed. I have attended many spiritual events in the U.K. over the years but have never witnessed anything like this before. It worried me.
It was another two hours before Warfield arrived. Still there was no apology or explanation. We begged the organiser to allow us to eat as we were all very hungry now. Warfield said 'No' - we were not allowed to eat until after his ceremony! Food had been standing in the kitchen for four hours now - some was even baking in the oven!
Warfield talked to us. I was so hungry, thirsty and tired by now that I couldn't really concentrate on what he was saying. But I DO remember he said we must respect the Earth's resources - and not waste anything. WE MUST NOT EAT TO EXCESS! I remember this bit because the man himself is very, very large and I guess he needed three airplane seats on the flight from the U.S.A.
We were given herbs and asked to apply them to areas of our bodies where we had aches and pains. Warfield and his men observed us carefully while we did this! Later, in the dark, many of us would be 'touched by spirit' in these places.
When the lights went off, it was totally black and I actually found it quite frightening!
There were around thirty of us and we were all asked to take it in turns to pray out loud. As you can imagine, there were many prayers for World peace, healing for the Earth and so on.
Then the noise began. Rattles and whistles. It was so noisy you could have led a team of boy scouts through the hall and we probably would not have noticed!
Someone fell over my ankle in the dark. (Thermal vision goggles failed him?) It hurt. The 'lightening' looked just like 'Flash Paper' used by magicians - and you could make out a person's body when he turned in various directions. Surely you should be able to see through a spirit person?
The same with the glowing rattles. Every time they went across the other side of the room you realised a body was now between you and them - and you couldn't see them.
Luminous balls circled our heads. I have seen identical things at shows where Chinese jugglers do amazing things!
At the end we were all whacked around each side of our head with something quite hard. That hurt too! One lady cried out in pain as they had accidentally hit her in her eye. Warfield said she had a particularly nasty Demon there which refused to leave and they had to hit it extra hard!!
In my opinion I saw nothing of genuine spiritual activity.
Warfield himself had a bottle of water with him! (Having made sure we would go thirsty and hungry!) His voice came from various directions in the dark, so we knew he was no longer tied up. Afterwards, I noticed our precious prayer ties were dumped unceremoniously in a sad heap where no doubt they had been thrown by human hands in the darkness.
We were on the floor in the blackness for FIVE HOURS! It was now 2 a.m.! Never mind 'healing' - we now had even more aches and pains!
Warfield announced that we were now allowed to eat. Much of the food was now just charcoal in burnt out pans!!
Amazingly, I have to report that some people (mainly the younger ones!) had actually enjoyed the event!
A small group of us (perhaps because we looked thoroughly miserable!) were warned by Warfield not to say anything about what we had seen to anyone FOR FOUR DAYS - OR NONE OF OUR PRAYERS WOULD BE ANSWERED! (I assume he was on the plane back to the States in four day's time!!)
I hope this helps people really investigate what Warfield Moose and his men are REALLY doing. If I were ever invited again, I would be tempted to take a large torch and some newspaper reporters!
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Merging threads. Just ignore the red notice that says to start a new thread when a topic is old. It's something in the software; we prefer to keep the threads in one place when possible.
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ou
A small group of us (perhaps because we looked thoroughly miserable!) were warned by Warfield not to say anything about what we had seen to anyone FOR FOUR DAYS - OR NONE OF OUR PRAYERS WOULD BE ANSWERED! (I assume he was on the plane back to the States in four day's time!!)
I hope this helps people really investigate what Warfield Moose and his men are REALLY doing. If I were ever invited again, I would be tempted to take a large torch and some newspaper reporters!
Tal, I am sorry you had this terrible, dangerous experience. Thank you for reporting so clearly what happened so others will learn from this. It's all about monetary profit and secrecy. When I was part of Philip Scott's Ancestral Voice cult, he told people who went on a Hanbleceya (a Lakota ceremony misused by new age frauds/plastic shamans to fleece adults who think they'll see spirits and learn their life's meaning, etc.) that they couldn't talk about it for a whole year, so the "medicine" would work. Four days without food, sleep, or water in the wilderness, while below, Scott and the "supporters" feasted on barbecued salmon steaks, gourmet meals, pancakes, fresh fruit, candy, and so on. Boxes and boxes of goodies. A portable kitchen and tents. Supposedly they were eating for the people "on the hill."
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Warfield Moose Jr. sounds like another Native who has taken advantage of people.
As I post this I want to let you know in way do I support or condone this behavior.
On the other hand
Tal what you describe is basically what happens in a ceremony,
Everything is blacken out no light is to be shown, or there would be no ceremony,
no one eats or drinks anything, NO FOOD IS ALLOWED IN THE CEREMONY
the leader will bring water for the spirits
we sit for hours waiting, which a person is supposed to be praying,
Everyone who has come for prayers must say them out loud, never heard of people praying for
world peace at a ceremony the prayers are supposed to be about self,
We know that we can wait for ceremony for a long time so we make sure our food is something that
cooks slow,
I have been to ceremonies where we were in for 8 hours or more depends on the prayers,
This is why I believe NO non natives People should be in ceremony they are always looking for
that quick fix for their problems. Plus no one pays to pray. That should of been your first
clue NO ONE PAYS TO PRAY,
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Tal, thank you for sharing your experience. And EarthW7, thank you for adding your feedback and clarifications.
I have been wondering if any of the money Warfield raises actually makes it back to the Pine Ridge reservation for housing as he proposes it does. Or is that just a lie? I also wonder why he no longer lives in Pine Ridge anymore.
I worry that this man is not who or what he says he is. I worry that he is doing damage to many communities of people.
My friend means the world to me. As you can imagine, the last thing I want for my friend is to get tangled up in someone and something that is a fraud.
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TruthSeeker, Earthw7 is from the communities Mr. Moose claims to be from, and part of the culture he is exploiting and selling. As are many others who post here and have discussed identical situations in the past.
I think the situation is clear. Whether or not Moose was traditionally trained doesn't really matter at this point. The standards of the community he claims to be from say: it's wrong and harmful to sell ceremony; it's wrong to fake spirit contacts; it's wrong to commodify the sacred.
After listening to Lakota people on this subject, I think it's very clear your friend should not be involved in this. It's harmful to the cultures in question; it's not right to sell ceremony, and it's not right to do these ceremonies for people who aren't part of the culture, so don't even have the background to understand what parts are and are not harmful. I'd tell your friend to get out of there.
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I am ashamed to say that we have people who are from the tribal nations who
go to make money off people who dont know about our ways, They can tell you anything and you
woud believe it even if they themselves know better.
I will say it again anyone who "pays to pray is wrong"!
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I think there are a lot of non-Natives who want to find loopholes. They hear that it's wrong to sell out, but they still want access, so they think they, and the exploiter they've found, will be the exception. Then they only get mad when what they get isn't what they think they paid for.
So for the people who think they NEED access to NDNs and NDN ceremonies... what I can say is people who sell out lose their power. Someone who is faking spirit contact for a paid audience... it's possible that at one time they really had the power. But then by violating the community standards they angered the spirits, and now there are no spirits willing to help them. So they fake it. People can get really hurt that way. Some of the most harmful people we've dealt with did have knowledge and power at one time, but greed corrupted them. Real ceremonial ways can have dangers if they are done wrong, and if the spirits are offended. Most white people don't understand this. They think either someone has training or not, and they don't see the whole picture. Cultural context is everything. The ceremonies don't work without it. But non-Natives who are trying to find loopholes, and also operating from a place of selfishness and greed, are also part of the problem. If they continue to support frauds after they know better, any harm that comes on them is hard to blame on anyone else. The main exploiter and ceremony-seller is certainly at serious fault, but the consumer of pay to pray is also to blame if they choose to knowingly participate in misappropriation.
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I just want to thank you all for your kind comments. I am an outsider, not Native American and live in the U.K. so I appreciate your understanding and kindness.
I see that Warfield Moose has now updated his Website to say that he has taught in countries around the World including Italy and the U.K.
I won't write much more because it's not applicable to the original content of A Truth Seeker's question really. Perhaps people who are closer to Warfield Moose can now begin to suspect foul play and investigate what he is really doing.
I was especially concerned that he has the perfect excuse for recruiting people - ie. nothing can be put in writing - until everyone has paid in full, that is! Many British people are fascinated by different cultures, especially Native American traditions. I hear through my friend that Warfield is hoping to hold many more ceremonies in the U.K. in the future, including 'Sweat Lodges.'
However, each person must ultimately take responsibility for their own life and actions, so I can only hope that future recruits check out your Website carefully before attending!
Thank you for your work in doing this. There is more information about Warfield Moose now than in January 2013 when I first looked! (The quip from AnnOminous about night vision goggles would have alerted me to the fact that the room was going to be darker than we are used to at spiritual events over here!) NAFPS seem to be the only people brave enough to speak up. Thank you.
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I also would like to thank the people who operate and contribute to this website. This is a valuable resource of information. Admittedly I did very little research before signing up for the ceremony I attended, and like Tal, I obviously now wish I had. But I am thankful I found this site and have a clearer understanding of your traditions and what constitutes fraud in your culture.
One observation: I think that Non-Natives are curious and interested about your culture. And in many instances that curiousity does come from an innocent and pure place. We know so little about you. There is so little written about your people in our history books in our schools. Also I think many of us realize that our ceremonies have in ways become hollow. We feel that we have lost our connections to nature. Then there is the guilt: Many of us are ashamed as to how our ancestors treated yours. And how much of that abuse and neglect continues today. There are all sorts of ways that Native culture is exploited by people who have little or no understanding of it. And then there are people, both Native and non-Native who recognize that curiosity and underlying guilt and play upon it and manipulate those thoughts and feelings for their own benefit. Those kind of people exist in all cultures.
All that said, I want to thank you for extending your patience and insight. I realize now how short-sighted I was and now how dangerous these ceremonies can be when conducted for the wrong reasons and in the wrong manner. These ceremonies are sacred to your traditions and should be considered with a greater sense of respect. I hope for a better understanding and respect between our cultures and encourage you to keep getting this information out there. It helps us all.
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Hello I'm from wounded knee and know that Warfield is a real yuwipi man. We have gone to sing for him a couple times it is sad that he does sellout but don't discredit him as a fraud he has a connection!!! He is a sellout though!!!
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Ironshield, please define a "real yuwipi man." Please don't take this as an offensive question, but what qualifications does one need to have to make such a statement?
I've been to Warfield's yuwipi ceremonies on both Kainai in Canada and Pine Ridge reserves. There was absolutely nothing he did, or that occurred during ceremony, that could not have been done with a few special effects and trickery.
If he had truly brought in the spirits, would those spirits trip over your feet as they walk by? Do spirits cough and clear their throats? Do they smack you upside the head and get their hands caught in your hair when they are "healing" you?
If one needs only an opinion and direct experience to decide whether or not someone is real or not, then I guess I qualify. I say fake. FAKE.
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The way one knows if someone is a real yuwipi man is by the results and what the members of the community say. Unfortunately when confronted with things they cannot understand or do not fit into their world view a lot if people, especially non NDN tend to say it is trickery or special effects. Some of the spirits that come in will hit people in the head or hit them with the gourds. There are flashing lights and sounds that the spirits make. This is why a lot of people do not want to allow non natives attend any ceremony, they experience things they cannot understand then say it is trickery.
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Cetan, I agree. Which is why (a) he is no longer invited back to our communities; and (b) I stand by my previous posts.
If you have your own first-hand experiences with Warfield Moose, Shilo Clifford and their ceremonies, please share them.
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As I said earlier I have not had direct experience with Warfield Moose but have sat in yuwipi ceremonies run by a man fro Rosebud who was given his altar by him. Unfortunately there are some who have 'sold out' and will charge for ceremonies but it doesnt mean they still dont have the ability to run ceremonies and have their spirit helpers come in. Perfect example is one very well know wicasa wakan from Rosebud who lets non-natives participate in his Sundance for the right donation, the joke used to be that you had to have the proper 'green' card. He may be a bad man but he is still a good medicine man and does doctoring for his local community. If people from Warfield's community say he is a real yuwipi man then I trust their judgement. My opinion is if the spirits come in and the person who puts up the ceremony gets the help they need from them then the intercessor is real.
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If people from Warfield's community say he is a real yuwipi man then I trust their judgement.
There is one person, yes. But Warfield no longer even lives at Porcupine. Instead he travels in the US, Canada and Europe to do these ceremonies.
If Warfield has the support of his community, and I mean his community at large, then why would he need to have a Blackfoot man, Jordan Bruised Head, be the intercessor at his sundance? Warfield went to Kainai (Blackfoot) First Nations in Canada between 15 and 20 years ago to "give" Bruised Head a Sundance. Bruised Head was the "chief" at Warfield's Sundance at Porcupine for at least 4 years. During that time Warfield was also "training" Bruised Head to be a "yuwipi man."
If a person has the support and respect of their own community he doesn't have to recruit from other Nations and other Reserves.
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If a person has the support and respect of their own community he doesn't have to recruit from other Nations and other Reserves.
Or from non-Natives.
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Some people do use non-natives to get money. People like Leonard Crow Dog and Arvol Looking Horse who do ceremonies with non-NDN and take money as 'help' with expenses are two well known who come to mind - so are they both frauds? Or just sell-outs?
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Cetan
As you have a point out there are people who are Native from our communities
who do not do the right thing as you pointed out Leonard Crow Dog who is a
spiritual leader who has medicine and the gift to heal, but does not always do the right thing
when it come to money.
Arvol Looking Horse is not a medicine man who does not run ceremonies, he is the keeper which is
a very different catagory, I have only know Avrol to run an Inipi, he is give funds to travel
to speak but I have never heard of him running a yuwipi or other ceremonies.
Of course we can go down the list Chipps to Zephiers,
I guess the point is that we have our own
people who dont do the right thing, just like Warfield who is not in his community but doing ceremonies
in Europe.
At a meeting of elders and spiritual leaders it was said that our people are having such a hard time in
life that all the Spiritual leaders need to help heal there own communities before going to try to heal
the world, I agree with this statement.
On the other hand we have these non Native who are looking for peace in their lives that are willing
to try anything, they look for that greener pature over the fence; instead of looking into themselves for
the answer, making them prime tragets for frauds.
Do we call our own people frauds?
I guess that is the question?
They are enrolled members of our tribal nations.
They are spiritual leaders and medicine men.
The problem we run into is them taken money for their services!
We dont pay to pray!
On The other hand
A long time ago our spiritual leaders did not work because their job was to care for the
people so each camp would care for the spiritual leader make sure his family was feed
and his bills paid.
Today our people dont take care of our spiritual leaders so when they are asked to do ceremonies
for the people,
the people who ask for the ceremony make sure that they provides food and in our way we provide gifts
for help, such as blanket and ect... Today because our spiritual leaders have to drive to get place some
come a great distance the family who ask for help will give gas money.
I dont know if you have been to Avrol's home but he lives in an old trailer and his cars are always
breaking down, he has trouble keeping his lights on plus feeding all the people he cares for.
He makes his money to care for his familiy by speaking and he had explain this to the elders
and I was at the meeting and they all agreed to this about 15 years ago.
My point after all of this is if a person come to a ceremony and they had to pay a set amount of $$
to come instead of the gift giving accord to traditions which could be $1:00 or what the could afford
then that is fraud accoding to me only.
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Earth I agree with your definition of fraud. I also think that people who intentionally deceive people at their ceremonies, which I believe whole heartedly is something Warfield is guilty of, are the worst kind of fake and fraud.
Speaking of Arvol Looking Horse, I recently read a newspaper article regarding his ceremonial role at the 2013
World Peace and Prayer day in California. "Speaking to a primarily non-indigenous audience, Chief Looking Horse led those who had gathered at the Live Oak Campround in Santa Ynez California during Summer Solstice through four days of sharing and ceremony." The article isn't specific regarding which ceremonies he led, or how much was charged for attendance, but we are already aware that praying for "world peace" is a typical indicator of fraud. Here's the article: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151471290696193&set=a.77546421192.86727.653561192&type=1&theater
(Edited to delete a sentence that apparently was a rumour)
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Avrol leads an Inipi only and he never lived in Pine Ridge
nor has he ever had a trailer down there on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
He is from Cheyenne River Reservation at Green Grass
just down the road from me. he has always lived at Green Grass.
His girlfriend Paula is way passes child bearing years, she is now in her
late 50s and Paula's children are all grown from a previous Marriage
and it is known that Avrol never had any children because he cant have children.
He has never lived in Canada, he was just here helping
with the youth again on Standing Rock.
Oh! i read the article he was leading a prayer for world peace, That was
the ceremony they are talking about. he has been doing this world peace
thing for about 20 years now. he started in the Black Hills amongthe people
next thing we knew everyone in the blue sky jump on the world peace band wagon.
I never heard of Avrol starting a Sun Dance even the dance in Green Grass is done
by someone else, he just helps.
If you have information on this pregnant girlfriend i would like to know because
at this point he will be the last keeper because he has no children and as he reaches
60 years old the line will end with him as we are told
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I think one of the problems is that sometimes the person who sponsors a ceremony or brings a medicine man in will often ask the people they have invited to give a set donation for travel and expenses and often this is done without the medicine persons knowledge or approval. For example someone here in MI brought a yuwipi man she knew in to do a yuwipi and had sent out a message telling people that she was asking for each person to donate $35 and also there would be a limit of 40 (I think it was) people allowed to attend. I went because while I did not know the person directly I did know his family. But the people who came from Pine Ridge did not know there was a set donation being asked. Same with Arvol, he has been here 4 times I can remember in the past 25 years and each time the person who brought him (it was the same person each time) told people they had to donate at least x amount of dollars to attend the inipi and actually told one of my friends that he couldnt come because there wouldnt be enough room. Now the person who brought him is a full blood and should know better but the only excuse I can think of is he grew up off the rez. I certainly didn't mind giving a donation when someone comes for a ceremony or inipi since I realize that gas and pony maintenance cost money and when someone is traveling they are away from their family and not able to work at that time to buy food and pay for their families living expenses.
It sounds like AnnOminous feels that Warfield is intentionally deceiving people during his ceremonies and everyone I know who has ever been in a yuwipi he has done say the opposite, that the spirits do come in and doctor. This is people from Pine ridge and from Rosebud.
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Sorry Earth, my mistake about the location of his trailer. Thanks for correcting that.
As for the rest of what you wrote re Arvol, I'm glad you shared that. I wrote what I was told, and accepted it as truth, but I wasn't there and have no first-hand knowledge. If it ends up that I was passing on lies or half-truths, I'm sorry. I hate that.
I am messaging you the name of the contact person at Six Nations if you want to follow up on what I wrote. I'm also willing to delete that part of my post, as I don't have enough confidence in it being true any more.
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I realize we're on a bit of a tangent here, but:
Re - ceremony and/or interfaith prayer with non-Natives:
Most of the Lakota I know make a pretty firm distinction between prayer and ceremony. Most folks I know consider prayer something anyone can do, especially if you do it in the language of your own ancestors. Whereas ceremony usually refers to the Seven Sacred Rites. However, non-Natives usually have no idea there is any kind of distinction there, and are unclear on the terminology. So, if a non-Native describes something as ceremony, I'd ask the Natives that were there what really happened before calling it ceremony.
That said, I have participated in interfaith prayer events that were set up by Lakotas in a Lakota framework, and songs in Lakota were sung, along with making space for people of other cultures to also offer prayers and songs. What I saw was that, if culturally rootless non-Natives were allowed to witness how the space was set up, and the building of the sacred fire, and allowed to listen to the traditional songs, and see how offerings were made, they left that "prayer only" event to mimic these ways in their own lives, and even to sell them to other non-Natives as sacred Lakota ceremony.
Everyone offering prayer in their own language, and building the fire in an interfaith manner is one thing, in my non-Native opinion. But as soon as any degree of traditional ceremony is included, even if it's "just" the placing of flags, prayer ties, smudging, drumming and using sacred songs, the appropriators are there to steal it.
It's one thing when interfaith events are just prayer, or when the only non-Natives who are invited are trusted relatives, but any time these things are advertised and open to the public, they are now overrun with appropriators, there to data mine. My area is now overrun with pretendians, some of whom got their start by watching and imitating NDNs at these events.
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Sorry.. I believe that was Jerome Lebeaux who does that!!
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I think you are mistaken this person I'm pretty sure Jerome Lebeau does that a lot!!
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As I said we have been to sing for him and I know when we went the grandfathers came and doctored the people. He was tied up as u are supposed to be but it has been a while since we went back so he may have lost his helpers for what he is doing and may be faking it now buti will have to investigate and get back as I said I live here and was raised here and have been part of this way of life since I was a wee lil guy!!!
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I live in porcupine Sd. I witness warfield moose's ceremony and I thought he was sincere what I notice was he never talked bad about any medicine man or people. I'm 58 years old Oglala Lakota of the knife chief community and I know of warfield moose's father and he was very proud of all of his children and i know he would be sad to have people talk ill about his children or in fact other medicine men on the pine ridge reservation. I'm not a judge or juror but I read all of those comments and I don't feel that warfield jr is doing what people are saying. One fact is he runs a sundance for a number of years I'm not sure but my son used to dance With him and he turned out to be a good boy and I'm happy that he is alive and still with me. I hope my words are enough that we don't tear down people or medicine people ,their life is hard enough. My family supports all of the moose family, they are good people and warfield moose sr was a great teacher and humble man, I don't think he would raise his children in a disrespectful manner. I just read a article by a lady from rosebud by the name of vi Waln , sicagun times and she wrote about warfield moose and how she was honored to called him friend and the wonderful book and CD he did. So I'm sorry I have been to positive on this site but as a mother I feel I had to add my two cents for what's it worth and tell you that it's not fair to talk bad about anybody that has connection to the spirit world for which I know warfield moose has because of my experience praying with him. Thank you for reading this. Pilamaya yesto
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Warfield Moose Jr. sounds like another Native who has taken advantage of people.
As I post this I want to let you know in way do I support or condone this behavior.
On the other hand
Tal what you describe is basically what happens in a ceremony,
Everything is blacken out no light is to be shown, or there would be no ceremony,
no one eats or drinks anything, NO FOOD IS ALLOWED IN THE CEREMONY
the leader will bring water for the spirits
we sit for hours waiting, which a person is supposed to be praying,
Everyone who has come for prayers must say them out loud, never heard of people praying for
world peace at a ceremony the prayers are supposed to be about self,
We know that we can wait for ceremony for a long time so we make sure our food is something that
cooks slow,
I have been to ceremonies where we were in for 8 hours or more depends on the prayers,
This is why I believe NO non natives People should be in ceremony they are always looking for
that quick fix for their problems. Plus no one pays to pray. That should of been your first
clue NO ONE PAYS TO PRAY,
agreed....my gf is white.....she does the most respectful thing a white person could do...she STAYS WHITE.....she once been invited to a sweat, she understood that she was a GUEST and acted accordingly.....but she pretty much stays out of the way
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Warfield AKA Pickles Moose is nothing but a fraud. I know him the dude tried to fight my mother, he is not what many think of him. The bio on him is full of lies and deceit, his childhood was not how he describes it. When he was a kid, he would cry if there was no food already prepared for him.
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Haye mitakuyepi I sadden to have read another post that has no merit to what this website is for? I will stand by warfield moose and his family. I'm also from porcupine community. As somebody who is searching for the truth? I have yet to see any evidence that warfield moose is selling ceremonies or defrauding people. I have asked numerous people on and off the reservation about warfield moose, to date I haven't heard anything bad or wrong he has done. In fact I sent a email to vi Waln from the sicungu times and she has nothing but praise for warfield. I know the "has no horse" family stands by warfield. I even heard Avis Little eagle from standing rock reservation who wrote articles years ago about new age fraud is a supporter of the moose sundance. Until I see police reports or anything in the paper I will not believed anything. Mitakuyepi name calling or calling each other fraud isn't Lakota way. Long time ago if you didn't agree with somebody, it was told to me that we don't talk about them or just ignore them. Stay away from them. Im not hear to argue just want to say this haye mitakuye oyasin.
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Long time ago if you didn't agree with somebody, it was told to me that we don't talk about them or just ignore them.
There has also been a long history of put up or shut up. Lots of abuse historically has gone unanswered, and therefore repeated, because of this silencing. Silence is violence.
I am glad your experiences of Warfield Jr are more positive than what others have shared. Your experiences are no less--but certainly no MORE--valuable than anyone else's. I stand by my first-hand experiences, some of which I have already shared.
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Ok this is my own opinion based off my personal experiences with Warfield Jr as a man and as a medicine man:
I've been to quite a few of his ceremonies and sweats and I feel very strongly that what he is doing is NOT fraud. I believe his intentions are good and that he helps most people who come to pray with him. I agree that praying in a Lakota way when one is not Lakota creates a lot of confusion about what is happening and that is where much of these accusations come from.
Warfield himself does not charge for ceremony. The hosts who invite him charge to offset the cost they have to put out to fly him out to them and for his accommodations. This was not always how it was. The hosts used to put up the costs themselves but one of them (my former mentor, who hosts him to this day in Somerville, NJ) started charging her students to attend so she didn't have to pay a dime out of her own pocket. Other hosts got wind of this and started following suit. So if anyone is guilty for selling ceremony it's my former mentor and the other hosts.
Warfield as a man, however, is best kept at a distance. It's true he is warm, funny, friendly and geniunely desires to help people but he is also manipulative, arrogant and a bully. You do what he wants you to do or f-- off. He has no one to check him and tell him how he is mistreating people, he's surrounded by "yes men" and people who want something from him, so they will not be honest with him. How else do you expect a man to act when he's treated that way?
I know also he does hold sundances each year on the reservation. I have been invited several times but never went. I feel that's crossing a line for me to go, since I am not Lakota, so I can't comment on what happens there from experience, however I have only heard good things about his sundances and his extended family that still lives on the reservation.
I once considered Warfield a beloved friend and in some ways a teacher. I still respect his work and stand by it. It is his treatment of others in his personal life, myself and my sister included, that made me decide my life is better without him in it. I feel it is important for people who do choose to pray with him to know the difference between his work and himself. Too often we hold spiritual figures to an impossible standard of behavior. His actions as a person do not discredit his actions in ceremony. One day he may lose his power, possibly because of his personal behavior, I don't know. But last time I prayed with him this was not the case. Just be warned if you try to be his friend. That's where you run a risk of getting burned.
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Haye mitakuyepi I sadden to have read another post that has no merit to what this website is for? I will stand by warfield moose and his family. I'm also from porcupine community. As somebody who is searching for the truth? I have yet to see any evidence that warfield moose is selling ceremonies or defrauding people. I have asked numerous people on and off the reservation about warfield moose, to date I haven't heard anything bad or wrong he has done. In fact I sent a email to vi Waln from the sicungu times and she has nothing but praise for warfield. I know the "has no horse" family stands by warfield. I even heard Avis Little eagle from standing rock reservation who wrote articles years ago about new age fraud is a supporter of the moose sundance. Until I see police reports or anything in the paper I will not believed anything. Mitakuyepi name calling or calling each other fraud isn't Lakota way. Long time ago if you didn't agree with somebody, it was told to me that we don't talk about them or just ignore them. Stay away from them. Im not hear to argue just want to say this haye mitakuye oyasin.
everyone has their opinion today that is good we need people tells us and give us information on people that have been brought to our attention, i will ask Avis Little Eagle tomorrow about
her support of his sun dance. I don't think anyone has called anyone a fraud this is the research section where we research a person that has brought back to our attention. the problem we face today
is not from our communities but from the white people that are being abused because they don't know any better. The fact that we have some of our people who are willing to take money for
what should not be sold, is wrong and we need to accountable as a people
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everyone has their opinion today that is good we need people tells us and give us information on people that have been brought to our attention, i will ask Avis Little Eagle tomorrow about
her support of his sun dance. I don't think anyone has called anyone a fraud this is the research section where we research a person that has brought back to our attention. the problem we face today
is not from our communities but from the white people that are being abused because they don't know any better. The fact that we have some of our people who are willing to take money for
what should not be sold, is wrong and we need to accountable as a people
Earth if you haven't talked to Avis yet there are a few questions I would like you to ask her about Warfield Jr.
I just looked at his website at www.warfieldmoose.com.
1) How does she feel about him selling a CD of Lakota Ceremonial songs and a book he wrote called The Lakota Philosophy of Healing Through Song? Here's the description:
"As a singer and helper to eleven Medicine Men, Warfield learned how to sing the ceremonial songs that have been passed down through the generations. In his new book, The Lakota Philosophy of Healing Through Song, Warfield provides a personal account of Lakota teachings, song translations, stories, a glossary and imagery that bring the work to life. The book is the companion piece to Warfield’s self-titled CD release of original Lakota songs in 2012.?"
Is is now ok to sell songs used in sacred ceremony on a CD like this? Does she know who these 11 Medicine Men are? Is it acceptable to make money by selling a book of Lakota teachings and song translations?
2) Also I'm wondering how she feels about pictures of his Sundance arbor posted on his website, with the Tree covered in robes/flags and prayer ties?
3) It would also be very helpful to get some of her thoughts regarding Warfield transferring the Sundance Ceremony to Jordan Head, a Blackfoot from the Kainai First Nation in Alberta, Canada, and another one to William Nevins, a Mi'kmaq from Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada. Did Warfield have the authority and the rights, together with the consent and support of the Lakota Nation, to give away this Lakota Ceremony to men from other Nations? While the piercing sundance was once a part of Blackfoot culture (the ceremony was lost when it was decided it was "illegal"), it was never a part of Mi'kmaq culture. Or is it ok for Warfield Jr but just not for anyone else to do this?
Just wondering.
ps Is Warfield still driving mega expensive trucks?
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well i just talked to Avis and she said she supports Warfield and attends his sundance,
she also says he is not a fraud, she says her son dances at Warfields dance and she attend the dance
every year. So not sure what to say