Author Topic: Nunutsi Otterson  (Read 4224 times)

Offline cellophane

  • Posts: 56
Nunutsi Otterson
« on: February 12, 2021, 10:07:40 pm »
(I'm posting this under "Research needed" because I'm a new membeer, and because I'm only 90% sure they belong in the "Frauds" category.)

I first heard of Nunutsi Otterson here:
http://www.ihiya.org/ourteam/
She calls herself "A Cherokee Elder, teacher, herbalist".

She's on the board of directors of Ihiya Biological Reserve, a privately owned nature preserve on San Juan Island, Washington. The main page was written by Otterson. The name of the preserve is explained in the main page, (http://www.ihiya.org), as "Cherokee for Reed, pronounced Ee-eye- ya or Eye-ee- ya". I would do some research to find out how a word is pronounced before using it, but that's just me. I couldn't find it in the online Cherokee dictionary project (https://cherokeedictionary.net). That introductory page is peppered with references to Cherokee traditions.

In her bio, Otterson thanks "my traditional Cherokee herbalist relatives". She herself is entirely of European extraction (I worked out her genealogy (from public genealogy sources. Nosy but necessary.) So I don't know what that means. Relatives by marriage, maybe? Does that in any way make her eligible to call herself "Cherokee"? In any case, calling yourself "Elder" is arrogant to say the least, no matter what her age.

The Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/join/ihiya) for the Ihiya preserve offers as bonuses "Lifetime access to a growing collection of audio files of sacred indigenous "medicine songs" lovingly offered by Nunutsi, Eric, and Rowan Otterson."

The Facebook page for an organization called "Red Feather Lodge" (https://www.facebook.com/pg/RedFeatherLodge/about) says of Otterson, "Traveling from the Bay Area to Seattle every month to teach classes and individuals in Medicine Ways, Sweat Lodge and Sacred Fire, the 7 Sacred Woods & Prosperity Teachings, and Plant Spirit Medicine. She offers individual and group consultations for a wide variety of projects.", and "She has studied, practiced and taught traditional shamanic ceremonies for 35 years including Vision Quest, Medicine Pipe, Sweat Lodge, and ceremonial crafting. These indigenous prayerways all involve plants, and Nunutsi's knowledge has come directly from the plants themselves. She is dedicated to promoting what is currently known as Plant Spirit Medicine.
Coming from an eclectic lineage of indigenous teachers, Nunutsi currently works with Phyllis Bala, a colleague of Fleur de Mayo, one of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers."

(There's an unintentional link in the Facebook page to a lodge by the Grand Canyon with that name, with a genuine old-time Indian caricature sign in front. I don't think they're knowingly connected. I don't think Otterson knows how much they actually are connected. Appropriation repeats itself.)

A student of hers says (http://etbodyworks.simpl.com/my_journey.html), "Through the greater community, I have studied shamanic practices with Nunutsi Otterson of Cherokee and Cree lineage, deepening my understanding of Native American practices in grounding through nature, ceremony and service."

Another student says (http://singingdeerhealing.com/wordpress/?page_id=821) she "is also a longtime student of earth-based wisdom ways as taught to her by Cherokee medicine woman Nunutsi Otterson. She is honored to be able to practice and share some of these teachings with her clients and students."

Another student says (defunct page, archived at https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Pcxh9W44egAJ:https://journeyfound.com/about/+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) claims "2 years training in Native American Energetics, completing a traditional Lakota Vision Quest in Shasta Mountain, CA and a 6 month Lakota sweat lodge training- via Nunutsi Otterson".

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I'm all for nature preserves. If someone feels they want to frame a nature preserve with spirituality, more power to them. It's not cool to act like someone else's identity is your toy.

Offline verity

  • Posts: 128
Re: Nunutsi Otterson
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2021, 05:13:13 pm »
(I'm posting this under "Research needed" because I'm a new membeer, and because I'm only 90% sure they belong in the "Frauds" category.)

She herself is entirely of European extraction (I worked out her genealogy (from public genealogy sources. Nosy but necessary.)

What is her birth name? I'd like to look over the genealogy records too.

Quote
Nunutsi Otterson is of the Red Star Fire contingency of the Cherokees of California, specifically out of Marysville, California.


https://vashonwilderness.org/justice

 The Cherokees of California (Marysville, CA) is listed here http://www.pollysgranddaughter.com/p/fraudulent-cherokee-organizations.html as a fraudulent organization.

The domestic nonprofit, registered 1975, has been defunct since about 2018. One of their primary members died in 2018:

Quote
Lawanna was a member of the Cherokees of California serving as Treasurer, Elder, and past Council Chief of Yellowbird Council,


https://sierraviewfh.com/tribute/details/4143/Leuwanna-Williams/obituary.html#content-start

Offline cellophane

  • Posts: 56
Re: Nunutsi Otterson
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2021, 07:44:20 pm »
She was born Sheila A. Gibb, in San Rafael, CA. Her father, John L. Gibb, was English, and her mother, Betty Mae Rada, came from 19th century European immigrants. Her mother's family lived for a few generations near Marysville.

She also goes by Sage Otterson, and has also used the last name Ottersong.

Thanks for doing this, it's always good to have someone double-check.

Offline verity

  • Posts: 128
Re: Nunutsi Otterson
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2021, 06:59:42 pm »
Yet another student:

Quote
Ceremonial, Sweat Lodge and Sacred Pipe Teachings with Nunutsi Otterson
Ceremony, Sweat Lodge and Sacred Pipe and Prosperity Teachings, Plant Spirit Medicine

2012 - 2020

Activities and Societies: Founding member of Read Feather Lodge-community sweat lodge.

Nature bases studies working with the alchemical and healing properties of the natural elements; fire, earth, air, plants, water.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-christofferson-4821194a

I can confirm what cellophane has written about Sheila A Gibb/ Sage Otterson / Ottersong/ Nunutsi Otterson .

Her father's obit https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/marinij/name/john-gibb-obituary?pid=18512145

She was born in 1963. Her genealogy can easily be pulled together. Her heritage is indeed English and 19th century European immigrants.

Offline cellophane

  • Posts: 56
Re: Nunutsi Otterson
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2021, 03:59:28 am »
Nunutsi means 'child' in Huichol.