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Frauds / Re: James Arthur Ray Deaths from Phony Sweat, Harmonic Wealth Global
« Last post by Sparks on July 17, 2025, 12:34:08 am »
https://www.seeksafely.org/2025/01/04/statement-on-passing-of-james-arthur-ray/

This website has been mentioned in this thread more than a dozen times. It was started by the family of Kirby Brown, who lost her life along with two others on October 8, 2009. Something I cannot find there is what her sister Jean Brown says here:

https://www.azfamily.com/2025/01/07/sister-sedona-sweat-lodge-victim-reacts-james-rays-sudden-death/
Quote
Ray died on Friday.

“Right away I felt bad for his family. We do know what it feels like to lose somebody very unexpectedly,” said Jean Brown.

It’s a complicated place for Jean Brown to be in because Ray is responsible for the death of her sister, Kirby Brown.

He would also make statements sometimes like the tragedy in Sedona had to happen in order for him to grow, so I’m glad I won’t have to hear things like that anymore,” Jean said.

If James Arthur Ray really said things like that it's absolutely horrendous, and I found confirmation here (my boldings in text):

https://people.com/crime/new-cnn-documentary-examines-new-age-guru-james-arthur-ray-convicted-in-3-deaths-in-sweat-lodge-tragedy/
Quote
Ray: ‘It Had to Happen’
Carchman’s film contains a startling conclusion from Ray, who is asked by the filmmaker how the tragedy could have happened.

Although he is seen giving a teary apology in court, and emotionally referencing the event in small-scale seminars as he begins again to court clients, Ray answers: “It had to happen, because it was the only way I could experience and learn and grow through the things that I’ve done. … You come out of a situation like this and you’re either bitter and angry, or you’re more awake and grateful, and I choose awake and grateful, and I choose to see it as a test of character, and a test through fire, and I think I did OK.”

Asked by PEOPLE what he has done for the families of those who died, Ray says: “I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me. I’ve served my time, I paid restitution, I reached out to them, contrary to what was reported. I received mixed response from that reaching out.” He explains further: “I received an order, a legal document, when I was in custody stating that if I was to contact them in any way, there would be legal ramifications. I’ve respected that and honored that and I’ve abided by the law.”

“I’m not ignoring what happened,” he says. “Just the opposite. In fact, I’m using it to help make everyone I engage with the very best they can be. I can talk to a lot larger audience from a broader perspective of experience today than I ever could before.”
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HWG is stilling selling "healing" sessions through December of this year. Bizarre that they can claim that with a straight face from a man who killed and injured many with his reckless incompetence and ignorance. His partner is an Iraqi woman peddling tarot.

They seriously claim "Our mission is to cultivate a new generation of individuals who embody the values of:
Truth Morals Principles Virtues....

An unwavering stand against deception in all its forms....
Reduce human suffering...."

How does any of that align with Ray killing three people and injuring dozens more? Nowhere do they even admit to the deaths they caused, much less apologize. Greedy vultures.

Yes, there's a definite need for this warning to stay. His partner:

https://www.facebook.com/bbaghaee/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesarthurray/
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Welcome & News / Canadaland Podcasts about Pretendians
« Last post by Sparks on July 12, 2025, 06:22:50 pm »
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2AsiUTKzk

Quote from that link:
Quote
Interview with a Pretendian | Pretendians Episode 1
Why do people pretend to be Native? Hosts Robert Jago (Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe) Angel Ellis (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) begin their journey by asking someone who has been doing just that.

He’s not just your average imposter – "Grand Chief" Guillaume Carle is the king of the “pretendians", a French Canadian who made a small fortune creating his own fake First Nation and issuing phony Indian Status Cards to thousands of other identity thieves.
[…]
Follow Pretendians on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts:
https://link.chtbl.com/pretendians?sid=youtube

Link at the top is the first of a series of Podcasts about Pretendians from Canadaland.com:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2AsiUTKzk (Interview with a Pretendian | Pretendians Episode 1]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVesdykgsRk [Pretending in Prison | Pretendians Episode 2]
See the complete list at this URL https://www.canadaland.com/shows/pretendians/
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Research Needed / Re: Lelooska Foundation - "Chief" Lelooska - Ariel, WA
« Last post by Sandy S on June 19, 2025, 11:23:19 pm »
Lelooska Foundation
Ariel, WA
Tax-exempt since April 1980
EIN: 91-1037468

For the 2023 calendar year, or tax year beginning 01-01-2023 , and ending 12-31-2023 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/911037468/202433209349309823/full

Briefly describe the organization’s mission or most significant activities: Educate about Native Americans of the NW and North America.

Total revenue: prior year $254,661
current $301,060

Mariah Stoll-Smith Reese Executive Director

Tsungani Fearon M Smith
President

Eric Reese
Director

Brad Richards
Vice President

Gretchen Fuller
Treasurer

John Clapp
Director

Wendy Dasler Johnson
Director

Lisa Cunningham
Secretary

Carol Edmo
Director

"Over 10,000 people attended the Living History Museum and Programs, or attended evening programs individually or as part of a school program during the year."

-------

I've found some more name variations for the original core group:

Mary/Marjorie Jean (Hinkle) Smith: "Shona-Hah" "Gray Dove"

Donald M. Smith:  "Chief Lelooska" "He who cuts against wood with a knife" "Yana" "Bear"

Patricia Louise (Smith) Cook: "Patty Fawn" "Agee Lakee"

Fearon M. Smith Jr: "Yana High" "Lodge Wrecker"  "Yana Itta the Lodge Wrecker" "Schmitty" "Chief Tsungani" "He Who Excels"

Richard Smith (does not appear to be active in this as an adult) "Ayondre" "Thunder Eagle"
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Non-Frauds / Re: Raceshifting: Tracking Fraudulent "Metis" Groups
« Last post by Sparks on June 19, 2025, 12:17:31 am »
The theme of the present thread was continued in another topic in 2023:

http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=5643.0 [New Website for exposing Pretendians: Raceshifters.com]

Please note: The above URL has changed to Raceshifting.com, as shown by debbieredbear in the O.P. here.
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Etcetera / Re: New Website for exposing Pretendians: Raceshifters.com
« Last post by Sparks on June 19, 2025, 12:05:16 am »
It was mentioned [in the NAFPS forum], as also confirmed by educatedindian in the previous post. I am certain I posted comments about the site, but they are now missing.

That earlier thread [2019-2022), with my comments, can be found here:

http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=5375.0 [Raceshifting: Tracking Fraudulent "Metis" Groups]
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Research Needed / Re: Lelooska Foundation - "Chief" Lelooska - Ariel, WA
« Last post by Sandy S on June 08, 2025, 05:38:12 pm »
Article in The Lebanon Express
Fri, Oct 30, 1953 ·Page 1:

Don Smith said his name "Lelooska" means "lodge wrecker".

---------

He also at times used the name "Yana".

Don Smith has two brothers and one sister. One of those brothers, Richard Lee Smith, performed as a hoop dancer "Thunder Eagle". But so far I don't see signs of Richard Smith continuing this as an adult.

The Lelooska Foundation current directors are Fearon Smith Jr "Tsungani" and his daughter Mariah Stoll-Smith Reese. Mariah represents the third generation of this Lelooska fraud.

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Research Needed / Re: Lelooska Foundation - "Chief" Lelooska - Ariel, WA
« Last post by Sandy S on June 08, 2025, 04:41:03 pm »
Excerpts from Daily Star-Journal
Thu, Jan 08, 1959 ·Page 1

"Ancient Culture of Indians Still Lives in Central Oregon Valley"

Quote
Lelooska, whose common name is Don Smith, was born in northern California, grandson of a fierce Apache known as He-Kill. Lelooska remembers He-Kill telling him:

"Let the hatchet be buried. But let not the Indian ways be forgotten."

Eventually Don Smith evolved this story:

Quote
"My warrior grandfather was a whittler," Lelooska once told an interviewer. "He taught me to carve as soon as I could hold a knife."

Lelooska's grandfather, He-Kill, a full-blooded Cherokee, also taught him the myths and legends of his people.

"Grandfather always told me, `Let the hatchet be buried. But let not the Indian ways be forgotten.'

https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960907/2347842/lelooska-master-carver-won-acclaim-for-his-totem-poles

This fake saying is still being used by the family.

Don Smith here is referring to his maternal grandfather Enoch Fountain Hinkle https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53839500/enoch_fountain-hinkle This man was white, from white people.

-------
Something to remember when looking over records: just because a death certificate, obituary, newspaper article, online memorial, book, article etc states that someone is Native American, that does not necessarily mean it is true. Many people inaccurately self identify.
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Research Needed / Re: Lelooska Foundation - "Chief" Lelooska - Ariel, WA
« Last post by Sandy S on June 08, 2025, 03:19:08 pm »
One of the many, many examples of their ongoing fraud:

https://www.tribalexpressions.com/brands/artists/patty-fawn/

Quote
Patty’s family is from the Lelooska Tribe of Washington state. Originally the family is from Oklahoma Cherokee heritage. After moving to the Northwest coast, the family was adopted in the 1960’s by the Kwakiutl Tribe.

There is no actual "Lelooska Tribe" - the family invented this.

They do not have "Oklahoma Cherokee heritage". The matriarch was not born in Oklahoma, as they claim. Looking over genealogy, I only see white people.

I don't know if the Kwakiutl First Nation does adoptions or if they adopted this family. At most this may give the family the right to do some of their dance performances. But why would we want to see performances by white people of a culture that is not their own (and that they lie about)? https://www.lelooska.org/

The Lelooska family is definitely are not complying with this:

Quote
It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell, any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States.

https://www.kwakiutl.bc.ca/our-nation/

Buyer beware. This "Lelooska" group equals fraud.

Marilyn Jean Hinkle/Shona-hah Smith/Gray Dove

Don Morris Smith / Chief Lelooska

Fearon Smith Jr / Smitty/ Chief Tsungani

Patricia Louise Smith / Patty Fawn/ Patty Fawn-Cook
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