'To be presented at the meeting between Native issues activists and New Age operators in Europe, where the activists want the operators to do some big explaining. This is a statement I'm asking Leo to present for me:
Declaration to New Age Operators in Europe
To New Age leaders, healers, “shamans,??? business owners, etc. based in Europe who claim to be Native medicine people or elders or to work with them or imitate them,
My name is Dr. Al Carroll. I am a history professor of Mescalero Apache heritage. In 1999 I co-founded New Age Frauds Plastic Shamans (NAFPS). We are a multi-tribal multi-ethnic multi-faith activist group of over 100 people from all walks of life. Our members are Apache, Anishnaabe Cherokee, Lakota, Menominee, Munsee, Tohono Oodham, and many other tribes as well as white, Black, Latino, Maori, English, Swedish, Australian, Canadian, Christian, pagan, atheist, Muslim, many American Indian traditionalists, and many reformed and former New Agers.
We warn the public about imposters who pose as Native medicine people and seek to give people better sources to learn about American Indians as well as educate the public about the harm caused by spiritual exploitation, racism, commercialism, and sexual abuse which are widespread within the New Age movement and self proclaimed “shamanism.
On this matter our point of view is quite typical of the sentiment of the overwhelming majority of Native people in the US, as has been expressed repeatedly in numerous declarations by traditional Native elders, tribal councils such as those of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Hopi, Navajo, and numerous Lakota reservations, and every prominent Native activist group out there from the American Indian Movement to ICARE to Iron Lodge to Red Road Collective to Native Americans Against Censorship.
You need to understand, as many of you in fact already know but pretend otherwise, that the overwhelming sentiment is against New Age misrepresentation and exploitation of Native spiritual traditions. There are NO legitimate Native medicine people teaching in Europe. Some may visit to seek support for Native causes, but none sell ceremonies, seminars, or workshops to teach them, or endorse white pretenders to do this for them.
I would like for all the New Age leaders and business owners present to answer these important questions and concerns. Your responses will be noted, as well as any lack of response or attempts to avoid answering or be misleading.
1) Will you make public disclaimers that none of what you do is Native or Native-derived in any way shape or form?
2) Will you cease contact or support of any and all imposters posing as Native medicine people, including every one of them listed as imposters by NAFPS and/or AIM?
3) Will you issue the public warning included describing the dangers of sweatlodges performed by anyone who is not a Native traditional elder?
4) Will you cease contact or support of any and all sexual predators and abusers within New Age leaders or self proclaimed “shamans?
5) Will you work with NAFPS or other Native activists and our allies to develop a code of conduct, and agree that any New Age operators who do not adhere to it shall be publicly denounced and disavowed?
6) If not, we the members of NAFPS and other Native activist and our allies demand to know why.
This series of requests will be publicly posted, and your responses or lack of shall be as well.
Sinceely,
Dr. Al Carroll
Social & Behavioral Sciences Dept.
St. Phillip’s College
