NAFPS Forum

http://www.thenativehealer. com/
You have found the training program for Medicine Men and Medicine Women, Traditional Spiritual Leaders, Shahaptian Guides, Shahaptian Carriers (Healers), Shahaptian Shirts, and Native American Practitioners of the

 
Nemenhah Band and Native American Traditional Organization (Oklevueha Native American Church of Sanpete).

 

Note:  The Band was formerly named "Numi'Pu Tsu'Peli Chopunish", but out of respect for the Nez Perce Tribe (who objected to our use of these names), we have changed it to the above.  The Oklevueh Native American Church Of Utah (Chief Fool Bull Blessing and Chief Richard 'He Who Has The Foundation' Swallow Blessing - Rosebud NAC) recognized the Nemenhah as the Oklevueha Native American Church of Sanpete.

 

 

Warning to internet surfers:  There are hundreds of Native American Religious Traditions.  We respect and honor them all and that is why we do not publish the ceremonies of other traditions in our educational modules.  All sacred healing and ceremony in any of our modules comes from tradition that is purely Nemenhah and is derived from no other tradition.  If the Native American Tradition to which you ascribe requires you to keep all that is sacred to you secret, this website might be offensive to you.  Please stop reading now and go somewhere else!  We respect your opinion and wish no offense, but that is just as plain as we can get.  This site has to do with the training of Medicine Men and Women of the Nemenhah Band and no one else.  If you are offended that we wish to train our Spiritual Leaders in a manner that is different than yours, we would hope that you will have the courtesy of allowing us our way of thinking.

 

Additionally, we believe that it is appropriate to support our religion with Thank Offerings, in fact, we require our members to do so prayerfully.  We use whatever medium of offering our members see fit and appropriate.  We do not charge for services or ceremony, but we do gratefully accept the generous offerings of our members.  If that is offensive to you, you should seek some other path.

 

The Nemenhah Program NAC, Inc. is a Seminary of the Nemenhah Church. Any use of the term "Pay" or "Payment" is in reference to DONATIONS and OFFERINGS and should not be confused with any type of commerce.

 

Plainly put, the Nemenhah follow a tradition that believes in teaching Sacred Healing Ceremony to all people of good intent.  It is an ancient tradition derived from ancient records of our people which we hold to be of great value to us and the basis for our organization.  We do not derive our teachings from any other Tribe or Band and, if the teachings of other Tribes or Bands ever find their way on this site, it will only be because such inclusion has received the approval of those Tribes and Bands.

 

Warning to Dogmatists:  If you are of that set of people who believe that Spiritual Enlightenment and Progress can only be achieved through your own way of doing things, if you believe that there is but one true religion and that religion is yours, then this site may be offensive to you.  Native American Religion has been called many things by many people.  One thing that it is not is Dogmatic.  It is a highly personal thing and relies upon personal revelation from Heavenly Beings.  If you feel you must rely upon some man or woman, or set of people, to determine for you what spirituality is, then this site is not for you. 

 

Fundamental to Native American Religion is the concept of Emergence.  To emerge is to progress.  Therefore, emergence from a condition of illness into a condition of wellness is just as much part of the religion as emergence from a condition of sin into a condition of righteousness.  All Native American Ceremony has for its purpose this principle of Emergence.  Our Ministers are anxiously engaged in the teaching of this principle.  If you cannot find a place for Emergence in your belief system, then go somewhere else.

 

 

 
If you can declare in your heart and to the world that natural healing is part of your spiritual orientation and faith, this program is for you!


 
This program is provided only to the duly adopted members of the Nemenhah Band and Traditional Organization and is OFFERING BASED.  The application for Spiritual Adoption may be downloaded or you may enter you data on this site.  The application asks for a Suggested offering is $145 for the first year,each additional year is a $55 suggested offering.

 
.  All Donations are non-refundable.

http://www.thenativehealer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=166&Itemid=108

Band Elders

            The Elders are Members of the Band, by the Ancient Tradition of Adoption in the case of those whose lineage is uncertain, or by recognition of the Band in the case of those whose lineage is certain, who have been appointed to positions within the governing structure of the Band, or whom the EPMC has recognized by permanent honorarium.  Such Elders currently include Phillip (Cloudpiler) Landis, Hon. Benjamin Zvenia, Jasmine Hisha, Ray (White Bear) Mendenhall, James F.E. Mooney, Chief Gary Tom, Kari (Bunched Lightning) Scott, Chief Robert Sunhawk, Semisi (Fears No Wind) Tukuafu, His Excellency Charles McWilliams, Hon. John Campbell, Hon. Norbert Johnson, Hon. Benjamin Anguiera, Hon. Dr. Pinto, and the Lodge Council of the Maka Oyate Sundance Lodge of the Nemenhah.

In any organization that seeks to utilize the protection of legislation that requires recognition of other tribes or bands, Holy Men and Holy Women, and Native American Traditional Organizations, it is mindful and appropriate to obtain for the band members the association and recognition of Elders from such agencies.  It is also good to list them in a foundational document.  Such recognition at the very constitution of the band gives due honor to those important individuals that allow the band to satisfy the dictates of the law.

landis cloudpiler...  http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=mt&vol=00&invol=436

Mooney is the one trying to say he's a tribal member.. and has the right to use Peyote.

Seems like they've done a little homework.  It's still a pay for pray scam though.  The one way to test it would be to join them and never pay.  See how much "training" happens then. 

So you must be "adopted" to receive training and the training is "offering based".  Not to mention the repeated use of the words "Native American religion" as a selling point.

All red flags.

This is pretty funny. They're not the only Nuagers calling themselves Nemenhah Band.

I can only hope these two sets of imposters begin accusing each other of being frauds, and hopefully even take each other to court.

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http://www.cassadaga.biz/
Peter's Psychic Medium Sessions are conducted by Phone or In-Person and are $35 for 15 minutes, $60 per half hour and $100 per hour by donation in or outside of Cassadaga Florida.  The best way to schedule an appointment is to call 407-417-1679.
 
Pastor Peter KenNell
 Psychic - Medium Healer - Medicine Man  956 Cassadaga Rd,  Cassadaga Florida 32744
Professional: Mystic, Psychic, Medium, Healer, Medicine Man, Counselor, and Teacher of  The Universal God Energy.
Locations: Cassadaga Florida, Sanford, and Orlando Florida, psychic phone readings also available by appointment  407-417-1679.
Reverend KenNell is a psychic living and practicing his God given talents in Cassadaga Florida.  He is a Native American Pastor, Medicine Man, and healer of the Nemenhah Band.  A member of the Spiritualist National Union, and ordained by the famous non-denominational Christian teacher and healer, Reverend Willard Fuller.   He is also ordained in the ancient Tibetan Medicine Buddha healing practice.

He is currently available for both group and private psychic sessions in Cassadaga Florida and other locations throughout Central Florida.  If you are unable to visit him at one of his locations, you may choose a psychic phone reading.  Reverend KenNell specializes in helping clients with his gifts as a mystic, psychic, medium, Medicine Man, and healer.  A typical session can consist of a combination of services or a single skill mentioned depending upon your needs. Click here to view all the methods involved with a psychic reading

In addition to counseling and Psychic readings.  Peter offers Psychic training and workshops in Orlando, Sanford, and Cassadaga Florida. The training provided are in the areas of meditation, and the development of psychic, healing, and medium, skills.  Peter shares his teachings based on his own personal experiences and studies in the metaphysical realms.  He also offers workshops in orb spirit and paranormal photography.  Everyone has psychic abilities learn how to tap into your own psychic, mystical, and healing potential.
 
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His bio:

I am 47 years old and have raised a family.  Ten years years ago I was a computer professional, I enjoyed this career however I realized I had pushed away the psychic abilities I was born with.  Since then I have studied with psychics and mediums from around the world honing my natural abilities and for the past 6 years have been in professional practice using both natural and acquired psychic and healing skills.

Mooney's claims get more ludicrous and offensive. The actual NAC says he's not NAC, but he still uses that as part of their "colllege's" title. He and Cloudpiler are not healers or spiritual leaders.

And despite the grandiose claims, their online forum shows a grand total of 50 members, including the usual suspects and the curious.

Look at what else they're peddling.

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http://www.thenativehealer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=13&id=44&Itemid=130

There are certain Sacred Products that the Nemenhah Band considers to be part of the Sacraments of the Sacred Shahaptian Healing Way.  Some of these Sacred Products are available in various forms from companies that have commited to provide them for use by Medicine Men and Medicine Women. 
 
Copal (Essentials Oils) 
Defense 
Native Enzymes 
Native Flora 
pH Rescue 
Rice Plus 
     
For further reading about these ingredients, we suggest the following books, “ Black Cumin, The Magical Egyptian Herb for Allergies, Asthma, and Immune Disorders ,??? by Peter Schleicher, M.D., and Mohamed Saleh, M.D., “ Allicin, The Heart of Garlic ,??? by Peter Josling, and “ Real Answers to Real Question ,??? by Phillip Landis, N.D., Med. Shirt.

Dr. Linus Pauling said, “You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment ultimately to a mineral deficiency???. 

------------------------

Pauling was a brilliant nuclear physicist (worked on the Manhattan Project) who became a crackpot in later years, claiming everyone needed huge amounts of vitamins.

The articles and sales pitches for their products are written by Bevonne Birch, who is all over the net proclaiming herself a "Native American Medicine Woman", no tribe ever named that I could find, unless you count that "band".

Here's Bevonne, by the photo obviously not a fullblood, more likely a PODIA if she's Native at all.
http://www.essentialhealthseminars.com/EHSContact.htm
 

That band is a pay to pray scam alright. You have to pay to join and to continue to be a member.

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http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415228
Barnett, a special projects officer at the Native American Health Center in Oakland, was referring to an e-mail he received by mistake, intended for a company called Native American Nutritionals. From their site he had been lead to another, thenativehealer.com.

There, he found an offer of ''spiritual adoption'' for a $90 donation and $5 in monthly payments by the Nemenhah Band and Native American Traditional Organization of the Oklevueha Native American Church of Sanpete.

The group is an ''independent band'' which offers enrollment in an online college where people can pay to qualify as medicine men or women, healers and Native practitioners, according to their Web site.

Courses range from online lessons in smudging to a six-hour ''Unipi Ceremony Practicum,'' which requires a mentor to ''come to your lodge.''

Each member receives a ''ministerial card'' that is valid as long as they are progressing and ''making regular offerings,'' according to the Web site.

------------------------

Another less than credible pair of healers from that "band". Two yuppies playing at being NDN.

http://www.iggygarcia.com/About%20Us.html
"Iggy and Suzi Garcia are  members of the Nemenhah Band and Native American Traditional Organization (NAC) is certified and in good standing of the affore said Native American Church and are Shahaptian Guide Medicine Man and woman.  And as such is authorized to perform all the ordinances pertaining to their calling, including the use of Plants, Animals, Stones, Feathers, and so forth in rites and ceremonies which do pertain to the Tents of the Scared Shahaptian Healing way as restored to the Nemenhah Band by Wyakin and as set forth in the constitution of the Band.  We are members of Journeys way Lodge in Columbus, Ohio.  Sweat lodge Itsipi Leader, Intuitive Life Coaches™, Drum Healing, Drum Circles, Remote Healing, Body Energy Work, Inca Meditation, and Open Chair Gestalt."

Not sure about the reliability of this site, but it says the Nemenhah are from the Book of Mormon.
http://www.greaterthings.com/Records/Nemenhah/index.html
"Records of the Nemenhah
Alleged account of a peaceful people who sailed north with Hagoth, who was mentioned in the Book of Mormon."

This is disturbing. They hope to use their claims to be Native to avoid prosecution if their products don't work or harm people.

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http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?read=83663
Rumor Mill News Reading Room Archive

DON'T FEAR CODEX - THE NEMENHAH NATIVE AMERICAN CLAN CAN ADOPT YOU

Posted By: Rayelan <Send E-Mail>
Date: Thursday, 29 December 2005, 10:34 p.m.

In Response To: SAVE DR HULDA CLARK!!! (Freedom4ever) I don't fully understand all of this, but I am going to do my best to explain it as far I understand it.

I'm part Cherokee and I am going to do what I must to become part of the Cherokee nation or of a cousin clan like the Nemenhah.

Cloudpiler, a grandson of Chief Joseph, the great Nez Perce Chief and others who are part of Native American Nutritionals became recognized Native American Practitioners by seeking adoption into the Nemenhah Band and Native American Traditional Organization.

As Shahaptian Guides, they gained a valuable connection with the Holistic Principle of Native American Healing... as well as a legal safety net where natural healing is concerned.

You can read more about this on their webpage... the long and short of it goes like this:

By becoming Native American Practitioners, they (or YOU or anyone who gets adopted) qualify under the protections and exemptions provided by the Federal Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act of 1993 (NAFERA).

This Act of Congress was passed almost unanimously by both houses of legislature in Washington, D.C. The Act protects the Spiritual Path of Native Americans and their Traditional Spiritual Leaders.

NAFERA dictates that "no laws or statutes may be enacted that tend to regulate the establishment of Native American Religions or the free exercise thereof."

This makes exclusive licensure laws that have either been passed by, or are presently on the dockets of every state legislature in the country to fall under the NAFERA exemption. It also applies to CAFTA and other trade regulatory statutes!!

The bottom line is this: Native American Practitioners are exempt by definition from such regulatory statutes.

Their Life Path understands that, for the Healer, the relief of suffering comes into spiritual orientation. In fact, Native American Practitioners make no distinction beween Healing and religion!!

Someone needs to tell Dr. Clark that there IS another path she can "adopt".

Here's the link. Please take the time to read more. If you are a healer, then you are practicing your own spirituality. NAFERA gives you the protection you may soon need to continue to use "natural" substances instead of buying pseudo-cures from Big Pharma.

NEMENHAH HOME PAGE

Defense works!!

Those so called "elders" are quite a bunch. Mooney, Jasmine Hisha, and "Cloudpiler" have already had threads on them.

----------------------
"Hon. Benjamin Zvenia"-

http://educate-yourself.org/dc/EFFtargetsuggestions15jan04.shtml
Our own Doc von Peters is still struggling to stay above water economically after the CIA sent Benjamin Zvenia to get onto his Naturopathic College's administrative staff and rob the school blind and otherwise try, on behalf of his handlers, to make Doc's life a living hell. Let's focus on Benjamin, as he still won't let up even though the college is finished. FYI, Benny's got several convictions for crooked real estate deals, did 5 years in a Nevada prison for practicing medicine without a license (okay, I know 99.99% of MDs in the US never get beyond the 'practice' stage, anyway and many of those medical murderers in Nevada should probably have been prison bitches along with Ben ;-), got caught writing bad checks in Nevada and North Carolina and had been booked on attempted theft charges. Doc just found this out. No doubt Benny was given a clean slate and a fabulous resume by his CIA handlers when he was thrown at that school in this fake gov't's long term War on Healers. They probably recruited him in prison. Send Ben your tough love if you feel inclined. We do. Benny typifies how the CIA runs its sabotage campaigns against high-profile people of character like the Doc.

Also http://www.lightharmonics.com/oiucm/speaker_bios/zvenia.htm.
Basically he's done premed and altmed courses before he became a lawyer. Says he's Native (judging by the groups he joins) but no mention of what tribe.

Basically he teaches the "band" members how to use NARFA to avoid prosecution.

--------------------

They claim Robert Sunhawk as an elder, but this site says he passed on over a dozen years ago.

http://www.robertsunhawk.com/

Notice that the site also mentions his Cherokee ancestry is distant. Also the Plains warbonnet on an alleged Cherokee medicine man who also sold herbal meds.

This profile shows a Grizzly Adams lookalike as Sunhawk.
http://www.thenativehealer.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=192

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Semisi (Fears No Wind) Tukuafu

http://www.spock.com/Semisi-Tukuafu-NuO6t1NXI
"I am 38.... a Elua Lomilomi Healer (Ancient Hawaiian healing method). I do Massage for clients in the evening supporting my family, and am a member of a Reggae band called Soul Redemption. I play the Trombone (a Brass instrument) in the band and sing background vocals."

The healing method he claims only shows up online in sites that he's on.

Many sites says that lomilomi is just...massage.

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 His Excellency Charles McWilliams-Apparently his title came from the Pope. He runs a health center in the Caribbean island of St Kitts.
http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/jun1308/news8a.htm

So why is one of the "Pope's knights" from St Kitts part of an alleged Native band in Utah?

------------------

Hon. Norbert Johnson- retired, with the same law firm as Zvenia.

Why either Johnson or Zvenia are called "elders" isn't clear. In fact it's not clear for any of them.

------------------

Hon. Benjamin Anguiera- actually spelled Angueira. Runs a seminary in Puerto Rico whose address is a PO box!

http://www.waucglobalaccreditation.org/universities.htm
Universidad y Seminario Apostolico de las Americas Inc - Dr. Benjamin Angueira, President, P.O. Box 3375 San Juan Puerto Rico 00938, university@caribe.net

And that accreditation is not too impressive. Basically they disclaim any responsibility for the colleges listed, and any college can join for 500 bucks.

He also runs Airside Financial Corp in Miami.
http://airsidefinancial.com/

And is listed as an "Ambassador to the Dominion of Melchizidek"! I swear I'm not making that up.
 http://www.melchizedek.com/ambassadors.htm
"Benjamin Angueira
(Caribbean)"

Hey, Caribbean is not a country...

Honorable Dr. Pinto- is also one of the Pope's knights along with McWilliams and Anguiera. 

What can you say....not one of them comes anywhere close to being an elder. Zvenia might be the only NDN in the bunch. Not a single one of them even mentions a tribe. And none of them are actually medicine people.

Perhaps the authorities need to be reminded that NARFA is only supposed to protect NDNs, not imposters.

Sorry, but I'm still laughing at "Fears No Wind." 

(See http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1644.msg12084 )

A follower of the Nemenha is refusing to allow their child to be treated for cancer.

Also a reporter would like to speak with anyone of those who commented on this thread, or anyone who knows more about Nemenha and its alleged healers. IM me and I'll pass along contacts.

---------------------

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/44568447.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr
Daniel Hauser has what doctors consider one of the most curable types of cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma.

But the 13-year-old from Sleepy Eye, Minn. and his parents don't want him to have chemotherapy and radiation, the standard treatments. For the past three months, they have ignored the advice of his cancer specialists and turned to natural therapies, such as herbs and vitamins, instead.

Now they are going to court to defend their decision.

James Olson, the Brown County attorney, has filed a petition accusing Daniel's parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, of child neglect and endangerment, and he has asked a judge in New Ulm to order the boy into treatment.

The case, which goes to trial this morning, has quickly turned into a cause celebre in the world of alternative medicine. Last week, supporters packed the courthouse in New Ulm, Minn., for a pretrial hearing, and both sides are bracing for an even a bigger crowd today.

"You can't imagine what kind of outpouring we've gotten here," said Calvin Johnson, a Mankato attorney who is representing Daniel's parents. "There's a lot of feeling on this subject."

Daniel, one of eight children, has asserted that treatment would violate his religious beliefs. The teenager filed an affidavit saying that he is a medicine man and church elder in the Nemenhah, an American Indian religious organization that his parents joined 18 years ago (though they don't claim to be Indians).

"I am opposed to chemotherapy because it is self-destructive and poisonous," he told the court. "I want to live a virtuous life, in the eyes of my creator, not just a long life." He also filed a "spiritual path declaration" that said: "I am a medicine man. Some times we teach, and some times we perform. Now, I am doing both. I will lead by example."
Johnson said Daniel's case has touched a nerve because the state wants to impose a potentially dangerous treatment that neither the boy nor his family believe in. "Why does a doctor have the right to come in with the power of the state and the county attorney by his side and say 'take my medicine?' " he said.

But Olson, the county attorney, says he is trying to protect a child from a decision that could cost him his life.

"If he were 18 years old and made the decision that his parents are making for him, we would not be in court," Olson said. "Since the boy just turned 13 in March, I felt the judge needs to take a look at this and make a decision."

The family declined a request for an interview Thursday.

Danny, as he is known, was first found to have cancer in late January, and his doctors recommended six rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, according to court papers. The disease -- a cancer of the immune cells -- has a 95 percent survival rate for his age group with treatment, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

But after one round of chemotherapy, Daniel became so sick that his parents refused to send him for a second treatment. They switched him to an alternative regime of complementary medicine, including dietary changes and "ionized water," Johnson said.

In the meantime, the Hausers asked for second and third opinions from the Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota. In both cases, the cancer specialists recommended chemotherapy and radiation, said Olson, the county attorney. Without treatment, he said, he was told the boy could die. In April, he filed a petition asking the court to force treatment.

Olson's petition says, in part: "Both the Mayo and Children's doctors have told the parents that Daniel has a 90 percent chance of being cured with standard chemotherapy and radiation, and this would decrease significantly to 50 percent or less if the tumor is allowed to re-grow and develops resistance to chemotherapy.''

"There's a fine line between parental rights to do what parents feel [is] in the best interest of their children, and the state's right," Olson said Thursday. "In this case, we've claimed we have a compelling state interest in protecting this young man."
James S. Turner, a Washington lawyer and natural health advocate, has joined the battle on the Hausers' side.

"Consumers do have the right to choose what kind of approach they want to take on any health question, that's our argument," said Turner, who was one of Ralph Nader's original Nader's Raiders, and now chairs a group called Citizens for Health.

Philip Elbert, a St. Peter attorney who is representing Daniel, agrees. "If a parent is given a choice of two rational choices, you can't just say 'I don't like that choice,'" he said. "We may not agree with the decision, but it's not our decision to make."

The parents have said they were not ruling out chemotherapy completely, and would try it again if the cancer begins to grow, according to court documents. For now, Daniel appears to be doing well, said Johnson.

Olson says he would not have gone to court if the boy had a grim prognosis, "and the parents made a decision that they don't want to put him through chemotherapy." But in this case, he said, "the doctors are telling us that it's 90 percent curable."

In his court papers, though, Daniel sounds defiant. "I claim this, as my right, that no one: No government, No big Brother, No Tribe, No other human being may interfere with my Spiritual Path and my consciousness."

  A "medicine man" at the age of 13???? This is nothing more than a cult that is dangerous to the health and welfare of it's members and because of this cult a child will lose his life. This is upsetting. 

just thought that was particularly relevant for this "thread" .. .. a case of one fraud accusing another .. deflection? .. we see it all the time .. :)

[Sidetrack removed]

  This thread is about a kid possibly dying because of a "shaman cult". Not Cat Carnes..........

your absolutely right! .. .. i said i was being a brat .. .. yet, underlying all issues are other issues .. perhaps they should be pointed out, perhaps not .. .. 

obviously i thought this to be an important issue for me to post in it and add more information .. sorry, my mind works in weird ways seeing interconnections .. .. .. (shutting up now)

More press on this, including quotes from Al:

A closer look contains hints of sham artist, not a shaman

By JON TEVLIN, Star Tribune

A boy's life hangs in the balance in New Ulm, Minn., this week as a court decides if he should abide by the advice of prominent doctors or that of a group claiming to be American Indian healers whose website the boy's mother says she "found on the Internet."

read the rest: http://www.startribune.com/local/44755337.html

an interesting blog on this subject .. in the comments section, James Warren ‘Flaming Eagle’ Mooney is trying to defend nemenhah, himself, etc ..

http://www.computernewbie.info/wheatdogg/2009/05/11/a-sad-curious-tale-of-rampant-duplicity-and-stupidity/

Tevlin contacted me 4 or 5 days ago. Tevlin mentioned finding in his own searches that Landis was convicted of fraud in Montana, grand theft in Idaho, and "something else" in Utah. He wasn't specific on the last one, but I'll ask him and where we can get online proof to post of this.

I have heard of alternative healing methods working on certain types of cancer, however these methods (including diet changes) in 99% of the cases i personaly have read about over the years were used AFTER other methods had failed, or were used immediately upon diagnosis, administered by liscened proffessionals, and only affected certain types of cancer.

    It was not long ago that a family who refused to get treatment for thier child who died were charged with a crime for not taking appropriate action ( the disease had a cure rate of 99%). The family choose to rely on faith healing instead of medicine. now they are in jail for criminal neglect.

   While i do believe that people have every right to practice their religion, I also believe that failing to make use of any and all available treatments, especially those that have been proven to be effective is a slight against the One who gave us life. I believe that the creator gave us the ability to learn to treat and find cures for diseases.

    having seen my mother, father and sister, as well as a dear family friend go through chemo, yes it does make you very sick.  by the time my parents and friend got the treatment it was too late as the cancer had spread too much. but my sister is still here due to getting it.

   SO in short- I personaly believe that refusing to accept or get treatment for a disease that is mostly curable  for religious reasons is a slight to the one who gave you life, by saying you would rather die than get a treatment that will allow you to live.

This issue is getting a lot of coverage in various science blogs, including one by a surgical oncologist.

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/05/another_child_sacrificing_himself_on_the.php 
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/05/daniel_hauser_and_the_rejection_of_chemo.php

There are others, just search scienceblogs.com for the child's name or the word Nemenhah.

They are spreading the belief that shunning medical treatment in favor of the group's selected therapies is the way Native American beliefs work.

Coverage has gone very mainstream now: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_he_me/us_med_forced_chemo


Judge rules family can't refuse chemo for boy

By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press Writer Amy Forliti, Associated Press Writer   – 2 hrs 54 mins ago

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota judge ruled Friday that a 13-year-old cancer patient must be evaluated by a doctor to determine if the boy would benefit from restarting chemotherapy over his parents' objections.

In a 58-page ruling, Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg found that Daniel Hauser has been "medically neglected" by his parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, and was in need of child protection services.

While he allowed Daniel to stay with his parents, the judge gave the Hausers until Tuesday to get an updated chest X-ray for their son and select an oncologist.

read the rest of the article... (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_he_me/us_med_forced_chemo)


Sadly, no overt mention of the fact the group are frauds and not representatives of any authentic Native American nation or healing tradition. But there are lines like:
"The Missouri-based religious group believes in natural healing methods advocated by some American Indians."
and
"Landis said he founded the faith after facing his diagnosis of a cancer similar to Daniel Hauser. He said he treated it with diet choices, visits to a sweat lodge and other natural remedies."

Also, the teaser for this story currently running on Yahoo's main news page reads:
 * 'Medicine man' boy's chemo wishes vetoed (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_he_me/us_med_forced_chemo)

note - all three links are to same article. I have quoted, rather than reprint the article in full, so we don't get into any problems with copyright issues.   

The wheatdogg blog listed above got an interesting comment today from the son of someone defrauded tragically by Landis...

Here's some excerpts...the rest of the letter is there...comment #9

From the wheatdogg blog:
http://www.computernewbie.info/wheatdogg/2009/05/11/a-sad-curious-tale-of-rampant-duplicity-and-stupidity/
------------------------------------------
galigo:
May 15th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

My mother died because she followed his healing advice instead of receiving medical treatment. Here is a copy of an email I sent the chief. cloudpiler@nemenhah.org

Phil Landis (AKA Cloudpiler),

Thanks to all the publicity you’re receiving from this Daniel Hauser case, I finally caught up to you. I’m sure you’ve wanted to know how things ended up with my mother, Richelle, your neighbor at Parks Place, Hideaway Valley, UT.

If your memory needs refreshed, she had uterine cancer, which is 75% to 95% survivable with appropriate (medical) treatment.

However, you advised her to use your alternative healing methods, which she did.

As you were aware, she became sicker and sicker, as she continued to do what you advised her to do. When I came to visit her, you would disappear.

When she became so sick that she needed 24 hour care, my wife and I brought her to our home in Idaho. Here, we cared for her and loved her until she died.

...................................

I wonder how many other people have died because of what you do.

Does it bother you?

Here’s something you should know: My wife and my dad both had cancer at the same time as my mother. Weird, huh. The thing is, my wife and my dad are still here. Cured by surgery. Perfectly healthy now.

I miss my mom, and every time I think of her slow, painful, rotting, stinking death my heart breaks all over again.

You are not only a fraud, chief, you’re a killer.

------------------------------------------
end of quoted material


Heartbreaking and a clear example of how these guys do more harm than just steal money.....
Superdog

 This crap should be enough to put Landis in jail for a long time! But it's not, and that's the saddest part of it.........

It's gotten quite a lot of attention. CNN, NPR, and the AP all asked me for comment, along with some anti cult groups. And this article got on an academic listserv. I bolded a couple points.

-----------------
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MO_FORCED_CHEMO_CHURCH_MOOL-?SITE=MOMAR&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
May 22, 5:19 PM EDT


Nemenhah leader defends group

By MARIA SUDEKUM FISHER
Associated Press Writer

STOCKTON, Mo. (AP) -- Phillip "Cloudpiler" Landis was raised Mormon in western Washington and didn't think too much about what he considers his American Indian heritage until he went to prison.

"What better place to have to sit and reflect upon what motivates you," he says.

Landis now leads the Nemenhah Band, an Internet-base group recently thrown into the spotlight when one of its far-flung members fled with her cancer-stricken son to avoid chemotherapy.

Landis, 47, has never met Colleen Hauser or 13-year-old Daniel, and urges them to return home. But he supports the Hausers' decision to defy the recommendations of doctors, who "may be the high priests of the medical religion, but who are spiritually bankrupt."

The attention garnered for Landis has some in the field of alternative and complementary medicine concerned. American Indian groups also have expressed misgivings about Landis.

"A lot of people are attaching themselves to the alternative medicine field," said Lorenzo Cohen, director of the Integrative Medicine Program at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "It does give quote-unquote alternative medicine a bad name."

Cohen said most people seeking alternative therapies usually use them in combination with conventional therapies, like chemotherapy, and that the Hauser case "was particularly tragic" because Daniel has a "very curable pediatric cancer."

Steven Moore, senior attorney for the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder, Colo., was critical of Landis and his group.

"There are a lot of sham artists around like these guys, and they ultimately disrespect Indian people and Indian nations and Indian organizations like the Native American Church," Moore said.

Landis said his group is a healing-based religion open to people from "all walks of life, and all tribes, nations, kindreds and tongues ... who set their foot on the healing path."

Colleen Hauser joined the Nemenhah a few months ago, presumably paying the $250 suggested fee as her son dealt with cancer, which is "not inconsistent with how a lot of our members join," Landis said.

"They're thrown into a medical situation, the medical hierarchy hasn't too many real answers for them, and they begin to search."

On its Web site, the group suggests paying the initial fee, then $100 a year, plus "regular, monthly offerings." The Web site does not appear to espouse any particular type of alternative therapy.

Its rituals include sweat lodges, sacred breaths and baptism, Landis said, but he does not advocate the use of peyote, something that is used by the Native American Church of North America. He said the Nemenhah Band is an affiliate of another group called the Native American Church, and Moore said that Landis does not have "any affiliation with a legitimate, valid, Native American Church chapter or organization anywhere in the United States."

The Nemenhah Band came together about 10 years ago in central Utah by a group of women who felt they had a calling, Landis said. He was elected "principle medicine chief" in part because of his claim to be related to Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, he said.

But Julie Kane, managing attorney for the Nez Perce in Idaho, said Landis is not Nez Perce and the tribe asked him to stop using references to the Nez Perce a few years ago.

"He is not at all Nez Perce. He is not even a descendant," Kane said.

Colleen Hauser left Minnesota on Monday with Daniel, who has Hodgkins' lymphoma, a highly curable cancer when treated with chemotherapy and radiation. The Hausers preferred alternative remedies, and Daniel and his mother fled a day before a court hearing that could have resulted in a judge ordering chemotherapy.

The Hausers, who are not American Indian, were seen in Southern California on Tuesday, and were thought to be in Mexico. Authorities said Friday that Interpol had joined in the search.

While Hauser leads authorities on an international search, Landis has been left answering questions about the Nemenhah.

"We can support her desire to seek alternative medicine," he said. "But we cannot support her committing a felony."

He speaks freely about his past and his decision to move from Utah last year to southern Missouri when his probation ended after serving several months in prison on fraud charges.

"Trees brought us here," he said, throwing his arms open wide. "We are not a desert family."

Landis, his wife and four children started in Weaubleau, population about 500. The family has since moved about 30 miles away to land north of Stockton, a southwest Missouri town of about 2,000 where Landis says he is building a "lodge" for his family and for the Nemenhah Band, which he claims has about 4,000 members. He doesn't say where that land is exactly, and meets reporters at picnic tables in a park in the center of Stockton.

He said western medicine has its place, telling about a time when his daughter knelt on a nail that went under her kneecap. The nail came out, Landis said, but there was no way to see what, if any, damage had been done. Landis did what many parents would do: He took his child to the hospital and had her knee X-rayed. Also, she had a tetanus shot.

"Our main tenet is: `First, do no harm,' not, `First do nothing,'" he said.

Landis said he lost faith in most traditional medicine after a bout with bubonic plague, a broken back and cancer, which he said disappeared thanks to a tea-like concoction made from a mushroom. He still drinks the mushroom tea daily, he said, 15 years after his diagnosis.

He refers to Daniel Hauser as a youth minister and says he wants the Hausers to return.

"The fear was so great that she broke," Landis said of Colleen Hauser. "But it pales in comparison to what she and her family will go through if she goes to jail. I've been there; I know what she'd go through."
 

This is Landis's criminal record, including for "theft by confidence game" and "deceptive practices." His record is extremely recent. The guy was still on parole in 2007 while he was leading Nemenhah.

Repost widely pls.

------------------------

Idaho Department of Corrections:
              Name: PHILLIP REID LANDIS
              Aliases: PHILLIP REID LANDIS, PHILLIP LANDIS
              State of Origin: Idaho
              DOC Number: 66996
              Party Status: RELEASED
              DOB: xx/xx/1961
              Race: WHITE
              Sex: Male
              Eyes: BLUE
              Height: 6' 01"
              Weight: 208

              Offenses:
                     Case Number: CR-00-2440       
                     Offense: GRAND THEFT       Sentence Date: 11/6/2002       

                     Case Number: CR00-2440       
                     Offense: GRAND THEFT       Sentence Date: 7/2/2002       

              Parole/Probations:
                     Start Date: 12/4/2002       Actual End Date: 12/13/2007       
                     Status: INACTIVE       

              Prison Inmate Records:
                     Latest Admission Date: 7/2/2002       
                     Status: INACTIVE       


       Montana Department of Corrections:
              Name: PHILLIP REID LANDIS
              SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx
              Aliases: PHILLIP REID LANDIS
              State of Origin: Montana
              DOC Number: 45958
              Party Status: INTERSTATE COMPACT
              DOB: xx/xx/1961
              Race: WHITE
              Sex: Male
              Height: 6' 01"
              Weight: 195

              Offenses:
                     Offense Date: 8/1/1997       Convicted County: LINCOLN
                     Offense: THEFT       Sentence Date: 1/24/2000       

                     Offense Date: 8/1/1997       Convicted County: LINCOLN
                     Offense: DECEPTIVE PRACTICES       Sentence Date: 1/24/2000       

              Parole/Probations:
                     [None Found]

              Prison Inmate Records:
                     Status: ACTIVE_INMATE       


       Utah Department of Corrections:
              Name: PHILLIP RIED LANDIS
              SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx
              Aliases: PHILLIP RIED LANDIS
              State of Origin: Utah
              DOC Number: 139065
              DOB: xx/xx/1961
              Race: CAUCASIAN
              Sex: Male
              Eyes: BLUE
              Height: 6' 01"
              Weight: 195

              Offenses:
                     Case Number: CR-00-2440       
                     Offense: THEFT BY CONFIDENCE GAME       Sentence Date: 1/24/2000       

                     Case Number: DC-99-25       
                     Offense: THEFT       

                     Case Number: DC-99-25       
                     Offense: DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRAC       

                     Case Number: DC99-24       
                     Offense: THEFT       Sentence Date: 1/23/2001       

              Parole/Probations:
                     Start Date: 4/12/2000       Actual End Date: 11/14/2000       
                     Status: DISCHARGED       County: PROVO A P & P

                     Start Date: 1/23/2001       Actual End Date: 7/8/2002       
                     Status: DISCHARGED       County: RICHFIELD AP&P

                     Start Date: 1/27/2003       Actual End Date: 11/19/2007       
                     Status: DISCHARGED       County: RICHFIELD AP&P

              Prison Inmate Records:
                     [None Found]

There's an audio interview with a professor calling the group plastic shamans.

http://www.hereandnow.org/2009/05/rundown-522/
http://www.hereandnow.org/2009/05/rundown-522/#3
http://www.uiowa.edu/~religion/pesantubbecv.htm

The people at snopes.com have been using us a  resources in their discussion.
http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=45794&page=4

Good news, the boy is no longer in hiding, getting treatment and getting better.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31372774/ns/health-cancer/

I noticed that many news casts and newspapers are  now saying  "Native American inspired." That is good. I know I protested when I heard someone say it was native.

And have a low cure rate. Insulin resistance is pretty much the only "diet and cancer" thing I genuinely believe in; unfortunately, most of the health foods you see on the market, especially the juices and fortified cereals, are just as bad as the junk food that doesn't pretend to be anything else.

Still, produce seems to prevent cancer. But not send it into remission all on its own.

 I can't find what I'm looking for on the net but I can find what I'm not...lol

http://www.nemenhah.org/index.html

"Membership is only by Spiritual Adoption. It is also the only way the Nemenhah Seminary can accept you into the program and designate you a Medicine Man or Medicine Woman. As a Nemenhah Medicine Man or Woman you will be able to practice your Healing Ministry under the full weight and protection of the Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act 1993 (NAFERA) and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act 1993 (RFRA)."



"If you have already been spiritually adopted and you already made your initial $250.00 offering, please remember to support the program by making additional offerings for the Course Modules on a regular basis. All offerings are strictly voluntary and non-refundable."

Gahhhhh! This stuff gives me a FITT!

Oh hell. Looks like "Cloudpiler" Landis has been driven out of Minneapolis and relocated to Missouri. All the bad publicity from nearly causing that kid's death, no doubt.

I think the local Missouri media need to be contacted before he does any more harm.

Have there been any updates on that kid and his family?

ETA: Looks like the kid is doing pretty well:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/04/daniel-hauser-done-with-chemo/


This is the only mention of anything "American Indian":


No mention of Landis or Nemenhah. That's a problem. What almost killed this kid had nothing to do with American Indian traditions. It was about a con man preying on desperate people. The only connection to anything Indian is that there's still enough ignorance about Indians and Indian traditions that he was able to use the mystique of the "exotic" to con a dying child.

Just thought I'd post a little good news.


http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/2009/11/07/20091107forcedchemo-ON.html




Minnesota teen who fled chemo is now cancer-free


Nov. 7, 2009 02:58 PM
Associated Press


MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota teen who fled the state to avoid chemotherapy has finished his cancer treatment.

Daniel Hauser of Sleepy Eye underwent his final radiation session Friday, and his family says the 13-year-old is cancer-free.

Daniel gained national attention when he stopped treatment after one session in February and fled, citing his religious beliefs. After he returned, he underwent court-ordered chemo to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma, then started radiation therapy.

Family spokesman Dan Zwakman tells KSTP-TV everything is going as planned. A call to the family's home from The Associated Press rang unanswered Saturday.

A Brown County judge has asked for reports from Brown County Family Services and Daniel's doctor. If everything looks good, the case will likely be closed.

That's excellent.  My best hope is that through all this, his mother had an epiphany of common sense.  Here's to a long healthy and productive life Daniel!

Superdog