Soquili Band of First Nation Cherokees

[educatedindian]

THis group hosts off the same site as the "horse ceremony" people. Some things about them jump right out: An alleged band of people with distant Cherokee ancestry led by a Micmaq talking aobut the Anishnaabe Seven Fires prophecy.

http://www.soquilicenter.org/lindex.htm
"The Soquili Center is a place where people seeking a deeper and more whole Spiritual Path can come and participate in our Ceremonies and Ways...Our Goal is to help Others find the Spiritual Path which suits their Feet by sharing with them our Knowledge of the Earth and Great Mystery....
   We are told by Prophesy of a Time to come when, because of a sickness in the Earth, that Great Change would take place in the Earth that would cause much sickness and death, and there would be a Change in the Sky which would lead to natural disasters such as had never been witnessed before. The cause of these things would be the failure of most men to understand that we must Live and Act within the boundaries of Natural Law, and that we would forget our own Essences as Spiritual Beings and all Understandings of the meaning of it. We are told to Remember the Teachings of Great Mystery, the Prophesies and Visions of our Ancestors that were passed down, and to Keep our Spiritual Ways close to us, because the Time to Share these Ways with the Unega would come, and, if Shared freely and acted upon by the Unega and us, the Changes would not have to occur. The Soquili Center is one of the Places where that Sharing has been, and will continue to be, done. These are a part of the Teaching of the Prophecy of the 4th Shaking
The Care-taker
   The Care-taker of the Soquili Center, and the Keeper of most of the Ceremony and Teaching done here is Ed Littlefox.  Ed, who's full Native name is Tsutlasdi Anida Ada, and means "Small Fox, One of a Litter", is the last, known, inductee and Member of the Ani Nvqisi Sakoniga, or "Blue Star Society"; the oldest known Medicine Society of the Eastern Tribes. Ed, who's early life is documented is the "Growing Up Native" section of this website, was raised by his Traditional Grandparents. Ed's Grandfather, to whom he was apprenticed in the Spiritual Ways and Medicines for 12 years, was the Keeper of the Traditions of the Twisted-Hair Clan of the Oklahoma Cherokee. Ed is a member, by matrilineal birthright of the Wild Potato Clan, and a member-by-honor of the Twisted-Hair Clan, as he carries the Traditions of each. By the age of 15, Ed had completed the training and instruction necessary to meet the protocols to conduct the Ceremonies and pass the teachings he does at the Center and elsewhere, and was inducted into the Blue Star Society at that time.
The Physical Center
The Soquili Center is located on 200 acres of Farmland in Northern Davidson County, North Carolina. The Land is the Site of an Ancient Temple Mound Complex, the major feature of which is an Eagle Effigy Mound with a 'wingspan' of more than 2700 feet. The Ceremonial Grounds of the Center is located near the southern base of the Central Temple Mound."
"Soquili Center, ES is proud to Welcome Michael B. RunningWolf as a Trustee and Member of the permanent resident Staff of the Soquili Center Sanctuary.
RuningWolf is a M'ikmaq Algonquin from the Northeastern Woodlands who was raised on both sides of the Maine/Canadian border. The Stories he tells are the legends his People have orally passed down to each generation. He is co-author and illustrator of the Book, On the Trail of Elder Brother, which is internationally published in three languages, English, French, and German; published by Persea Books, New York, ISBN:0-89255-246-4.
  Found in the Historical Archives at Halifax, Nova Scotia, his ancestry can be traced as far back as 1655 through the colonial documents of both the French and English chroniclers. He is descended from the hereditary Grand and Band Chiefs of the M'ikmaq through the Perminuit, Noel, and Clememt bloodlines....Michael RunningWolf is a M'tou'lin, a Ceremonial and Spiritual Leader, or, "medicine man" -(a word we don't necessarily like, since we have our own, more descriptive and specific terms). Michael was brought up in the Traditions of his People--the "Old Ways", and trained in the Wabanaki traditions and ceremonies of the Medicine Ways at a young age by Senobi and Grandmother Madasin, (Penobscot), of Indian Island, Maine, where he worked also on the manuscripts and illustrations for On the Trail of Elder Brother....Michael officiates and co-officiates Ceremony, Teaches our workshops and retreats"

[educatedindian]

The ones in charge, Ed Littlefox.
http://einstein.phys.uwm.edu/view_profile.php?userid=61540
"My name is Ed Littlefox,(really), and I am a Cherokee/Saponi Indian from, and living in, North Carolina, USA. I am 58 years old. I make my living raising Horses and doing Horse Clinics, and I own and operate Soquili Equine Services, LLC. I consider myself a "shade tree quantum mechanic". I have run SETI data for about 3 years, and decided to give Einstein@Home a try, due to the Gravity of the situation. Interestingly, the new version of the UFT is no stranger to my Culture.We have always based everything on Relationship and Resonance--and the UFT is about Resonance-----Ray."

http://www.soquilicenter.org/ses.htm
"Returning to Right Relationships is a Special Clinic for Professional and Paraprofessional Therapists and Councilors, Professional Equine Specialists, and Educators involved in the fields of Equine Assisted Psychotherapeutics or Equine Assisted Learning. This Clinic not only delves deeply into Equus on a subtle level, but also introduces an entirely new Modality for use in the field. The Modal uses tools directly derived from Native American Culture which have been used by American Indian Medicine People for counseling and problem solving for thousands of years. Coupled with the Natural reactive and mirroring abilities of the Horse, this new Modal becomes a powerful and useful Tool for both Therapeutics and EAL applications."

http://www.metaphysicalcenterofnewjersey.org/PipeCeremony.html
"The Pipe Ceremony
by Ed Littlefox
In my home, usually on the third Saturday of each month, my family and I host an Open Door Pipe Ceremony for all who wish to come and take part. Our ritual is a special one, unique as pipes go, and it is very, very ancient. My teachings stem from my Southeastern Woodland Culture (matrilineal) heritage (on my mother’s side), which is Iriquois, and not Lakota. Our pipe has its origin deep in a 3500 year old legend of creation. The “secret??? to our great reverence for birds, especially birds of prey, and perhaps the key to humanity’s fascination with this particular animal lies in the legend.
It is our belief that humans were created by Spirit-Entities who manifested themselves as birds (and still do). These winged creatures acted on the authority of the Great Mystery, and were, themselves, created by the Great Mystery to help create the universe on an energy-to-matter basis. These winged creatures are the essence of Spirit-Energy. As such they need a “bed-plate??? of matter to continue the creation of a material plane. Humanity is that bed-plate. To take care of this new, material body, “Ego??? was invented along with consciousness. We are now separate from Spirit Nature (our True Nature) only because the Ego, with its will, rebels against the Spirit-Self.
Our Pipe Ritual is known as the “Eight-Breath Ceremony,??? and is dedicated to the world and to universal peace, which, we know, must first instill itself within individuals and then be manifest in the world."

A warning he wrote.
 http://www.geocities.com/internationalaboriginalministry/teachingspirituality.html

Michael Running Wolf
 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0892552484/104-8309590-0468746?v=glance&n=283155

[Moma_porcupine]

http://www.geocities.com/internationalaboriginalministry/teachingspirituality.html

I copied this , below , from the above link , which is from something called International Aboriginal Ministries.

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"Things to Avoid

Avoid anyhing which reaks of Cult. Avoid criticism and contact with AIM National as it is the job of this organization to supress and oppress True Teachers and to turn the Public Eye AWAY from the True Issues facing Native American People and the Tribes. Understand, there are two AIMs --- AIM National and the Old Warriors. The Old Warriors are NOT "Autonamous AIM" --- as some would have you believe. If you look deeply enough, you will see that AIM National will support many of the False Teachers ---and it does NOT take a rocket scientist to figure out what is actually going on here.

Be aware of anyone who sells ceremony. Remember, I said Ceremony --- there is no charge to be exacted from anyone for Ceremony. Donations, given from the heart, are acceptable and should be considered as the people qualified to do these Ceremonies have to eat and they need to be supported. Education is a different matter, so be prepared to pay for it, the same as you would for college tuition or to buy a book or a tape. Don't expect "the Moon" for a pack of cigarettes, you won't get it.

The idea that all it takes is a Tobacco Offering to recieve Knowledge is a Myth, started by AIM National to facilitate the PREVENTION of the Teachings we must, by Prophesy, share --- by restricting the ability of True Medicine People to ? move about and support themselves. Traditionally, a Tobacco offering only initiated an action on the part of a Medicine Person to consider helping someone ---and any action would ensue only if the Medicine Person accepted the offering. That Tobacco would be used to load a Pipe for that person, and nothing else."


This was written by Ed Littlefox , who also seems to be the founder of the Soquili Center.

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So , this has me wondering ?

This whole statement that it is OK to charge for traditional "teachings" , and it is only some disruptive faction of AIM that says it is not , seems completely bizarre to me .

The way I have always heard it , from Elders who had no direct involvement with AIM , a gift of tobacco is the only expectation for Spiritual guidence , but , then , I know almost nothing , about Cherokee traditions .

Ed Littlefox says he is Cherokee , and the Soquili Band was formed for the purpose of finding and recognizing the lost birds of the Cherokee . So maybe the Cherokee have some different traditions around charging for traditional teachings ?

Are there some types of teachings , within the Cherokee traditions , where payment is expected ?

Or ,are these guys just creating new "traditional teachings" to suit themselves , claiming they are the original ?

So many Elders have said, very publicly , and in no uncertain terms , it is wrong to charge for ceremonies , ? but as not as much has been said , in public proclamations , about protecting and respecting traditional teachings.

The Soquili website says all the money raised through workshops and retreats goes into maintaing the Soquili Center , BUT , I would find it a bit creepy , if these people are changing the original teachings and traditions to fit their own agenda , and are even going so far as to claim that the original way things were done, never even existed . Or is this expectation of payment something acceptable within Cherokee traditions ?

Can anyone out there clarify this ?

I am also a bit puzzled about who exactly is behind the International Aboriginal Ministries .

The article by Ed Littlefox which claims it was traditional to charge for teachings before AIM changed the traditions , is found on this website, but I do not see anyone else , who is living , named as an organizer . Some of what this organization claims to be doing sounds like it could be good , but who are they ? ? If they are doing all this , it seems a bit odd there is no one named as a board of directors or something .


http://www.geocities.com/internationalaboriginalministry/projects.html

http://www.geocities.com/internationalaboriginalministry/renewal.html


I also see there is now a link on the Soquili home page discussing their being posted in the "needs investigation" section of NAFPS .

http://www.soquilicenter.org/NAFPS.htm

Sounds like they are not too happy about this .

[piya]

Quite a sound off by Mr Littlefox..........................

States he is also a card carrying ndn, but there again.........

http://nativehistory.tripod.com/id8.html

[JosephSWM]

The selling of ceremony for the community is one thing (and is wrong) but the work of a medicine person doing 'work' for a private individual is another. Almost always, more than tobacco is offered. Whether that is money or some kind of barter is up to them. This is what I know and what I have been exposed to.

Joseph

[educatedindian]

We've seen this pattern happen more than a few times, with Kinney, with Hobgood, etc. We simply ask questions, and that person in question apparently monitors the internet looking to jump on and try to shut up any critics, often with ridiculous heavy handed legal threats with no basis. That's exactly what "Littlefox" seems to be doing.

So, since I'm sure he's monitoring the board, holding his breath to see if we fold from his threats or not, I'll save him the suspense and tell him the same thing I've told others:

NO, we will not stop talking about, looking into, or critiquing what you, your group, or anyone involved with you are doing. Not until we are satisified one way or the other.

NO, your flimsy threats of legal action will not have any effect at all. We know them to be baseless, and we also know they generally come from frauds who DO have something to hide and know they are doing wrong. We get empty legal threats all the time, and they have never stopped us yet.

Let me also answer him, point by point:

"(Note: this is a direst quote, misspelled words and all)"

If the best you can do is jump on my typos, you might want to learn how to spell "direct" first.

"Though I don't feel I owe you the slightest explanation for anything we do at Soquili Center,"

Yet you felt the need for a long note, posted on your site within a single day of us merely asking a question. That tells everyone you prowl the web looking to shut down any criticism of you.
 
"we have been in existence for over 10 years--funny that you just found us."

We've only been around for six years, and as possible frauds go, you're small potatos compared to the worser ones like H Reagan or Lynn Andrews. Nowhere have we said a thing about your business, only about your alleged band, which is not ten years old. None of our Cherokee members have heard of it before.

"My clinic and equine consulting business is, by the way, Soquili Equine Services, LLC. If you think there is something "fraudulent" about that"

Never said it was. Learn to read what we actually say, instead of making things up. All your paranoia does is get people wondering about your business when they had not before.

"I cannot for the life of me fathom how it is you determined that we do, teach, or deal in "horse ceremony".

Never said that. Once again, learn to read before jumping to false conclusions.
I said a website that does alleged horse ceremonies seems to also be hosting for you.

"no Traditional has a right to speak for Traditions he was not taught."

Once again, learn to read what we actually say.

"When we do ceremony here, it is Woodland Culture, either Southeastern or Northeastern M'ikqmaq (correct spelling)"

Oh brother. You argue against Pan Indianism (which we don't even believe in ourselves) and then turn right around and claim there's a generic "woodland culture" for the whole region?

"I have real problem"

You mean, besides with your own typos?

"with any Individual or Group that is pro-acculturation/anti-tradition and therefore supports the continued disenfranchisement of their own People."

Once again, learn to read.
Many members here are unenrolled.

"there are thousands of people, Indian People, who's ancestors were kidnapped by either the Church or the Government, or, in the Southeast, were victimized by Reconstruction's Carpet-Baggers into changing Races to keep from being killed."

Littlefox really doesn't know the most basic history, and that makes me more doutful than ever he should be teaching what he claims is NDN "woodlands" tradition.
That's not NDN tradition he's talking, that's Neo Confederate nonsense, the kind of false history invented by white supremacists or people who romanticize the bad "old South" and demonize "yankees". I doubt Littlefox is white supremacist, but he's certainly fallen for some of the lies of the Neo Confederates.

"let me say a word or two about Freedom of Speech on the internet,"

Appanrely it exists only for Littlefox, but not for anyone who'd criticize him.

"and Fraud. Fraud is a Criminal Offense. What that means is, that if you make accusations that are unfounded, or cast suspicion on others that adversely affects their Lives, Businesses, or Rights, then you, yourself, are guilty of a Crime"

Littlefox really needs to learn to read.
All we've done is put him under Research Needed, but his defensiveness really makes you wonder.

"and a Civil Rights violation."

He also needs to learn basic law.
If he's actually NDN (as he claims) then how could other NDNs criticizing him be a civil rights violation?

"My suggestion to you and yours at this point is to lay off before I hold you responsible for your words." I took the trouble of screen shooting your thread---just so you know that even the "investigator" can be investigated. You have nothing to gain here."

Your empty legal threats will not deter us. They only accomplish two things:
Amuse people who, unlike you, actually know the law.
And make many of us wonder just what you are doing that may not be right.

As I said before, at this point we're just wondering about your alleged band. Do you have the support of actual elders from the actual Cherokee bands? I'm guessing no, or you would've put that on display.

Mr. Littlefox, let me also invite you over here to explain further if you wish. Which you could've done before, after all.

[Moma_porcupine]

Joseph , I think I have seen the same thing you have , when it comes to a flexible expectation of some sort of payment when it comes to doctoring or personal assistance . ?

In the non Cherokee community , I have never seen any charge for Spiritual teachings even if it is "outsiders " being taught . But as I said , I know almost nothing about Cherokee traditions and I respect there may be some differences .

Are you saying that if a person is Cherokee , and has real Cherokee teachings , it would be OK , in the eyes of the Cherokee community , to expect some form of payment , for these teachings ?

Because AIM was mentioned in this article , as starting the objections to charging for teachings ,I am assuming these "teachings" have to do with Spiritual traditions and not how to care for horses ,or how a relationship with a horse can help with psychological healing .

I cannot imagine anyone would feel there is a problem charging for teaching people how to work with horses , and I have no questions about this part of this organization .

Sorry if this sounds a bit dense .... The many different ways of doing things can be confusing . I have heard so many times it is not OK to charge for traditional teachings .... ?

If charging for Spiritual / cultural teachings , is Ok in the Cherokee tradition , I would not want to be rude about this , if I someday cross paths some Cherokee people charging for Spiritual teachings . ? If my questions here have been rude , I apologize .

[weheli]

There is no band of soquili Band of Cherokee. Just another exploiter trying to mack a buck once again Cherokee this or that.

I am Cherokee and agree with Joesph. The medicine man, never asks for anything but tradition is the giving of tobacco and out of respect, which he has earned in all the traditional ways, one gives from his heart other gifts. He NEVER asks for anything.

No ceromonies are NEVER sold either!! So if you are REALLY Cherokee and practicing true traditions, what you are doing is wrong, if you are Cherokee you would know this. How about telling us your tribal enrollment #?? Is it Eastern, Western Cherokee or other ndn tribes also?
                                                                Wado  Weheli

[educatedindian]

You're right, there doesn't even seem to be any "band". It's basically him, one other guy, and a sec'y. They refer to themselves as an ecclesiastical society and weren't even around until February of this year, according to their own Documentation.
http://www.soquilicenter.org/cdoc.htm
"We the Undersigned...establish a Religious Society...on this the 9 day of Feb, 2006
Edwin L Copeland, DD, Founding Elder
Deorah T Natola, Acting Sec'y
Michael B Runningwolf, DD, Founding Elder"

I don't know if I'd say Edwin Copeland ("Ed Littlefox") is an exploiter. He claims no ceremonies are being sold, but defends overandover selling teachings. Part of the problem is his Pan Indianism. For a supposed teacher of lost Cherokees, he's mostly selling Lakota beliefs.

"This reflection of the Wheel has elements of the Horse Dance Vision, given to the Lakota Holy Man, Black-Elk. Briefly, the Horse Dance Vision was of the Future, when 4 Horses of each of the Color-symbols of the Lakota Medicine Wheel, (Yellow, Red, Black, and White) came out of the 4 Great Directions and Danced together beneath The Sacred Tree (of the Sun Dance). the one I will use as an example is the most commonly seen representation of the Lakota Wheel....The North Point of the Wheel is White, and the color stands for Wisdom and Purity, as well as Winter, the White Man, the White Buffalo Calf Woman....The West Point is Black, and represents....The Thunder-Beings, whether they are the Wakinyan of the Lakota, or the Tililoqui (Thunderors) of my own People."
"In the Center of the Wheel is Great Mystery; Wakan Tanka and Tunkashila to the Lakota, and Adanvdo to the Cherokee."

And this gets pretty contradictory.
 "The Sweat Lodge is our oldest Ceremony. Oral Tradition has it that it stems from an act done by First Mother for one of her Sons, (First Twins) who had died. In her Prayers, Great Mystery took pity on her sorrow, and Gave her the Sweat Lodge Ceremony, and told her that if she did the Ceremony, her Son's life would be restored. You will hear this said when asking about the Lodge Ceremony; someone will tell you that it "brings Life".
 ?  ?  In recent years, Lodges have sprung up all over the country like mushrooms after a Spring Rain. The Ceremony is the most popular among non-Indian People as an "Indian thing to do", and has created a group of people Native insiders refer to as Ceremony Freaks and Crystal Twinkies. At the point of this writing, a great controversy has risen out of this fact regards the abuse of these ceremonies. I agree with the Native side of this question, but only to an extent....I want to demark a difference. There are also a few of us who do Workshops for others, and we charge fees for that. There is a difference between Ceremonial Duties and Education. Workshops are for Education and the difference is on of ? Apples and Oranges. Expect to pay for an Education, but not for Ceremony.
About the Lodge....
      My own People, the Cherokee, have a form of Lodge known as Asi, and it is used strictly to facilitate Healing and for no other purpose. Around the year 1979, the Inipi Rite was Given to my People by Lakota Holy Man, Frank Fools-Crow, so that we would have a Purification Lodge. That's OK, but we already had a Way of Purification known as Going-to-Water; its just a little different. For myself in my own Path, I learned the Way of the Inipi Rite from Lakota Medicine Man, Henry Crow-Dog"

[plz]

Just finished reading through his 'Growing up Native' stuff from which you quoted, Al.  I didn't see very much in the way of his growing up.  But more in line with the same kind of 'teaching' that the other Ed (McGaa) does/says etc.  Even to refering to Black Elks vision and Fools Crow.  It's almost like he read McGaa's book/s, tossed in some of his own ideas and poof....... a teaching of ndn spriiruality.

Or, I could be behind by two and someone else started this same line of thought and the two Eds just mimicked the thoughts.

pattyz

[Moma_porcupine]

Weheli , thanks for helping me understand what Joseph was saying . Sorry to be so easily confused .

What you and Joseph said is echoed by an article by Richard Allan ? , of the Cherokee Nation , which is posted on ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  Go-hi-yu-hi

http://users.pandora.be/gohiyuhi/articles/art00001.htm

I was really feeling disturbed , that an Aboriginal Ministry that would make comments like ;
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"Education is a different matter, so be prepared to pay for it, the same as you would for college tuition { ....}"

and

"The idea that all it takes is a Tobacco Offering to recieve Knowledge is a Myth, started by AIM National [....]"
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It is so hard to educate people on how to recognize and avoid both the exploiters and people who are simply confused , or delusional .The last thing that is needed is some supposed Aboriginal Ministry running around saying people should expect to pay for teachings ? .

If these people really were who they say they are , ( which at this point seems questionable ) ? a lot of their goals sound like good things , but , I believe the end tends to reflect the means . It seems kind of contradictory, ? to, ? on one hand say you want to reunite people with their culture , when on the other hand you are changing one of the most basic teachings of respect , found in most Native cultures , and , even claiming these cultural Spiritual teachings never existed .

While I was open to the possibility Cherokee people had different ways of doing things , the teaching that there is no charge for teachings , just donations from the heart , is found in many / most /or all ? Native traditions and this teaching is definently ? not a myth started by AIM .

Starting or spreading a rumour like that , is at best , really irresponsible . ?

[littleredbear]

I would like to add to this posting I have known Littlefox and Runningwolf for over 5 years now.  They both have been 2 of many Elders from different nations that have helped me on my journey along the path.  Not once have I been asked for anything from them for what they have taught me about living my life in a good and spiritual way.  As a matter of fact they helped finance a trip for me to come to NC to been taught by them, where they gave me a place to sleep and fed me with their food for free.   In return, and I will add that I have never been asked by either of them, I have done what I can to repay them for their help, now by saying repay I am not speaking of money.  Payment can be  so simple as keeping that certain Elder in your daily prayers.  I feel that in todays world that whenever a person sees the word "payment" money is the first thing that crosses their mind.  Now I am in complete agreement with all involved if a "medicince man" comes to me and says it will cost me $200.00 to learn to pour an Asi lodge then something is seriously wrong and to be honest I would not want to enter that lodge with that person because someone is going to get hurt emotionally and physically.  If the student feels in his heart to pass money to an Elder then great or give the Elder a box of canned goods, any thing to show your appreciation for them helping you but a pack of tabacco is not enough.  Look back to the trational ways of the past who cared for the Elders of a camp it was the younger generation,  they would  bring food, clothing, ect,  to them as their payment for the knowledge that was passed to them from the Elder.  
I am not hear to argue with any of the brothers and sisters who post here I just wanted to add my opinion to what I fear may be a great misunderstanding by the use of the word Payment.  

[snorks]

I don't think that payment for a ceremony or teaching is the problem.  

I think the problem lies in that this particular individual is claiming something that he does to be of a particular tradition.  Because it is Indian, it is special.  Therefore there is a premium placed on his stone casting.  Which means he can charge a fee to non-Indians who think that this particular stone casting is traditional.

The arugment lies in that the folks on this board who are Cherokee say that his stone casting in not in their traditions.  Therefore when he does it, he cannot say it is.  But if it is ordinary stone casting or divination, then it is not as worth as much as an 'Indian' one.  It cannot be marketed as well.

For example, I teach people about animals and folklore.  Since it is not specific to the going rage of New Agers (finding your guides, etc), it is not as high in demand.  My marketing efforts on my workshops have to be more creative and tailored to each customer group.  

It would be much easier for me to say I teach Animal Totems and their place on the Indian Medicine Wheel.  That way I would have an automatic group to sell to and could charge premium prices.  I wouldn't have to spend so much time trying to research and reach customers.

Actually, you can do divination with stones and get good readings.  It just not Indian.

[Four_Winds]

I joined this forum due to my interest in this topic and involvment with the subject. I have known Ed Littlefox for over 10 years, and know members of his family, close friends, aquaintences, and associates. He has taught me (and others)  a LOT about Cherokee and other Native ways and cultures.  I have witnessed healings and medicine work he has done, participated in ceremonies, and worked with him as a partner in things of both physical and spiritual nature. I have personal information, referances, and experience that leaves no doubt as to who and what he is, and that is "the Real Thing".
I have known Michael Runningwolf for over 5 years, not as closely as Littlefox, but have had thorogh discusions, particpated in ceremony, and found more than enough referance material to verify him .
What I can tell you about the Soquili Center is that it has been in existance for several years, but just recently formalized, in part as a measure to help preserve a sacred site it is involved with.

It seems to me that altho your intentions are good, this discussion has evolved into a nit-picking battle and lack of understanding of the most important points thru lack of comprehension or effective communications.
In the opening post, Mr. Carroll quoted both Littlefox's and Runningwolf's heritage and credentials, which clarifies that this is not  " An alleged band of people with distant Cherokee ancestry led by a Micmaq talking aobut the Anishnaabe Seven Fires prophecy."
Other quotes about working with and teaching about horses does not make anyone "horse ceremony people".
This approach is what antagonized Littlefox and precipitated his response.

Regarding the controversy over "payment" for teaching or healing....
Consider that an exchange of value in some form has been the traditional way in order for the People to support their teachers and healers. It may be by mutual understanding or stated as a price, has been food, furs, hides, shells, beads, horses, or other goods or service to the teacher or healer. (Nowadays most transactions involve those peices of paper called money.) This is very important as it designates value on the spiritual as well as material levels, honoring the Creator from whom all the "gifts" originate,  enables the transaction to be fullfilled, and the teacher/healer to continue to focus on their work.

 Consider that some people seem to think that by offering a pack of cigarettes to  a Native knowledge keeper or medicine person he/she is supposed to heal, teach, or otherwise help them. Tobacco is an offering to the teacher/healer to consider the request, and may be accepted or refused. If the teacher/healer then "gives" his/her services, the petitioner "gives" in return as is appropriate.

Consider that teaching in a conventionally instructional/academic  context, be it workshops, seminars, or lectures, about  history, culture, applications of knowledge, or how to make things from leather, is a whole 'nother thing than personalized and specific teaching such as an Elder, Medicine Person, Knowedge Keeper may offer or agree to share in terms of their Native culture.

I hope this helps in understanding that neither Littlefox nor Runningwolf put a price on ceremony or specific Native teachings or healings, but gratefully accept gifts/donations to help cover expenses. They are, however, qualified and rightfully justified to set fees for conventional presentations of non-sanctified information on history and culture.  Rather than being exploiters, they have given, sacrificed, and suffered in keeping and trying to pass on the tradtional knowledge and ways.

I know that certain specific knowledge Littlefox was taught as a boy was bought by the blood of his grandfather's family. He and Runningwolf are committed to the responsibility of the "gifts" they were given, and have paid dearly themselves in living according to their commitment.
There is a lot more to this than what you will find on websites or looking for things to pick apart and discredit. Not that they need your opinions for validation. What is real is real. What Soquili Center is about is more  than can be comprehended thru the limitations of this media. It can't be fully explained in a few paragraphs, a forum,  or a web site, or fully understood without first-person experience. Who amoung you is willing to invest the time  and pay the "price" for something that is beyond any monetary value?  

tohi

Deb

[snorks]

"I know that certain specific knowledge Littlefox was taught as a boy was bought by the blood of his grandfather's family. He and Runningwolf are committed to the responsibility of the "gifts" they were given, and have paid dearly themselves in living according to their commitment.  "

I don't understand this paragraph.  What does 'was bought by the blood of his ... family' mean?  'have paid dearly themselves in living according to their commitment.'?

I am an naturalist committed to local conservation.  How do I pay dearly for this committment?  I don't understand any of this.