From a friend regarding Plastic Shamans and the type in general

[NVMojo]

(NOTE: the following prose article is of my own writing, opinion and view, it should not be accepted as truth or factual, is not meant to distort your personal views or opinions, nor is it meant to offend or insult anyone, I am soley responsible for the contents in this prose article. If you wish to forward or repost this article to another list for further discussion or debate, please do so, but please leave intact.Thank you. Larry Kibby)

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Dear Ladies & Gentlemen,

This morning I would like to share a comment with you regarding a situation that I feel should be understood with some manner of importance.

Over the years, you may have heard numerous debates revolving around who is and who is not a Spiritual Leader or who is and who is not a Medicine person. Yes, the debates often became harsh in some instances, while on the other hand certain debates contained facts.

Do I have the right to tell you who and who not to recognize as either a Spiritual Leader or Medicine Person? No I do not have any legal right to tell you who to follow and I won’t.

I will however, take a moment to ask that you be careful of who and what you follow and to make sure that you search or research people and or activity that you may have a question about.

Today, Americans have come to understand their Right’s and that is very good and important. I might also express that there is a huge audience of people who know and realize that if they have the capability and the know-how to imitate and act out a certain identity and be able to make money for it or to accumulate followers for some personal reason.

What is important to note though, that as you take up or lend your endorsement or support for someone or for that matter some group or organization that you make an effort to investigate seriously all actions you develop for yourself that has to do with people and groups.

For example, let’s say someone from a reservation is violating the traditions, or is misusing or abusing the ceremonies and medicines, the Tribal Elder’s or selected Women(Elders) can take away any healing powers, ban and or prohibit such person or parties from any future activity or recognition.

Now if a person is known to have been banned, prohibited in doing ceremonial activity or had some healing power stripped away, it is not the right of another tribe, group or organization to go behind that tribes actions and promote or advocate that person as an authentic spiritual leader or medicine person.

Now, let me also state that it is not the right of any single tribal member to go out and about without the tribes knowledge and promote their selves as a Spiritual Leader or Medicine Person under their tribal affiliation, that is poor judgement, plus it can be very dangerous.

Becoming a Spiritual Leader or a Medicine Person is no easy task and it an take a life time to accomplish one’s self in either manner and it also is up to a tribes traditional powers(Traditional Elders) to acknowledge, endorse and support their Spiritual Leaders and Medicine people.

Okay, now, I am and have become a Sun Dancer, does that mean I’m a Spiritual Leader? Does that mean I’m a Medicine Person? Does that mean I’m above everyone else? No, it does not and I am not a Spiritual Leader, nor am I a Medicine Person. I have never earned the right to call myself any of these type of people and I wouldn’t because I understand that there is a lot of genuine respect and devout honor to be established as someone of a sincere Sacred regard.

Yes, I have a Sweat Lodge up behind the residence where I live. I am not a Tribal Member, I do not own the place and have nothing of real value to call my own, except the Sweat Lodge, my Eagle Staff(which I earned as a Sun Dancer), my Eagle Wing and Eagle Feather’s, all a part of my Sun Dance respects.

The purpose of the Sweat Lodge was due to the fact that I had to Sweat four days after I came out of the Sun Dance and to help me stay the course of my Sun Dance respects, but then my son became a Sun Dancer, so the Sweat Lodge became a value to both of us and I’ve kept it up for that reason and I value it as a Sacred area.

I do not promote my lodge, nor do I sell it. I do not beg people to come to my lodge and no, I do not and will not ever promote myself as anything other than a lowly solitary Indian, because that is what I am, it is how I came into this world, it is how I will leave this world.

So please be careful of what and who you support and endorse and make sure you research people and events.



Larry Kibby is a Human Being of the Sovereign Nations of the Wiyots of Northern California.
He has resided on the Elko Indian Colony for 24 years. Nevada has been his home state for 31 years.
Basically Larry Kibby has grown up in Elko, Nevada.

Wiyot Nation of California

Wiyot Tribe of California - http://www.wiyot.com
Wiyot language - http://www.native-languages.org/wiyot.htm
Kids Facts - Wiyot - http://www.geocities.com/bigorrin/wiyot_kids.htm

[CountAllVotes]

1. wow how interesting!

So you are Wiyot? That is really something else. I've been to Table Bluff myself.

Do you know any of the people on the sites you list?

I never even knew they had a site! I'll pass this on to someone I know that will certainly appreciate knowing this information.

Thanks. :D

:dem: