The following check-list can help you to identify frauds. Most of the sites authored by exploiters will have some, if not all of these characteristics.
The site owner pays to put up the web site. They don't use one of the free web providers, such as Geocities, a legitimate site owned by a legitimate Native Nation, or a site provided by a University. This just about guarantee that the owner is out to make a profit. Less than 1% of Native Americans have access to expensive computer resources.
Obsession with property rights, warnings about copyright accompanied by threats of litigation. (Especially if they come from an organization calling itself W.H.O.@, Working to Halt Online Abuse. This organization in infamous for protecting the proprietary interest of spiritual huxters. Due to their association with frauds, no longer have any credibility in the Native American community.
Use of Euro-rhetoric to justify selling ceremonies, Vision Quests, Sweat Lodges etc. over the internet. References to the Hopi prophesies, accusations that traditional Native American Elders are selfish, greedy, or foolish, self-promoting rhetoric which paints the owner of the website as generous, sharing spirituality with all seekers ... Mention of a tribes "phophesies" as the reason for "sharing" spiritual knowledge. The prophesies of all North American tribes warn that the whiteman can't be trusted and that he must prove that he is the Native American's brother before any knowledge can be shared with him.
Use of stereotypical and/or Western Indian images indicates fraud. Wolfs, half-naked Indian Maidens are signs of disrespectful sites. Native American women are modest and most Natives disapprove of pornography and sado-masochistic practices. Sites which advocate tantric sex as a Native American spiritual practice are dangerous as well as demeaning to Native Americans. Be alert to the use of Tonto-speak: empty references to "saving Mother Earth", "Brother Sun, Moon, Wolf etc" Many fraudulent sites offer with no environmental information calls for activism. Another sure sign of fraud is the reference to other pages or sites as "Lodges", "Clans", "Dens" as is the use of the cliche closing, "We are all related - Mitake Oyasin"
Beware of any Nixonesque mention of "enemies" who are trying to "libel" or "defame" (expose) the website owners. Open hostility to A.I.M. or the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is also a good indicator of a fraudulent site.
Leaders who demand exorbitant lecture fees and offer to travel all over to country to spread their spiritual 'knowledge' should be avoided at all costs. Native American spiritual practices are specific to geography. Legitimate teachers DO NOT LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. Our spiritual practices vary greatly from region to region. Anyone who is entitled to be a spiritual leader would remain in a living, thriving Native American community. Plastic Shamans who travel all over the world are usually cult leaders. They can only damage their followers spiritually, emotionally and financially.
Use of the term "Shaman" alone is a good indicator of fraud. Native leaders don't use this term. Native leaders also do not smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, use certain forms of birth control or engage in recreational drug use. ANYONE who engages in these practices while claiming to be a 'Shaman' is a fraud, PERIOD!!!! Native leaders are also NEVER college educated. Those of us who pursue University degrees know that we give up every attaining the highest spiritual levels. If you're 'Shaman' has a degree, s/he's a fake. This is a guaranteed fact.
Any mention of or links to Art Bell. Mention of UFO's, Earth Changes or government cover ups.
Guest books filled with glowing testimonials by people with made up Indian-sounding names involving terms like, Blue, Grey, Two feathers, Coyote, Wolf or anything ending with woman. Positive comments from Europeans, especially Germans, almost always indicate a fraudulent site.
The mixing of Native Spiritual traditions with tarot cards, runes, reiki, Australian Animal Totem readings, astrology, numerology, reflexologies or any other "-ologies". Any attempt to assimilate Native practices with New Age philosophies amounts to nothing more than censorship! If you truly respect us, don't contribute to the assimilation of Native American Spiritual practices into the New Age!
Is the left clicker disabled to prevent you from 'stealing' over priced graphics? Are there java programs to make water look like it's rippling? This is another good indicator that you may be dealing with frauds. Most Native Americans are still poor and usually don't have access to expensive graphics or software. (There are some exceptions at LEGITIMATE tribal colleges) If it's too slick, it's probably a con. Never judge a website by its graphics. Also, a stanch campaign to protect the proprietary interests of graphic designers does not indicate traditional Native American values.
Like all con artists, Plastic Shamans demonstrate a great deal of paranoia. They will frequently voice fears that they have "enemies" who are "out to get them". (The enemies are usually either Native Americans or the Police) fears of conspiracy, threats to get the "ringleaders", use of spy-technology to root out and punish the opposition. This is a very European attitude. Legitimate Native elders don't have access to sophisticated security technologies.
Leaders who claim to have consulted their "spirit guides" or who claim to be "Shamans" because of near death experiences. Attempts to gain sympathy because of illness -- almost all phonies will claim to be dying of cancer or some other disease when first exposed.
Be suspicious if they have links to web-rings that exploit such as Tribal Voice or links to pornographic web rings such as White Buffalo ring. Almost all con-artists also have pornographic web sites. This is not because they want to make sexuality more spiritual; it's because they know what makes money!
The site either quotes or recommends the books of: Chief Seattle, Archie Lame-Deer, Grace Spotted Eagle, Rolling Thunder, Wallace Black Elk, Ed Eagleman McGaa, Black Elk, or Thomas Mail's autobiography of Fools Crow. These people have been discredited. Many other Native American activist sites have posted tribal warnings about them.
Sites which give hierarchical, authoritarian instructions for getting spiritual. Any site that wants you to make a "Shield" is a fake. It is well known that Lynn Andrews, together with her boyfriend invented this practice as a hoax designed to make huge profits. Sites that offer you membership in a "Sisterhood" if you think as they do. Sites that refer to or link to Brooke Medicine Eagle, Lynn Andrews or Amylee are fakes.
Any site which offers workshops or resort packages in Sedona, Arizona. Any site that mentions the "Vortex" is a fake.
Any site that is set up to accept Visa/Mastercard via PayPal!
Don't be afraid to ask questions!
Be wary of anyone who says they created their own ceremony.
If money seems to be a priority, be wary!
If the 'spiritual leader'uses emotionally manipulative ways to get you to donate money - I had to hitch-hike here, I slept outside last nigth... , be wary! Check out their claims!
No legitimate teacher would refuse to discuss what s/he will be doing, why s/he does it and where s/he gets his/her authority. If they are not forth-coming with this information, be wary!
Don't be afraid to ask these questions or to check with the communities to verify the information:
Where do you come from?
How did you get your gift?
Please tell me about your gift.
Who talks for you?
Where do you get your blood from?
Who gave you the authority to teach?
What Nation?
What Band?
What community?
It is your RESPONSIBILITY to ask these questions AND to verify the information given BEFORE you spend one penny!
If your Nuage guru smells fishy, check him out:
Be responsible. Check out your shameons claims by contacting LEGITIMATE tribal leaders. CLICK HERE for the 2007 list of tribal leaders.
If you want an idea of how Native people feel about non-Natives who think they have a right to practice our sprituality, watch this video:
It's your responsibility to think about how Native feel about what you're doing FIRST.
You must decide to become moral.
You must decide to get out of bed with Coloialism.*
We now have a live chat forum for people to discuss the exploitation of Native American spirituality. We plan to meet every Sunday evening beginning in September, at 8:00 Eastern Standard Time.
If you can't get into the chat room, or if you want more updated and specific information about how to spot frauds, you can always post to our MESSAGE FORUM
*This is paraphrased from of line from slam poet Anti-Laura, used with permission.
