If these people are truely not native then no they should not speak on behalf of us. How do we know they are not native? ----- Original Message ----- From: "andre cramblit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <Recipient list suppressed> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 10:21 AM Subject: [Native_American] Plastic Shaman Alert
Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, San Antonio College will be holding a conference on multiculturalism and slapping the Indian community in the face. (http://www.accd.edu/sac/english/portales/conf.htm) The keynote speaker for the conference is "Chief" Michael Hull. Mr. Hull is a non-Indian Austin attorney and author of Sun Dancing: A Spiritual Journey on the Red Road (http://www.parkstpress.com/titles/sundan.htm#Author) He will be speaking on Indian spirituality. Mr. Hull is closely associated with Thunderhorse Ranch, a New Age center in south Texas run by Mary Thunder. In her excellent American Indian Quarterly article titled "Plastic Shamans and Astroturf Sun Dances: New Age Commercialization of Native American Spirituality" (http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/aiq/24.3aldred.html), Lisa Aldred says this about Mary Thunder: "Not all those designated as "plastic" by Native American activists publish books. There are quite a number who run workshops, seminars, or centers claiming to teach Native American spiritual practice. For example, one non-Native American woman who calls herself Mary Thunder runs a New Age center in Texas where she conducts sweats, pipe ceremonies, and talks with space aliens through Max I will not presume to judge Mr. Hull's spiritual authenticity. I do find it outrageous that San Antonio College chooses a non-Indian for its keynote speaker on Indian spirituality, and one so openly tied to an individual regarded in the Indian community as an exploiter of Native spirituality. Please let me know your thoughts on this, and contact Dr. Robert W. Ramsay, Chancellor, Alamo Community College District (210-208-8000) at [EMAIL PROTECTED] who will also be speaking at the opening ceremonies. Please convey the inappropriateness of not including speakers from the American Indian community on the topic of Indian spirituality. -- Andr� Cramblit: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Operations Director Northern California Indian Development Council NCIDC (http://www.ncidc.org) is a non-profit that meets the development needs of American Indians and operates an art gallery featuring the art of California tribes (http://www.americanindianonline.com) Visit and show your support for the Grass Roots Oyate http://members.tripod.com/GrassRootsOyate Clemency for Leonard Peltier. Sign the Petition. http://petitiononline.com/Release/petition.html Visit and show your support for the Grass Roots Oyate http://members.tripod.com/GrassRootsOyate Clemency for Leonard Peltier. Sign the Petition. http://petitiononline.com/Release/petition.html ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?b1ddNB.b2HgmN Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
