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10 September 2001
Youth, Arrogance, Lack of Knowledge. There are those self righteous individuals who "think" that they have all of the answers. If they are trying to curb the overwhelming amount of cultural theft by "Plastic Medicine People"; they should enlist the aid of medicine givers.
There are several errors created by Plastic Shaman as well as those errors intentionally created by the people of the Medicine Givers of the First Nations to entertain the European-North American. But that as they say is another story...
These philosophies which I collected in over thirty years of research have been passed down by elders, some of whom are no longer with us today. Had I not collected these words, then they would have been lost for all generations to come.
For those who think that Medicine Givers hide in the shadows and retreat at any line of opposition, these people are unaware of the verbal First Nations history of North America, and have been engulfed in the lies of the European Conquerers over the past 500 years. Medicine Givers are probably a little more stubborn than your Average Bear.
Medicine Givers do not advertize, and we do not hide. We are not ashamed of who and what we are, nor the gifts given to us by the Creator. Then again, we do not charge for ceremony, rite, song, or services either. We usually pray for those who can not accept others and their right to believe or disbelieve as they see fit.
A person who is a medicine giver, does not charge for any rite, ceremony, healing, counsel, song, or prayer. The medicine giver can but does not always accept a gift of tobacco or food for their services. Each time they use their gift is is given to them by the Earth Mother, Sky Father, or Creator of all things, to ask for payment is an insult to what they believe.
Within the almost 2200 nations which once walked North/Central/ and South America the beliefs are infinitely diverse. The one thread that bound them together is that the Earth is our Mother. Should we destroy that we destroy ourselves. Those beliefs have been distilled, mixed with Euro-religion, and have filtered down to where we are very protective of what little is left to us. We guard against, and are ever vigilant to hold to the remnants of what was once the oldest, most peaceful spiritual practices in the world. Only the most violent religions usually survive beyond a few centuries.
Most people are not familiar with First Nations terminology. In fact, there are thousands of terms for Medicine Givers, they are tribal, band, community, nation, and even regionally specific. The First Nations Assembly recognizes the terms Medicine Giver and Spirit Speakers. One linguistic translation is Wanaghi Wakan k'Cha: Wanaghi=Spirit; Wakan=Great Mystery; k'Cha=Teacher or Speaker. This is a Yematasi Trade dialect which has roots in Athapaskin, Algomikiun, and Chumash, to name a few.
So, there are indeed Sham-ans out there, there are also Sha-mans, and shamans. Shamans originated upon the Russian steppes, they are not in general too enthused about other spiritualistic groups using their titles, but more importantly recognize the honour of being recognized as a 'standard' so to speak. It’s not the term shaman that should be frowned on, but rather the Nuage or New Age people who have usurped the term (from some one else’s belief system) as much as they have usurped elements of the First Nations or North American Aboriginal belief systems. By using the terms "shaman" or "shamanism", the New Ager is taking from the ‘genuine shaman’ of the steppes of the Russian Plateau as much as they are taking from the First Nations from here in North/Central/South America by calling themself a Native American Shaman. Therefore, it is best to frown on the people who originally bastardized the terms rather than those who presently use the terms.
If it is a true gift of the Mother, then it is really irrelevant what you call it, as long as it is not requested to be paid for, gifted, or favoured back. Medicine Givers began Pay-It-Forward, we've just forgotten how.
If you do not agree with these philosophies then obviously they are not meant for you. The Earth Mother, Sun Father, Creator, and All That Is speaks to us in many different ways, through many different spiritual and natural means. No "WAY" is the "RIGHT" way, but then no way is wrong either. If you chose to follow the Christ, Buddha, Tao, Muhammed, Manitu, or any other divine influence then you are right in your choice. I only ask one thing of you, always question and never be satisfied. It is through our questions that we come closer to the Creator whatever you deem it to be. I could go into what I believe but, this sight is not about me. It is about philosophies which transmigrate across all lines of faith, they are simple truths.
Accept them or not, this is just the way it is.
You are in my prayers,
Kindest Regards,
Kalumnu Shana
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