All my relations,

This is critically important information for anyone new to the native path and is also a good reminder for those who have been walking the path for a while. Please do yourself and others a service by reading it and passing it on.

Walk in beauty,
Golden Feather

HOW TO AVOID PLASTIC SHAMANS

At this time of the great Earth changes, there are an increasing number of people awakening to the need to find themselves, search for answers and become closer to Great Spirit. Many find themselves called to the red path. These souls are like newborns, oftentimes weak and vulnerable to the influences of those who may have less than good intentions. Sadly there are many out there whose only intent is to raise their own selves to power for selfish gain. They may put on a "good show" but in truth have little or no respect for the souls they seek to attract. In many cases this is discovered too late and damage is done. The injuries caused by such misuses of power range from emotional trauma and loss of personal finances to even death. The native communities are taking action in many forms to eliminate these problems. Some even going so far as to remove all non-natives from participating in the sacred ceremonies.

The purpose of this document is to help people of all backgrounds find safety on this path and help steer them away those who might do them harm. The key word here is CAUTION. In all matters, think for yourself and follow your heart.

Here are some guidelines you should follow:

LODGE KEEPERS SHOULD GET PERMISSION FROM TERRITORIAL LEADERS
If someone says they are a medicine person or lodge keeper, check their credentials. Find out what tribe they are from and who their elders are. If they cannot provide this information then that is your first clue that something is not right. If they do provide references, don’t just take their word for it. CHECK THEM to make sure they are valid. It is equally important to find out which tribe has territorial jurisdiction of the land where this person is raising their lodge. There are a number of resources, elder’s lodges and native centres across North America where you can make inquiries in person, on the web or by phone. In keeping with tradition, lodge keepers should request the permission of the tribal leader before performing ceremony on that land and the lodge keeper should therefor be known to them. If they do not have permission then they should not be conducting ceremony there and nor should you. These ceremonies belong to the native people and ALL lands on Turtle Island fall within the jurisdiction of one of the tribes. Red people know that no one can truly own the land but firmly believe it is the will of Spirit that they are the caretakers of it.

VENTURE AT YOUR OWN RISK
If the lodge keeper has taken the necessary steps and you are satisfied with your inquiries then chances are you are heading in the right direction. Participating in ceremony can be a truly wonderful experience. HOWEVER, having references and permission to perform ceremony still does NOT necessarily mean the lodge keeper is an honourable one. Those who are not of good intent tend to go to great lengths to hide their dark side. Elders are only human too and often subjected to the dictates of trial and error when determining the intent of an individual. There are no guarantees and you must venture on at your own risk.

UNACCEPTABLE SITUATIONS:
There are hundreds of ceremonies and many are unique to each tribe. In all traditions it is normal to respect the lodge keeper and follow his or her teachings with respect to the ceremony being performed. HOWEVER, there are certain things which are NOT acceptable in ANY situation. The lodge is a sacred place. At NO time should there be any sexual behaviour, drugs or alcohol in the lodge. If you are being cohered, touched, spoken to or otherwise influenced in any negative way LEAVE and report this behaviour to the tribal council immediately. The lodge is considered a place of safety and what is shared in the lodge is expected to stay there. However, this rule does NOT apply when it pertains to improper behaviour and the safety of individuals participating in the ceremony.

CHARGING MONEY FOR CEREMONIES
A true lodge keeper or medicine person will NEVER charge money for ceremonies. Tobacco or other medicines are most commonly offered since these medicines are used in the lodge to help support your healing. If you are being asked to pay for a ceremony report it immediately. Donations towards the cost of elders travel or other expenses are usually welcome but should not be a requisite for participation in the ceremony. That said, if you specifically request a ceremony then you should be prepared to do whatever work is required and pay any necessary expenses for the lodge keeper or elder to get there.

PLAN AHEAD & TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU ARE GOING
Lodges are usually built in out of the way places often a fair distances from the nearest civilization. When you go to attend a ceremony plan well, pack the necessary items you will need and always take special care to report your whereabouts to family or friends. Unless you are quite familiar with the other people in attendance, it is always wise to bring along a friend.

LODGE KEEPERS ARE NOT GOD BUT THEY DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU
If a lodge keeper has accepted tobacco and your request for prayers and/or help in healing, he has accepted an important responsibility. You should not place unnecessary expectations on a lodge keeper. He or she is not God. However, what happens in the lodge is the lodge keeper’s responsibility. If the lodge has opened up some things you are finding particularly difficult to handle, the lodge keeper should be willing to assist you in finding further help you may need. Sometimes they will steer you towards one of the elders who are qualified to handle your problems. If a lodge keeper leaves you hanging out in the cold because they are too busy or otherwise can’t be bothered, then the lodge keeper is not fulfilling their responsibilities. QUESTION IT. If you are not satisfied with the answers, talk to a recognized elder. They are always there to help you.

IMPROPER INFLUENCING
The lodge keeper may speak of things he or she hears in the lodge and you may ask questions to be answered by the spirits there. Be very cautious about listening to any kind of suggestion that does not fit well with what your heart tells you. For example, if someone surprises you by saying that Spirit has told them of some traumatic event in your life which you do not remember, then BE ALARMED. Improper suggestions such as this have been used by people with wrongful intentions for purposes of entrapment. If we have blocked a memory, it will usually come back to us when we are ready to deal with it. No one should ever force it upon you. The loss of memory of an event is our body’s natural way of coping. If we are forced to remember something before we are ready it can cause serious trauma the likes of which only professionally qualified individuals are able to deal with. To make matters worse, if someone makes such a suggestion and the incident never happened to you in the first place, the trauma of believing such a thing can be almost as harmful as having experienced the event first hand.

THINK AND LEARN TO DO FOR YOURSELF
The objective of any good teacher is to teach the student to do for themselves. If you find yourself in any situation where you are developing a dependence on the teacher/lodge keeper or whoever, whether they have encouraged this or you have done so of your own accord, then STOP, take a good hard look at what is happening. It would be wise to go speak to another elder.

BOASTING AND EGO
There is an old saying that pride goeth before a fall. There is no place for a big ego on this path. If someone has to boast about their virtues in order to convince you they are a medicine person then chances are they are not what they say they are. A true healer walks their talk. A fake healer merely talks their walk. If at any time you feel that there are strong issues of ego with regards to the person you are seeking attendance with then be strongly advised to seek elsewhere. True elders are very humble people and do not gloat about their status. It may take a little time but it is not hard to tell the difference between someone who is truly humble and someone who just boasts that they are humble.

RESPECT WORKS BOTH WAYS
If a lodge keeper does not respect you or has any kind of issues, racial or otherwise against you, then DO NOT participate in ceremony with them. These ceremonies are very strong and that kind of negativity can cause a great deal of harm to you on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. At NO time should anyone on this path try to make you feel that you are beneath them in any way. All of Great Spirit’s creations are valued as equal and no one comes between you and Great Spirit.

GOSSIP & RUMOURS
People who are true to this path believe in compassion and forgiveness and do their best to practise it. Gossip creates negative energy. If you are being led by someone who is badmouthing anyone else then you are being led by someone who is not balanced and has many issues of their own to deal with. Take care that you do not believe everything you hear. Chances are, if they are doing the bad mouthing, then the source of the problem may be with them.

FOLLOW YOUR OWN HEART
If at any time your heart tells you something doesn’t feel right, LISTEN and act on it. Even if you feel you haven’t been on the path long enough to know better. Your heart is your connection to Great Spirit and is therefor the source of great wisdom. Don’t be led astray by the glamour. Remember, everyone else is only human too. Someone who "puts on a good show" may be doing so for personal gain. Humility, simplicity, love, compassion and honesty are the qualities to gravitate towards.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS
Whether you are native, non-status or have no native blood in you at all, you have a right to say no and seek further council from an elder or other qualified individual. At no time should anyone ever try to come between you and your rights and your access to an elder for any reason. If anyone tries to withhold these rights in any way, seek immediate assistance.