It has been brought to my attention that several members of the "Our Red Earth" Yahoo Club were spreading misleading information about my site. Since I am not a member of that club, I am not allowed to post a message in their board. I am, therefore, presenting here what they wrote (verbatim), together with my responses.

rabl58 wrote:

A very Disturbing Web Site

This site describes in great detail how to perform sacred Lakota ceremonies including the Sun Dance. Perhaps the individuals who wrote the Lakota Declaration of War should know about this. Any thoughts?

< http://www.elexion.com/lakota/textos/textos2.htm>

alaskasnowagain wrote:

I think that would be a good idea.

I do not describe "in great detail" how to perform sacred Lakota ceremonies. I am publishing excerpts from well-known books, such as Black Elk's "The Sacred Pipe" and James Walker's "Lakota Society" and "Lakota Belief and Ritual", in which the authors describe parts of the ceremonies.

bigi:

Especially since this site is loaded with so many errors, some that are just amazingly wrong. Mixing their beliefs up with yoga and Viking runes? Saying Lakota had no marriage ceremony and believed in reincarnation?

This woman is an idiot, and she's actually just trying to make a buck with selling books and courses by email with this offensiveness. This site belongs on the Wall of Shame, if it isn't already there.

The world itself is full of variety, and people follow diverse paths. I am not "mixing" beliefs. I am merely presenting different paths in the same site, respecting each one. Frankly, I didn't know that was a sin.

Furthermore, it is Ohiyesa (Charles Eastman), a very well-respected individual, who mentions marriage and reincarnation in his book "The Soul of the Indian", published in 1911. I am merely quoting him. Perhaps you should add him to your "Wall of Shame"?

rabl58:

I agree 100%. Plus there is the danger of someone trying to do one of the ceremonies and getting hurt. I don't believe that people should attempt to get spiritual beliefs off the internet, but someone may not realize the dangers and injure themself.

butterfly 9x:

This is unacceptable...rude and wrong!! THis woman has no respect...if she was really into my(lakota)beliefs-religion-traditions....she would never exploit it like this!!! Everything about it is wrong...she has no respect. This will be reported to the proper authorities...Lakota Decloration of War.

If presenting information from well-known sources is exploitation, as you call it, then perhaps the Lakota Nation should sue the publishers, sellers and readers of the Black Elk, James Walker and Charles Eastman books, as well as all other books that have ever "dared" to mention anything about the Lakota.

I am not selling courses on Inipi ceremonies and Vision Quests, as some New Age "shamans" do. In fact, I agree with the Lakota Declaration of War, and I am glad that something is being done about all the false "shamans".

munseenwolf:

Please check out this site below the articles were from Black Elk's "The Scared Pipe". Yes this woman is a new-age krumpet, but to make her giberish grab interest she loaded her site with Black Elk's memories, perhaps his relatives should be aware of this. <http://hometown.aol.com/Kels3984/Elk.html>

Also this woman wrote "Women who Run with Wolves", so your dealing with her idolized idea she is a female wolf.

The site you mention is selling a book, and even presents the soundtrack of a sacred prayer in a very public manner. It is very obviously "out to make a buck". Personally I don't find anything wrong in that, but following your logic, shouldn't this site be accused of "exploitation"?

The second statement just goes to show the extent of your blindness. I did NOT write "Women Who Run with the Wolves". Clarissa Pinkola Estés did. And again, I am merely publishing excerpts, as is clearly stated in the article. I strongly suggest that you read either the article or the book before passing such absurd judgments.

butterfly 9x:

One single person's experience and how they got their knowledge..like Black Elk's ...and how he got it is just for him and to help others. But not for others to try and use it. Can you fallow what I am saying? So if she idolize Black Elk..she should say...Black Elk is a respected Lakota Holy man and I am very interested in his books and all...but not use it to sell or profit from it. Black Elk was a wise man and had many things to offer us. But he would not like what this woman is doing, I know I don't

rabl58:

Have you noticed it's never a non glamorous animal? Like Women Who Waddles with Ducks or Women Who Hops with Bunnies? Do you have any idea of how we can contact the Black Elk family? Is that the Black Elk at Camp Justice? I can run off the memories from the site and mail them to him.

My site is mostly informative, and I don't change a single word from the original texts. So, as I mentioned before, perhaps you should sue the publishing houses and take ALL the books dealing with Lakota culture and spirituality off the public market, instead of wasting your time judging sites like mine, which are merely conveying the words of others. May I also suggest, rabl58, that you actually READ "Women who Run with the Wolves"?

Unlike other Nations, The Lakota people have survived real exploitation and all past attempts by the washichus to exterminate them. If indeed you are Native American, I find it very sad that you seem to have forgotten your own strength, and the true power of your culture and spirituality. And apparently you have also forgotten what our forefathers tried to teach us. Instead, you have allowed your selfish hatred to guide your steps, and are now (re)acting just like the washichus who have truly harmed our Nations in the past —with a total blindness and closed minds and hearts. Fortunately, though, the majority of the Lakota people are not following that road, and there are many who can still see with the eyes of their hearts. Those are the ones who will truly help the Lakota prevail.