And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: [NOTE: some addresses are blind copied] Posting requested by Chief Billy Tayac via LISN > Subj: False claims of MORGAN "EAGLEBEAR" MAEZ > Date: 9/2/99 12:43:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Cheryl Fournier) > To: ShngSprt > > ALL MY RELATIONS: > > I ask that you take the time and read the releases from the Fort Sill > Apache > Office. I am sure after you have read these statements you will decide > what > you can do to stop this Person from continuing to harm the image and > dishonoring the Chiricahua and the great leader Geronimo. > > Please past this information along to all groups and relations in an > attempt > to stop this travesty from continuing. > > It is time for all of us to take responsibility and stop the spiritual and > cultural destruction from continuing. > > thank you for your time > > nunyetbutsoonmaybe > > The Truth > > For 500 years we have been struggling through oppression and cultural > genocide to keep our songs, traditions and ceremonies have been protected, > preserved and passed down to our children in the most respectful way > possible. To share our culture with all of the Creator's children, > regardless of race is the Native way. > > To misrepresent our honorable ancestors or use their names for selfish > greed > is very damaging and dishonorable. Our people have suffered generations > of > injustice. When a Native American misrepresents him or herself for > financial gain and sells our spirituality, this becomes the most insidious > form of genocide. > > Our religion, our voices, land and the remains of our ancestors have been > desecrated and continue to be violated to this day. > > In the olden days such individuals who dishonored our ways,professing to > be > shamans or making false claims by disrespecting our nation with > misrepresentation would have been tarred and feathered and shunned from > our > community forever. In addition to being shunned from our community, we > would notify all surrounding nations of this individual, insuring he or > she > be shunned by them as well. We don't want to see this kind of thing > happen > today. > > We want to help them to understand that our spirituality is not for sale. > The great names of Geronimo, Mangas Coloradas and Cochise of the Apache > Nation are to be respected not exploited or commercialized. Such names, > and > families from our nation--the Chiricahua Apache--have suffered a great > deal, > yet through their courage and sacrifice we have survived. > > We, the remaining descendants have a responsibility not only to our > Nation, > but to all Native American people to protect what is right, and for what > little is left to pass down to the future generations. > > True traditional people who represent their nation with special gifts to > heal and pray as spiritual leaders have been recognized and authorized and > would never receive monetary donations or payment for these gifts. In > fact, > no true traditional healer would ever profess to be a healer or shaman to > the general public. > > To sell videos exploiting our sweat lodges, ceremonies and conduct > workshops > in the name of shamanism, or psychic ability is not only sacrilegious, but > is also a violation of our religious rights. Our spirit is not for sale! > > I am here to clarify that through the Fort Sill-Chiricahua-Warm > Springs-Apache Nation and Mescalero Apache Nation that Morgan Eagle Bear > Maez: > > 1. Is not a descendant of Geronimo. > 2. Is not an Apache medicine man. > > I am here to protect the name of Geronimo and his family. > > Itsa Bit > A Chiricahua Apache. > Not a chief, > Not a shaman. > Just an Indian. > > For more information, contact the Fort Sill Apache Office at (580) > 588-2298 > or Chief Bill Tayac of the League of Indigenous Sovereign Nations and the > American Indian Movement at (301) 932-0808. > > PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE > > FORT SILL - CHIRICAHUA - WARM SPRINGS - APACHE TRIBE > > PHONE: (580) 588-2298 / 2314 - FAX: (580) 588-3133 > ROUTE 2, BOX 121 - APACHE. OKLAHOMA 73006 > > July 16, 1999 > > Thank you for the information on Morgan "Eaglebear” Maez. Mr. Maez is > being > promoted and making appearances as a "great great grandson of Geronimo" > and > as one of the few medicine men of the Apache Nation given the > responsibility > to reach out to the non-Native American > nations." > > The only direct descendants of Geronimo are through his family at > Mescalero, > New Mexico. Of the several Apache nations, the only ones connected with > Geronimo are the Fort Sill Apache Tribe in Oklahoma, and the Mescalero > Apache Tribe in New Mexico. These tribes would be familiar with their own > ceremonial people. Morgan "Eaglebear" Maez is not enrolled with either > tribe. > > 1. Morgan "Eaglebear" Maez is not a descendant of Geronimo. > > 2. Morgan "Eaglebear” Maez is not an Apache Medicine Man. > > Those who make false claims of connections with our tribe or with our > historical leaders for promotional purposes are exploiting our tribe and > American Indian people; and they are being profoundly disrespectful of our > native religion. We hope Mr. Maez can continue his devotion to helping > people but will do so in a non-exploitive manner and with proper respect > to > the Apache religion and to our tribal leaders. > > Sincerely, > Ruey H. Darrow > Chairperson > > MOUNTAIN SPIRIT DANCER > > Mountain Spirit Dancer represents the Mountain Spirit Ceremony which is > used > by the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache. > It was given to the Apaches by the Mountain Spirits for blessing, > protection, curing and warding off diseases. The Ceremony is still used > today. Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ UPDATES: CAMP JUSTICE http://shell.webbernet.net/~ishgooda/oglala/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
