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34AJournalofContemporaryShamanismVOLUME7ISSUE2FALL2014200years.Hewasangryatnon-indigenouspeoplesproftingromNorthAmericanculture.Byrightsheshouldbeangrierwithmethanwithcontemporaryshamanswhomadethedeci-siontoavoidNorthAmericanhealingandtoocusonSiberianpractice.Teyaremoreexemptromcriticismduetotherela-tivelackoSiberianhealershere.MycriticdidnotcarethatIhadsomeindigenouslineageonbothsidesandthatIwastalkingaboutlessonsromNorthAmericanindigenouspracticesorcontemporaryhealing.Teseweresubtlepointsthatdidntimpresshim.NordidhecarethatIdonatetheproceedsrommyhealingpracticetoournot-or-proft.Forhimthesewereslight-o-handmaneuverstohidemythetohisculturethoughactuallyhewasOjib-wayacultureaboutwhichIknowverylittle.InoureveningdiscussionsthisyeararoundthefreattheSunDancecampseveraloushelpersanddancerscametosomeconclusionsaboutthesematters.Priorto1975orin-stanceallNativeAmericanceremonywasillegalsotherewasanecessarysecrecyandexclusivitylestonebearrested.IwroteinCoyoteMedicineaboutFatherStonethelocalpriestwhoattendedmyfrstsweatlodgeceremonybeore1978whowasreadytodeclaretheceremonyaRomanCatholicriteithepoliceappeared.Heactuallybroughthiscollarintothelodgetoputonirequired.Ater19751960inCanadawiththepassageotheAmericanIndianFreedomoReligionActonecanimaginethatconsiderableangerremained.TiswastheheydayotheAmericanIndianMovementandIndianpoliticalactivism.Non-IndianswerentwelcomenecessarilyatSunDanceorotherceremonies.TisledMannywoFeathersorex-ampletostarthisownmixed-bloodsundance.BeorehediedMannywroteawonderulbookcalledTeRoadtotheSundance.JustasHarnerandIngermanavoidedreerencetoNorthAmericanpracticeMannycratedsongsinEnglishtoavoidanycriticismoco-optingLakotaandotherindigenouspractice.Hereswhatwethoughthappened.Inthe1980sculturebecameincorporatedintoalcoholanddrugtreatmentpro-grams.ToseprogramsservingalargepercentageoNativepeoplebegantooerpurifcationinipiceremonies.Teybegantowelcometheinvolvementotraditionalelders.SinceFederalreimbursementguidelinespreventedthemromtreat-ingonlyNativeAmericansthisprogrammingbecameavail-abletopeopleoallethnicities.PeopleoEuropeandescentdiscoveredthattheRedRoadtheinipiceremonyandtheSunDancetonameaewceremonieswerebetteratpreventingre-lapseintoalcoholanddrugusethantheconventionalmodali-tiestheyhadpreviouslybeenoered.Indiansandnon-Indiansormedlastingbondsintreatmentprogramsthroughceremo-niesconductedtherethatcontinuedintothelargerworld.Webelievethattreatmentprogramschangedtheexclusivitypolicyintoinclusivity.Oneothedancerssaidhehadreadthattherewouldbealmost400sundancesthisseasonacrosstheUnitedStatesover40inSouthDakotaalone.Isuspectthatisanunder-estimate.Canadacouldaddseveralhundredmore.Ceremonyisourishing.ManyothepeopleIhavemetatSunDanceproclaimtheRedRoadandallitsceremonieshavekeptthemaliveandsober.TesearepeopleromallethnicitiesnotjustNativeAmerican.TemajorityosundancesnowwelcomeallcomersincludingthisyearorthefrsttimetheAmericanIndianMovementsSunDance.Discriminationbyethnicityhasstopped.OneOnandagaeldertoldmeTesewaysareoreveryone.CreatorgavethemtothepeopletosharewitheveryonenotjustIndians.TatswhyIwelcomeanyonewithloveorweareallone.Hismottowasoneroadmanybranches.HealsosaidinexplainingthedierencesoundateachSunDanceceremonyonetheologymanypractices.WhatisapparentatSunDanceevenbytheseconddayopurifcationwithsevendaysremainingistheincredibleloveandsupportthatexistsoreveryone.Hatredandangerhavenotenteredthesesacredgrounds.Weworktogethertoproduceadanceorthehealingoallpeople.Wearechoos-ingtosueronpurposewithapurposesothatthepeoplewhocomeheremaybehealedsothatthepeopleorwhomweareprayingcangetwell.IwillbringpeopletothetreeorhealingmyriendwhosuersromnewlydiagnosedovariancancermyriendswhoaresueringromseverementalandphysicalillnessesmynewpatientsorwhomIwishtodomorethananyonepreviouslyhaseverdoneorthem.Troughoursacrifcesandourprayersthesepeoplewillbehelped.Perhapsitstimeorthecontemporaryshamanismmove-menttoreconnectwiththeRedRoad.PerhapsitwasonceuponatimeastuteandpoliticallycorrecttolearnromSiberiansandtoavoidthepitallonon-IndianslearningromIndians.Perhapsthosedaysareoverandwecanseekriendlycamaraderiewitheachother.Perhapswemighthavetoex-ploreothertermsthanshamanismlikespirit-inspiredenergymedicinetoolongorspirit-guidedhealingorindigenousenergymedicineorjusthealing.OrmaybetheNativeworldembracesthewordshamanismthoughIdoubtthatwillhap-pensoon.IbelieveintheprophecyoHisCrazyHorsetheLakotavisionarythatwearecomingtoatimewhenwewillbeonepeoplejoinedtogetherbytheseways.Itstimeorsharingandunity.Exclusivityisathingothepast.OurSunDanceleadersaidhewassometimescriticizedorservingallbutthatsthewayotheuturehesaid.Itsthewayoloveandcompas-sionandthatswhatSunDanceisabout.