What We Live For

An anonymous poster has left a comment thanking us for the heads-up on Tamarack. Giving other people an insight into the fraud that is the Teaching Drum Outdoor School is why we do this work. It is our deepest hope that others will not make the same mistakes we did in ever having anything to do with the criminal phoniness that is Tamarack Song and his associates. We always appreciate knowing that our site has been helpful.

There goes $6000 dollars T and Co will not be getting to play Indian this year. Cheers Anon!

Anonymous said...

I am glad I've found your website here. My girlfriend's heard about this Teaching Drum and after I checked out their website my bullshit/wannabe/poser alarm started going off in my head. Glad to find some real evidence of this to show my woman. Thanks

5/29/2007 3:34 PM

Tamarack Admits He Approached Female Students and Volunteers

"Approached."

Otherwise known as sexually harassed. Can you imagine the fallout if he had "approached" male students, volunteers, and staff in this way? Why do you think he felt so comfortable with this heterosexual male entitlement? Patriarchy? You betcha.

The following letter was sent as a matter of spin control to the female student he once "approached" when students in the Wilderness Guide Program began questioning Tamarack's treatment of both her and other women. The whole, sordid tale had finally come out, adding even more drama/trauma to that year's Wilderness Guide Program, a program that twelve out of fourteen students would eventually quit in disgust.

Conveniently, Tamarack forgets in this letter to add Lety Seibel to the list of women he hit on. She was a student in the previous Yearlong at the time they began their romance, and eyewitnesses have stated that she was more than an occasional visitor to his house that winter, when Tamarack was also writing the applicant/future student.

From: "Tamarack Song"
Subject:
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002

Greetings *****,

I've lived alone for the past nine years, since Bub's mom and I parted. In that time I've known three women: ___________ in 1994 - 95, _____________ in 1998, and ________ in 1999 - 2000. They were long distance relationships (______ lived in Texas and Hawaii, ______ was from Illinois, _______ hailed from Madison) and none of those women were associated with the School. Prior to you, I have not approached, nor had involvement with, a student of the School.

When _________ first came to the School as a volunteer, I wrote her a letter, she responded, and we each quickly realized that we were different people. Perhaps it is sheer coincidence, perhaps not, that you and her - the only two women I have opened to here at the School in the 15 years of its existence - are here at the same time, in the same camp.

I think you are aware of this, I think you know me. My hunch is that many (if not most) of you at camp (you included?) have made more romantic overtures, and had more intimate partners, than me, in the past 15 years, even considering that some of you have not been sexually active that long.

I have high regard for your intelligence and astuteness. My hunch is that you know me, that you are aware of the above. And I think you likely remember how I approached you, what I was clear about and what I wasn't. In the same breath I wish to state that I feel you need to do what you are doing, so I offer no judgment or resistance.

Tamarack

PS If/when you might like to connect, I would probably be willing.

No judgment or resistance, aye? OK, we're gonna hold you to that when we move into the Banishment phase of your "approach" to those who dare resist your depredations.

He Gets His "Intended to Be Mated" On With Sexual Harassment

Poised to overwhelm.

Alright then. In the last few posts we've looked at some of Tamarack Song's white supremacy, and we've examined his anti-activist hypocrisy, so what ought to be up next? We thought about launching into his Fake-Lore writings, but... yuck. We just did not have the stomach for that much New Age, wannabe phoniness this weekend.

It seems timely and appropriate now to go ahead and publish some of the letters Tamarack sent to a female applicant to the Wilderness Guide Program while he was still in the process of deciding who would be chosen to attend his school. Note that in the last letter in this post that what Tamarack terms the female student's "reluctance" is a classic sign of a woman backing away from a harasser. This same student will later be accused of having a "vendetta" against Tamarack when she declines further participation in his fraud. Cult leaders often hit on female seekers precisely for this reason - that they may later claim the woman-scorned defense against any females who confront their lies.

Previously published letters will open in their own separate web page. Our original remarks from those posts are in italics.

Lecherous Boy That He Is, Part I

After a visit to his school back in early Fall 2001, one of our contributors received this in their inbox. Looks like Song Boy is getting an itch he's a gonna wanna scratch, folks. "Screaming for release..."?

Now aren't you just dying to know which part of the Wilderness Guide Program covers that one?

From: "Tamarack Song"
To: No Name Necessary
Subject:
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 20:03:36 -0700

Greetings ____,

Good to hear from you, and glad you arrived safely back. I think your time here was well chosen and well spent. I believe you may well be ready to face your fears and grow further into yourself. Knowing you even as slightly as I do, I'm clear that then you will have much that is uniquely you to gift back to the Healing. I caught glimpses of you that are screaming for release. And I think your personal background will lend itself to what you can contribute to your comrades as you all grow together. If it be intended that you partake in the Yearlong Program, you will grace it well.

I'll ask Rusty to send you the initial paperwork forthwith; you should have it within the next week.

In Balance,
Tamarack

Next is the handwritten letter that Tamarack mailed to the female applicant in November 2001, after receiving her required essay on why she wanted to participate in the Wilderness Guide Program. It has been rumoured that this woman was not the only one to receive such a letter over the years.

Let Me Immerse Myself in Your Breadth

Freezing-over Moon
waxing full

I don't read many peoples' works; in fact I don't read much at all anymore. I read your piece twice. It's not your depth of awareness that caught me, it's your breadth of awareness. Do you know how rare that is? Do you know how rare you are?

You gave me a window into your substance, clear as first-formed ice. I need to melt the ice, hold my breath and immerse myself. I respectfully ask if you will continue to share your breadth with me. I am willing to do same.

In Balance,
Tamarack

A Taste of Your Touch On the Fabric of Balance (this has not been previously published, so there is no separate web page).

From: "Tamarack Song"
To: Name Withheld
Subject:
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001

...cut...

I’m pensively preoccupied this morning, along with being touched by the seldom Sun -- a good time to share with you.

Your name, as I am guided by the dictionary, tells me that perhaps you are a woman of grace and honor. I already knew you well enough to suspect that. But I don’t know you well enough. Not near well enough. The voice of my dreamself urges me to come before you and respectfully ask if you might open yourself to me, and to offer the same of myself to you. You have approached me as a Seeker; perchance I will be your Guide. It may also be that we, as peers, will be both Seeker and Guide to each other.

It has been a long, long time since I’ve known someone who senses the synergy inherent in the meeting of compassion, the Spiral of Life and the intrinsic self -- and who can express it with a cadence resonant to mine. I cherish that you have gifted me a taste of your touch upon the fabric of Balance.

I believe we have been guided each to the other, for a reason that both encompasses us and reaches beyond us.

...cut...

As to what might be intended for us I have not even a faint glimmering. But I am enlivened at the prospect of the unfolding, and I trust in it. From the onset I would like to be a Truthspeaker with you -- I will hold no secrets and will strive to be fully open to you and to the Voices.

...cut...

Getting His Intended to Be Mated On

We wonder what would happen if a student applying to the University of Wisconsin received a letter like this from the Dean of Admissions. Slapped with a sexual harassment lawsuit, perhaps? You better believe it.

By the way folks, we think Same Ole Song's hitting on female students anticipates the need to deflect any future criticism with the "spurned woman" excuse. Rumour has it that several women over the years have received one of these "intended to be mated" letters. We are putting the word out for copies.

We were in fact contacted by a woman who had also been on the receiving end of Tamarack's sexist abuse, but she asked that we not publish her story because she feared his retribution. As a survivor of male violence and the potential victim of more, she had every right to ask that of us, and we will continue to honor her request.

From: "Tamarack Song"
To: Name Withheld
Subject: This and
Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001

So, you say it's been a while since you've met your match in a man. The same is true with me concerning a woman, and that may currently be changing forme as well. As you know, I felt some powerful resonance with you as I indulged in the piece you sent along with your application, and the timing of its arrival and a couple other signs involving you only reinforced the impact.

We may have been guided to each other for one of several reasons;one may be that we are intended to be mated. The prospect alone excites me, as I have lived alone for eight years now and I dearly miss the dimension a woman of shared spirit could bring to my life. Oh, there have been women,and I know women now, but I haven't known one with the rare courage and vision it would take to Walk beside me. Nor have I known a woman I have been able to be myself with in the fullest sense.

Better than a turn of the seasons ago I, quite by happenstance (yea, right!)found myself the holder of an appointment slot with Dr. Gregory Antonym, an intuitive healer from Russia. I expected a medical reading; I got clarity on my relationship lifepath. In a nutshell, he described the spiritual landscape of my aura and said that my mate will need to be someone also of expansive landscape. He cautioned me against seeking a "pretty face",stressing that I open myself only to a woman of spiritual sensitivity. There's more, much more, but that is the essence of what I feel important to share with you right now.

I didn't entirely connect with Dr. Gregory's approach or perspective, yet he did reinforce my own awareness. I know what is intended for me, and I would rather remain alone than compromise that in order to be with someone. In an important sense I believe you and I know each other well. In many other ways we are virtual strangers. So I have only an intuitive impression as to who we might be to each other.

I am aware that my impression could also mean something quite different than matedness. But clearly it is a strong and beautiful enough impression that I want to continue exploring it with you, no matter what we find our intended relationship to be. I'd like to know now, of course, and yet I would not wish to be deprived of the joy of discovery. The mystery of a gift is enhanced by its careful unwrapping, and to me you are already a gift such that I don't believe I've ever beheld.

Me

I Feel A Tug

Meanwhile, ole T is romancing a student, Lety Seibel, in the current (2001) Wilderness Guide Program! He acts like her letter is such a surprise, but eyewitnesses in the Guide Program later told us that the romance had been going on for quite some time.

From: "Tamarack Song"
To: Name Withheld
Subject:
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002

Greetings ***,

There's something I feel the need to tell you right away: I received a letter from Lety (I believe you'll remember her) asking if I would be her mate. I viewed our relationship quite differently - as Seeker and Guide, and I knew her to be celibate besides, so I am taken aback. A doorway has been opened that I didn't know existed.

I know you and I have just begun to crack the 'strangers' shell, and we know not how our sharing might unfold, and at the same time I am clear that you are a singularly unique, cherished and vital person to me, guided to me for some special reason. That may have nothing to do with the present unfoldment regarding Lety, or it may. All I know now is that I feel a tug, a need, to open to you this new state of my being.

You are far away; hard as it would be, I would feel much more comfortable sharing this with you in person. I am concerned about your feelings; I will honor your needs in whatever way will best serve you.

Me

Feed My Bloated Ego With That Woman-Energy Stuff

From: "Tamarack Song"
To: Name Withheld
Subject:
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002

Greetings Be Woman Being,

You've been known to delight me, on specific occasion you've amazed me, and now you brandish both at once! I am deeply grateful for your perspective, your self awareness, and your acceptance. It is an honor to know you as I do. My affection and regard for you has not changed, could not change; it will just manifest in a different way.

You mentioned that over the past few weeks there were personal signs or indications that were causing you some uneasiness around our unfolding. If you would feel comfortable sharing that with me, such as how they manifested and your way of being (there's that woman-energy stuff again!) with them, I would surely enjoy the broader knowing of the ways of your feelings and sensitivities.

The Activist piece that I had in mind to send you is, as I now look at it, far from even a rough draft. It's more a stream of consciousness and collection of notes. And yet I will send it, because it is timely and topical, and because I would like to share that aspect of myself with you. And, most importantly, I send it because I promised! After all, what is a man if he is not a man of his word. Yea!

Blessings to you,
do-wop a doin' man

PS This weekend I am making determinations regarding enrollment in the year-long program. I would be honored to have your participation. You'll be getting some paperwork in a few days. And I promise that you'll learn how to catch Fish. (There I go giving my word again . . .This time you have it in writing, so you can hold me to it!)

And now we've ALL got it in writing. Jackass.

Overwhelming, Consuming, Chasing (Violating ) You

Tamarack thinks women are given to him to "facilitate my flow." The female student's reactions that he is describing in this letter reflect a perfectly natural response to sexual harassment. He uses the accusation "overwhelm" as a self-compliment rather than its intended indictment by those, who in the past, have experienced his gluttonous, desperate violations.

God what a self-absorbed creep.

From: Tamarack Song [tdrums2@newnorth.net]
To: Name Withheld
Date: Thursday, January 31, 2002

Greetings ****,

When I first became aware that something special might be intended for you and me, my natural impulse was to get together with you to explore and discover what that might be. I thought I might ask you if you also be desirous of such, and if you might be able to take a short break from work.

My friend, Fox, suggested instead that I rather allow some time to see what might unfold. That made rational sense to me, as after all we barely knew each other in a conventional sense, and to boot I have a history of overwhelming people.

In short order our early history seemed to verify Fox's advice: I perceived most of your correspondences as being sparse and guarded, and some of them painfully slow to come. And then there was your admission that you were feeling overwhelmed and request for me to slow down.

After that your signals grew mixed, or so was my perception. So I relaxed into that, deciding to allow our sharing to find a dynamic that was comfortable for both of us. That to some degree stifled my spontaneity and my ability to list to and honor the Voices, but it seemed better than the not-so-unlikely tradeoff - consuming you. The upshot, the cost, was that I lost, or partially lost, the continuum with you. It had nothing to do with you being second choice. It had to do with fear -fear of overwhelming you, of chasing you away, and of hurting you in the process. I believe that Lety may in part have been given to me in order to spare you and to facilitate my flow.

In retrospect I would have respected Fox's advice, and yet followed my own guidance. I would not have tried to second-guess your actions-reactions, as another's reality does not validate or invalidate mine. Perhaps I would have completely overwhelmed you, and that would have been OK. And then again perhaps we would have blossomed into our sharing. Because of my negotiating with the now, we will not know that. I should have known that you were capable of many and wondrous things, in fact I was aware of that, but my fear of the possible fallout, and my caring for you, overshadowed that.

Now I am in a place of acceptance. I feel sadness and I feel joy. I wonder what might have been and what will be. My main desire is to be in the moment, to realize that things unfold as they are intended, and to glean the teachings from my choices. My biggest overall regret is that I do not know you as a whole person. I do not know how to relate with you, listen to you, share myself with you, in a way that I feel confident is true and full. Such a dichotomy: you have been so close and yet so far away. I don't believe I will make that mistake again.

... cut ...

Me

Anti-Activist Hypocrite Tamarack Song Becomes an Activist to Save the Trees

Whites calling themselves "natives" at the the Teaching Drum Outdoor School become activists to flag old growth trees slated for removal.

Remember Tamarack's answers when challenged as to why he refuses to take action to confront the apartheid, anti-Indian system from which he as a white settler benefits? Here's a refresher from Same Ole Song, A White Supremacist Song -

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS: ON THE SCHOOL AND POLITICAL CHANGE

"Why aren't you folks more politically active?"

Because political activism is largely ineffective and corrupting. Whoever buys into the oppressor's rules and tactics, inevitably becomes the oppressor. The political-judicial process changes little or nothing - success is defeat, progress is an illusion. From greater perspective, the system becomes stronger when we engage it, because a system gains strength merely by its use.

Causes and movements are largely diversions from the real work that has to be done. They sap energy, remove participants even further from the essence of the issue, and create more illusions atop those already existing. And yet they are not a complete waste, because the powers-that-be, love them - malcontents are kept visibly and predictably engaged.

Our activism here at the Teaching Drum is not conservative or liberal, it is barely visible to most, and it is profound in magnitude and earthshaking in effect. It is too radical, too off-the-board, to find resonance with any existing group or movement. A full understanding of what we are engaged in would make most activists look like sideline conservatives. We see our way to be more transformative and far-reaching, and thereby more effective, than standard activism could ever be.

We feel that social-political activism is spinning wheels - a diversion from the work that really needs to be done. It is akin to focusing on surface lesion, and meanwhile the causative disease grows stronger. Activism is loved by the powers-that-be, because they feel safe, knowing exactly who you are and what you are doing. "Better overt than covert" is one of their mottos. They so much prefer having a highly visible, predictable resistance, that they often surreptitiously support opposition movements. When none exist, they will sometimes create one. An enemy helps coalesce their support and strengthen their power base, and gives them sanction to tighten control. And activists, by the very fact that they are activists, are playing the game by the rules of the powers-that-be, which means they are in control. In essence, activists usually end up empowering the hand they are trying to cripple.

We've now had 10,000 years of activist politics, and the living situation on our Mother-planet the has yet continued to progressively worsen. That's enough for us -- we say a 10,000 year trial period is more than fair. It's time to get back to what works; we simply cannot afford to keep the social-political-religious experiment going any longer, and we have no interest in wasting any more of our time and energy on it, either as supporters our detractors. We have dedicated our lives to what has proven to work for millions of years; why ever would we want to toss that aside in favor of a 10,000 year flop?

Meanwhile, back at the ole "rules for thee but not for me" hypocrite, Tamarack has been quite busy over the last few months engaging in some very activist-like actions - including letters to the editors, town hall meetings, petition signing, and organizing a partnership in the Three Lakes Wisconsin area to fight the removal of old growth trees along Military Road.

Why he and his self-titled "native" followers have even set up a web page!!!

Note what school spokesman and Tamarack lap poodle Glenn Helkenn had to say to a reporter about the tree removal's impact.

"Just from our standpoint," said the school's Glenn Helkenn as we stood in the road one day last week, "this is our storefront."

After the vote and subsequent attention brought to the project, said Helkenn, opposition to the plan "has just ballooned since then. Native Americans have gotten involved, neighbors up and down the road . . . people from all over the community have got concerns over this project."

A meeting to form a "Partnership to Save Military Road" attracted about 40 people, said Evan Cestari, also with Teaching Drum, and launched such efforts as a Web site, www.savelakesuperiortrail.blogspot.com, a letter campaign to town board members and a petition drive that will be presented at an informational meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the town offices in Three Lakes. Engineers for the project are scheduled to explain their plans, and representatives of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be available to answer questions.

They'll no doubt get some. Goldie Longtail, cultural preservation officer for the Mole Lake band of Chippewa Indians, said it is likely there are remains of tribal members buried along the road that would be disturbed by reconstruction. Tribal officials "don't want Military Road disturbed at all," she said, calling it "a spiritual thing with us."

Helkenn and others argue that if the issue is safety of motorists, as backers of reconstruction claim, the so-called improvements might actually make it more unsafe. As it is, the hilly and winding route demands slow going. But if the road is widened and curves straightened, higher speeds could lead to more accidents, he said. In fact, opponents have collected accident reports that they say show Military Road has had only three non-alcohol or non-drug-related accidents in 20 years, and those were caused by a deer, a tire blowout and bad weather.
Main attraction

Beyond that, Helkenn said, reconstruction could forever change "the last road of its kind in the area - an irreplaceable scenic and historic treasure and a unique contribution to tourism."

TOURISM!!!!!!!!

STOREFRONTS!!!!!

How perfectly clan hunter gatherer of you there, Team Hypocrisy.

And isn't it interesting to see how suddenly Tamarack Song and Glenn Helkenn need Native Americans now that the trees that attract tourists to their Playing Indian school are being threatened.

Did WE not challenge Tamarack over a year ago now to begin to change his school's curriculum to better relate the history and struggles of Native Americans PRECISELY that he might prepare himself and his students for a time when they would need to ally with Ojibwe people to fight a common oppressor?

YES, we did.

Maybe if Dan Konen had not been such a self-absorbed narcissist surrounded by servile enablers, he might have been better prepared for what was coming. He would already have known the history of that road and its relationship to indigenous peoples, and not had to spend "thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours most of us didn't have to spare, along with having to face angry and mean-spirited people."

Oh, poor baby. Were dose bwad people mwean to woo?

When Tamarack was challenged by dissident voices, he did not want to listen because he will not be held accountable to anyone but himself. Even after the temporary victory the Three Lakes partnership won, Tamarack is still making the issue all about him, as this whining letter to the editor reveals:

Fear and Loathing in Three Lakes

When I first got involved in the community, I was treated like a piece of...well, to put it politely, I was treated like I didn't matter. A faction of the Town Board first ignored me, and when I didn't go away they gave me the runaround. When that didn't work either, they tried to discredit and censor me.

A healthy organization welcomes new thoughts and energy, because they help it grow and adapt to change. Thankfully, that is now starting to happen in Three Lakes. New faces are appearing in our town government. There were many kind and caring people who had given up because they thought there was no chance for their voice to be heard. They now have renewed hope--they are speaking up, getting involved, and coming to Town Board Meetings.

TOWN BOARD MEETINGS???

TOWN GOVERNMENT????

Talk about strengthening the hand of the oppressor.

Jeeesh.

As Tamarack advised: "The political-judicial process changes little or nothing - success is defeat, progress is an illusion."

Unless HE is the activist, of course.