A Kalinago Reader's Comment Regarding Columbus

A fantastic comment in response to our post Tamarack Song and Christopher Columbus was left by a kind reader who is justifiably outraged by Euro-American attempts to fig-leaf their own acts of genocide with lies about the lifeways of the indigenous people Columbus murdered.

Pepper said...

I know this is an old post but I had to comment. I am Kalinago Indian, one of the tribes that Spreace alleges practiced cannibalism and slavery. We never practiced cannibalism. Period. I get tired of saying this. I have no clue why people seek to define us by this one act. We didn't have a less elaborate social structure we had a "different" social structure, where as the community helps each other as a whole rather than specific class levels. We had "slaves" but they were more like servants. It was NOTHING like the slavery practiced in the US. Our lives did NOT center around warfare and cannibalism. I don't even know why Americans celebrate Columbus, he's a man like any other, and he never even set foot on the American continent. He didn't discover America, he "stumbled upon" the Caribbean. Him and is followers are guilty of disgusting and horrifying atrocities against the Taino people. Why would someone celebrate that? It's like celebrating Idi Amin or something.

Spreace needs to take a good look at this man he wants to celebrate.

Bad Publicity: The Teaching Drum in Stevens Point (WI) Journal

The reporter on this story, Shenandoah Sowash, was kind enough to contact us for a statement before publishing this account of the Teaching Drum Outdoor School. Unfortunately, the Stevens Point Journal does not allow anonymous sources, so we declined. Part of our strategy is to keep Tamarack Song (Dan Konen) and staff guessing at all times who our many contributors are.

Overall, we find the story satisfying. The legendary, come-apart Yearlong class of thirteen is highlighted with special emphasis on the dysfunctional nature of throwing mostly white kids together in the woods with total strangers for 24/7.

Note how both Luke and Jacob Brault blame themselves (and other students) for Tamarack's failures, as if sitting around all day and thinking about yourself and your problems is going to solve this culture's chronic narcissism, a narcissism readily apparent in both Tamarack's hokey, fake-lore writings and teaching style.

"I wanted to fulfill these dreams of pursuing alternative learning," said Jacob Brault, who participated in the 2002 program for five months, "but I had a romanticized idea of living off the land, a hippie dream, the Native American way."

Yes, that is the essence of our apartheid, white supremacist society, isn't it? A romanticized view of Native Americans. Now, who do we know girls and boys who peddles in his books and essays a romanticized view of Native Americans? That's right. Tamarack Song. And every other Twinkie-fied, white New Ager in this country writing about Native American "way" (as if there is some unified Pan-Indian way in the first place), while having next to zero contact or relationship with contemporary indigenous peoples and their struggles. Tamarack Song gasses on and on about relationships, but does he or anyone at his school actually have a committed relationship to Ojibwe people and resistance in his area?

The answer, of course, is no.

Our assessment of this article is mostly positive. Clearly, the Teaching Drum Outdoor School has been stung enough by our and others' criticisms that they are on the defensive now. After reading the story, please check out for yourselves additional eyewitness testimony from another student in the disasterous 2002 Yearlong.

To affirm the not-so-veiled undertone of this story: Yes, if you take part in the Teaching Drum's Yearlong, you may very likely end up in the woods with crazy people.

Posted July 8, 2007

Wilderness school builds self-knowledge

By Shenandoah Sowash
Central Wisconsin Sunday

Winter is the "White Season." Earth is the "First Mother." Fire is a male being. Welcome to the Teaching Drum Outdoor School in Three Lakes.

"On the surface, it looks like we might be just a primitive skills school, but we're truly about exploring the inner self. These skills mean nothing unless they're integrated into honoring relationship," said Tamarack Song, founder of the school.

Relationship is a term one hears often when speaking of Teaching Drum. Song believes relationship refers not only to the self, but to others, plants, animals and the earth.

"We want to guide people in the Old Way. So if someone asks a question, you ask a question in response," said Luke Brault, a staff member from Fond du Lac.

Founded in 1987, Teaching Drum offers a year-long immersion experience called the Wilderness Guide Program.

For one year, participants (also known as Seekers) learn vital survival skills and explore the Old Way, a reference to a Native American spiritual path. Alcohol, tobacco, firearms, caffeine, domestic animals and drugs are prohibited.

"I wanted to fulfill these dreams of pursuing alternative learning," said Jacob Brault, who participated in the 2002 program for five months, "but I had a romanticized idea of living off the land, a hippie dream, the Native American way."

Brault, who is Luke's brother, experienced physical difficulties during his time in the program, including an intestinal disorder referred to as Drum Disease.

"Being exposed to the elements 24/7 was really hard. Some of the things your body goes through are difficult," Jacob said.

Luke experienced comparable challenges in the program, though his were of a more emotional nature.

"The yearlong program takes you on an inward journey. I left because I ran into a wall of full personal depression. I couldn't deal with it out there," said Luke, who completed eight months.

According to Luke, the 2002 program started with 13 participants and only two completed the full year.

"It was a strange mix of people, a dysfunctional group," he said.

All volunteers or program participants must sign a liability waiver and agreement stating a licensed medical doctor has verified their physical health though a doctor's signature is not required, nor is there any mention of mental health history or status.

Despite Luke's experience in the program, he currently serves on staff as a carpenter and assists in running the school.

"What separates us from other schools is that we learn how to live as a clan," Luke said.

In such a setting, conflict and personal growth are inevitable.

"People come to the program with so much history that they're sifting through. Their personal history is hidden. There will always be tension when you put a group of people out in the woods together," Jacob said.

Still, the Braults believe such conflict should be worked though, not ignored.

Jacob looks back fondly on his experience, but not without ambivalence.

"When you're faced with it, you realize pretty quickly that it's not as romantic as you dreamt it would be," he said.

A Yearlong Student's Account of the Teaching Drum Outdoor School

One of the members of the Come-Apart Class of 2002 gives a brief glimpse into the realities of the Yearlong.

What went so wrong? Well, it would probably take a novel to lay out all the details, but I think I can sum it up best just like this: Tamarack asks for truthspeaking, seems to listen intently, and then does absolutely zip except blame the truthspeakers for the problem. This first became apparent when both camps began experiencing food shortages in the first month of the program. T. was more than happy to have as many Talking Circles about the problem as your heart could desire, but no matter how much we talked, he refused to take any concrete steps to solve the chronic shortages and missed food drops, nor would he take any suggestions on what could be done to end the problems. Finally, both camps agreed that those who possessed vehicles would go into the school every three days to pick up our food as no one at the house could be relied upon to consistently and adequately supply us. This did not change until _______ came onboard in September. I think he was taken aback by how grateful we were to finally have some real help with the food.

As for T.'s "guidance" it basically comes down to this: stay in the house all day and write, take the writing to the camps, stay for an hour to discuss the last writing handed out at the last visit, leave, do more writing, repeat. Well, I don't know about your perceptions, but as a role model, T. makes an excellent example for would-be writers, but he does not make a good example for people longing to live interdependently in the non-symbolic world of Nature.

A number of times, the two camps reached consensus on our desire to see T. spend more time actually living the lifeway he proclaims by being physically on site for extended periods of time so that we could model his Old Way behavior. That is my understanding of the way the Native Elders taught, and still do teach, their young people - by living example. Do you know I have never even seen T. build a fire? Come to think of it, I have never seen T. actually do any of the skills he proposes to teach. When both camps expressed our desire to see him spend more time modeling the lifeway on site with us, he refused.

And I don't even want to get into the simplistic contempt T. expressed privately to me for the present-day struggles Native peoples of this continent are facing. It is just too painful.

Ten New Seekers Going Hungry at the Teaching Drum

As much as these clowns obsess about food and how its gathered, you'd think Tamarack and Co. were afflicted with eating disorders. Actually we really do wonder if anyone in Lety's or Tamarack's family has ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder. It would be interesting, certainly, if something like that could be confirmed, and it would explain a lot about the sick, controlling mentality that marks the philosophy behind the Teaching Drum. In any event, we have no doubt that food is quite the weapon around the Konen family table.

Enjoy the road kill and handful of berries, Suckers - um - Seekers. Remember, the staff at the Big House gets first dibs on the tasty treats YOUR money bought. You get the moldy food drops.

Particularly heartening to see in this broadcast from Lety is to what great effort she goes to explain away criticisms of the school from those who have experienced it in the past. We concur with her however that if you are interested in paying $6000 to eat roadkill and go hungry while living 24/7 with dirty, cranky strangers - please do go visit the school first.

To: teaching_drum@yahoogroups.com
From: "Lety Seibel"
Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 06:36:52 -0500
Subject: RE: [Teaching_Drum] Re: This years Wilderness Guide Program

For those of you curious or interested in the WGP, the first step is to get a WGP information packet which goes over description, philosophy and logistical details. You can order it through our webpage wwwdotteachingdrumdotorg (I'm writing it like this to minimize spammers collecting the 'ready-to-click' address)or by calling the office here 715-546-2944.

The second step is to visit with the current participants for a full week and be completely immersed in the experience, this is the only way to dispel myths and get a glimpse into what it is really about. This step is so vital that it is required before an application can be submitted.

To tackle Nick's questions: the year-long is going great! There are 10 Seekers in two camps, 4 of them women. There is way too much to say about what they are working on right now as the physical, mental, emotional & spiritual aspects of being are all involved in the process of re-awakening,so will give you a synopsis.

Right now they are living in tents, they are gathering material for and building bark lodges. They are foraging all their drinking water, greens and protein, the School is still providing them with fruit, along with a small amount of starch and fat. The berry season is beginning, so soon they will be providing all their own fruit. So far they have made baskets, wooden bowls and eating utensils and are working of making fire by friction. They have learned about wilderness hygiene and first aid, direction
finding/lost- proofing, and many other foundational skills. Breaking mental patterns, awareness and attunement exercises & truthspeaking are integrated into the everyday until they cease to be 'exercises'. They will likely begin hide tanning soon.

Every year's process is very uniquely tailored to the people participating and we discourage comparisons from one year to the next because it sets people up for disappointments and reinforces the 'future/past- projecting' mentality which is already so rampant everywhere. One of the great challenges for people is to be fully present in the moment and that is one aspect which is emphasized and nurtured in this experience. Outwardly the timing and skills practiced during the WGP may seem to vary, and yet the core concepts are fully covered every year. After the year's experience we encourage Seekers to test out these universal concepts by applying them to the next step on their journeys, thereby reinforcing them and having them as
allies for the rest of their lives.

A couple of people from Australia have visited the School in the past including a man who took the Program three years ago; I could check with him and give him your e-mail address if you'd like to get in touch with him.

Lety