And The Hits Just Keep On Coming

A dear contributor who wishes to remain anonymous sends us this chilling piece about their Wildmoon Experience at the Teaching Drum Outdoor School. We think this person's encounter with Tamarack Song and his ilk highlights the damage that can be done to people who are given an exploitative, tourist's view of the so-called wild. It takes good guides and lots of time to find a place in the non-civilized natural world that feels clean and healthy and comfortable. A veteran camper can show you how to do that and it doesn't cost anywhere near as much!

The writer of this piece states "...if you want an actual 'teacher' a REAL teacher, go to a reputable, experienced person whom will sit with you and coach you through skills! Who will give you worthy and fair lessons in exchange for your hard earned money!"

After five years of running this blog, we could not have said it any better.

Our heartfelt thanks (and empathy) go out to the writer for sharing the emotional toll that Tamarack Song and his stupid school inflict on people turning to him for anything.

I share this 'Teaching Drum School' experience in the hope that others will not follow in my unfortunate mistake and save themselves a lot of grief, money and better health in the process!

Here it is......

I arrive with some surprises:

While hiking to the campsite we were to stay in, Lety lets me know "there are no teachers here." Hmmm, I mean, I don't know.. wouldnt you say calling your company TEACHING drum SCHOOL and having no TEACHERS a little effing deceptive? Your dealing with a public that has a very dictionary idea of what 'teaching' is about and you call yourselves "Teaching drum School"!

Later on, I'm told that "'Teaching drum' stands for the heartbeat of the earth. And while there, you learn what mother earth has to teach us!"

Well, my response to that comes from one of my journal entries before even being told about their meaning for the company name!:

"You could argue that nature teaches you, but I could have gone to a national park at my leisure, with SOAP and around 2,000 dollars still in my pocket and learned what 'nature' has to teach me!!!! That is not why I came to Teaching Drum! You have to ask how to do every little thing because their are no workshops and almost nothing is told to you freely. Sometimes the delay in answering me, the expressions on one of the "guides" face, his body language and energy give me the impression that he finds it a bit annoying. The name "Teaching Drum School" IS misleading."

I found one of the 'guides' manner intimidating and some of the things he said, ignorant. He was so into his own little world. And the other 'guide' was most interested in snuggling with his girlfriend and remembering his dreams. It was like being stuck in a forest with 3 people whom knew and WORKED for the company, no other new people were there! (Which I was under the impression there would be!) And I was infringing upon their good time together. THAT is how I felt! Not like "a welcome guest."

We were expected to do some arduous hiking (Which was also NEVER told to me before hand!). The hike we did, to help fix a structure, took almost a whole day with what felt like a heavy boulder on my back. We were told we 'might' have to go to another camp area to fish! A 25 mile distance, about 4 all day hikes in a row there, to fish and then do it all again back! (I was ALSO never told we would be moving from campsite to campsite before coming!!!) I was not going to hike with a ton of gear on my back 4 days in a row, 25 miles away from support camp with three people I did not trust with my saftey! Come to think of it, I don't think I would do such a thing with people I DID trust! It's a pretty stupid thing to do in my oppinion, seeing as how I am not experienced and even for an experienced person it is dangerous!

Silent horror stories:

So one of the two supposed 'guides' was telling me about two different things that had me in a silent horror all to myself.

One of them was a story about a past yearlonger whom they all went on a hiking trip with. This past yearlonger guy accidently stuck an axe into his leg cause he was cutting wood the wrong way (and these particular 'guides', my guides, didn't feel it necessary to point that out to him at the time!). So he tells me they had a 'talking circle' about what was best for them to do for him!!!!! ~ While this poor guy is literally bleeding to death! They eventually built him a sort of stretcher and carried him most of the way to help. He arrived at the hospital with more than half his bodily blood drained! Lucky to be alive, I'd say! So this past 'yearlonger' learned SO MUCH with Teaching Drum technique of 'observation and immitation' he didn't even know how to safely CUT WOOD!

The second thing that freaked me out was when both guides were telling me about how they had lime disease from ticks that are prevalent in that area!!! I asked if they are around this time of year (fall/winter) and one replied that they most likely were not. But they might be in sunny warm patches. "Oh joy!!!"

The girl, was telling me about how she has had plenty of ticks in the past without ever getting lime disease! ~ I guess this was her way of trying to unnerve me.

It didn't work!

Ignorance:

Two example of why I find one of the guides ignorant, other than his unfortunate carelessness for others health and well being is here:

I was sharing with the group about an article I read on the plane. The article was about different countries and where you should not go for certain types of vacationing. One of the countries, I forget exactly... (Could have been Iran, or around there), the article talked about how if your a couple wanting a romantic get away you shouldn't go there because in that country they will throw you in jail for public displays of affection with the opposite sex! I related my disgust at such a law and this guy says something along the lines of, "well, if you go into another country or immerse yourself in another groups culture you should abide by it. We have a culture here as well!" That is like saying if everyone does something I should do it as well no matter 'what' it is! I DON'T THINK SO! But yes, I would never visit a country or want to live in a place that had such a disgusting, idiotic, draconian law! I wouldn't put myself in such an environment.

This really smart person also talked to me before leaving about how I was practicing 'death' by leaving early from the experience. Comparing it to a real life survival situation where leaving means death!

You know, I'll just let you decide what you think of this person.

Unfortunate health problems:

Another gift of this ridiculous and costly Wildmoon experience is a slight breathing problem I still have from mold exposure! To get an idea of how serious mold exposure can be take a look at these two web pages:

http://www.mold-survivor.com/assoc.illness.html

http://moldsymptoms.org/

These highly intelligent 'guides' of mine thought it interesting and necessary to take us all into an earth lodge infested with MOLD! Letting us know it was moldy after we spent a few minutes in it.. breathing and talking. Nothing happened till later on that night, when I was trying to get to sleep in a different (limited air flow) structure! Which could have possibly had mold as well. Who knows?! I was having trouble sleeping because I was having trouble BREATHING. I couldn't get enough oxygen into my lungs.. I felt a heaviness in my chest and I was forced to wake up one of the 'guides' and his girlfriend in a separate structure because the 'guide' I was in this structure with ignored me when I tried to wake him!

I wanted them to contact the support camp, ie; "Tamarack's home" to leave, but the girl I woke up was looking at me like I was just having a panic attack or something and had me sit in a circle with them, after they built a fire near the lean too. I was to sleep in this lean too the rest of the time I spent there. She took my pulse and the both of them stayed up with me till I could breath better. I could breath better in the fresh air, under the lean too. But my breathing issues did not go away. Their were moments I'd get winded just walking around! It was aggrivating, frustrating and scary. At first, I wasn't quite sure what was causing this reation. But the only thing I can think of to cause this breathing issue was that mold!

I also had these weird feelings in the morning. I'd feel nauseous and have this odd tingling cotton mouth feeling in the back of my throat and tongue. A built up of phlegm in my throat as well. After drinking lots of water through this stupid filter straw, (which is like sucking blood out of a mosquito), and eating something it would go away! I couldn't place it until I started to experiment later on.

I noticed that they wouldn't clean and or disinfect the serving spoon and lid by the fire at all! And the communal cooking pot was probably cleaned out sparingly at best! I started noticing that tingling sensation after eating with them one night and decided to just roast my own food by the fire instead another night. I awoke the nex morning without those symptoms!

A paragraph from my journal talking about my hands:

"My fingers were on fire with ice pain after putting some more laundry in the lake. NOT FUN! Using snow to wipe after relieving myself is quite painful too. It's so cold and I have to pack a flat snowball with my bare hands to use as a wipe. My hands are severly cracked and sometimes bleed. Moving my fingers can be painful because of the cracks I have. The severe cold and ice water only worsens this."

Later on, talking with Tamarack:

According to Tamarack, "mold spores are everywhere and theirs no getting away from them!" (After telling him about the infested structure I was brought into!)

"That tingling, nauseous feeling I was getting after eating was probably because we were eating bear fat and I was allergic" (I ate this bear fat, cooked and separate that same night I experimented and their was no reaction, by the way!) and also, according to him, "I have some body fat on me so the extra bear fat might have been my body saying "that's too much!""

Lety mentions 'maybe' I just missed seeing them clean and disinfect the communal pot and spoon! (I did not! And I also asked one of the guides if he cleans them out and he said "NO") Apparantly he is used to some weird and disgusting custom where people just cook OLD food in with the new food over and over without cleaning the pot! So, it's totally normal for him!

I was given bear fat for my cracked, bleeding hands (which stank so bad, I had to rub my hands with balsam fir after). This bear fat ended up giving me a rash. SO, now my hands hurt to move, bled and itched!

I told Tamarack and Lety about this and apparantly I didn't do a good enough job in letting these 'guides' know about my issues. I should have asked them to try other things!

All in all, WHATEVER issues I came across through this experience that he had me share with him, NOTHING was his fault or his 'guides' fault, but the person who was doing the complaining! ~ In this case, MINE or conveniently, no ones.

I was on my way home:

The below freezing temperature, inability to properly clean myself and my clothes, my hands, lack of support, a developed breathing problem from mold exposure, not feeling safe with this group of people, sleeping with the communal food by my head while coyotes and wolves roamed the area, cutting my gums on sand that constantly got in my food, inability to sleep, feeling that if I pushed it more I could possibly end up with pneumonia, rash, physical exhaustion to the point of nausea, slight yeast infection, constipation, learning very little except some simple hygiene techniques that are not always effective in certain weather conditions and the simple fact that every day I counted down it never got any better for me. I was never enjoying myself except for one day with a group of yearlong women. It was not safe or smart for me to continue. I knew my limit and I was at it. 'Could' I have stayed there the whole time? Oh yes! But I did not wish too. It was not the experience I thought it would be.

Another paragraph from my journal:

"The aftermath:

I paid a hefty amount to switch my flight back home early. During the three flights back I was embarrassed and felt bad for anyone whom had to sit next to me cause I smelled like the dirtiest smelliest hobo you ever came across in your life! My hands looked awful and so dirty, like I had some sort of skin disease. My bath water was dark. My hands are still recuperating. I'm still haveing breathing issues and might need to see a doctor about getting an inhaler and antihistamines! Yogurt and acidophulus is getting rid of the yeast infection and my body is slowly repairing itself with sleep, warmth, love and healthy surroundings. I feel a bit traumatized."

For anyone thinking about going to this 'School':

Have I learned and experienced positive things while being there, sure! But all of them could have easily occured camping at my leisure with friends and SOAP!!!!

(Sorry, I have developed a fixation with the stuff. Maybe one day, if you are ever as unfortunate as I to have been so very dirty for a stretch of time you will come close to understanding. ;)

If you feel inclined as I and others do to learn wild life survival, I suggest you practice these skills in the comfort of your back yard and or camping! There is plenty of literature on it! But if you want an actual 'teacher' a REAL teacher, go to a reputable, experienced person whom will sit with you and coach you through skills! Who will give you worthy and fair lessons an exchange for your hard earned money! People WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING and leave their cult culture at the door!

If you want a lot of pain, uncomfortableness, to endanger your health, spend a lot of money, be pressured to behave as a cult group, have a possible near death experience, learn diddlysquat in real wilderness survival skills, and have it all BE YOUR FAULT, by all means, Teaching Drum is the place for you!

P.S. They also are affiliated with this place:

http://www.wildmoon.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=68

Good luck to you and yours

Peace

Love

Freedom

A Great Letter to the Editor

A Dear Reader named "Friend" gives us a heads-up on a great Letter to the Editor in the comments section of our post "Playing Indian: White Racists Try to Hold 'Go Native' Party."

The letter is in response to the East Bay Express reporter's demeaning coverage of the Native American protest of the racist settlers' "Go Native" party in the article "Burners Torched Over Party."

Here is the letter:

Since the East Bay Express didn't print this letter to the editor, nor did they put it online, here is a response to the original article.

From: A group of Native and non-native allies concerned with holding the East Bay community accountable for ignorant acts that perpetuate racism. We envision building bridges, healing, and strengthening this community to support the free expression and survival of all cultures.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter to the Editor

The intention of this letter is not to further fan the flames of the conflict that has arisen over Visionary Village's party theme 'Go Native’ but rather to express concern and disappointment in the East Bay Express for allowing such a slanted, inaccurate, dismissive and historically ignorant article to be published in your paper, hidden in the April fools issue. While the article thoroughly chronicled the "lecturing", "blasting" and "excoriation" of the young Visionary Village representatives, it does little to uncover the reason behind the anger expressed by Native American and allied non-native community members. This lack of understanding, and apparent lack of interest in understanding why 50 or more Native American people would take five hours out of their Saturday evenings to speak to a gathering like this, highlights the very ignorance that angered people in the first place.

The dispute is depicted as though some foolish youth made a simple mistake and were then forced to endure strict punishment that outweighed the original infraction. However the 'go easy on them' sentiment expressed by the author seems to only extend one direction. It is not easily disputed that this country was founded on the genocide of Native American communities. And while Native Americans in this country continue to face the calculated cultural genocide of relocation, destruction of sacred lands, poverty and marginalization, they are expected to take lightly the further dismissal of their human rights by flattening their lives into party themes akin to aliens, cartoons, and fire dragons.

Regardless of the direction the party planners intended their party theme of "Go Native" to take, there must be some responsibility taken by the planners for its contribution to the pervading racist stereotypes of Native Americans common in this country. The article failed to recognize the tremendous restraint and compassion from the Bay Area Native community in generously taking time out to address this oversight with Visionary Village and instead depicted the 'real Natives' as hyper-sensitive or over-reacting.

Where are the hordes of outraged people asking Peabody Coal Company or Newmont Mining Corp to 'go easy on em' as they destroy the ancestral homelands of the remaining Native Americans who have survived over 500 years of genocide? In addition to the historical facts of small pox blankets, massacres of men women and children, broken treaties, Indian Schools, and relocation, the current struggles Native Americans face were not researched and presented as essential background information for the outrage at being dismantled and romanticized into a 'four directions' party theme. Without this information, the anger expressed at the event cannot be understood. It is irresponsible for East Bay Express to publish such an inflammatory, unprofessionally researched article.

The Visionary Village's party theme was a narrow-minded mistake. In all of the web wars that have resulted from this mistake being brought to Visionary Village's attention, little has been done to educate themselves to understand the Native American community's perspective, accept responsibility and apologize for the obvious ignorance, and move on to a place of greater understanding and true support for one another. This article did nothing more than provide a platform for further distortion of the facts by yet another unaccountable contributor to this growing conflict. East Bay Express reporters should accurately cover the history behind the anger, giving a balanced coverage of the tears and frustration on all sides, as well as offering solutions such as supporting the ongoing struggles of Native American communities like the Western Shoshone to defend their sacred places from Barrick Gold Corporation. How many Emeryville residents know they are living on sacred Ohlone ground where developers destroyed a shell mound and named a mall after it? The East Bay Express can spread awareness of the Shell Mound Walk that happens each year and provide links to for concerned people to get involved at websites like www.vallejointertribalcouncil.org, http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com, and www.blackmesais.org. The article also failed to cover the greater awareness and responsibility that is now being held by courageous and humble non-native individuals who stopped defending their ignorance, and have benefited from this wake up call.

Conflict can serve to transform peoples' understanding dramatically. Though the article represents a missed opportunity for that possibility, further pieces that delve deeper and honor the wisdom and experience of Native voices might perhaps offer some remedy to the oversights and misrepresentation in the article that was printed.

Comment by Hillary Violet - May 9, 2009 @ 09:00 PM

Playing Indian: White Racists Try To Hold "Go Native" Party

A Dear Reader named Melissa sends us a heads-up about Indigenous resistance to white racist cultural imperialism with this comment:

speaking of...have you guys read this?

Burners Torched Over Native Party

warning...it's painful to read and could be emotionally triggering on issues of race and appropriation.

Yes, we had seen it - at Brenda Norrell's site Censored News in the post "Obscene Racist Event: Burning Man's 'Go Native'". Thank you for the additional article, Melissa.

AIM West issued a statement to various media outlets, including Newspaper Rock, which posted it as "'Go Native' at the Visionary Village."

Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday I was informed about an obscene racist event that will be hosted by a Burning Man crew. On Saturday, March 28th, an organization calling itself "Visionary Village" will put on a dance party called "Go Native" where participants are being asked to come in "native costume." They advertise that the event will raise funds for "neurofeedback research" in Native American Church members. THIS IS A LIE. Real NAC members would never consent to being "studied" during our most sacred ceremonies! Furthermore, their "theme rooms," as scheduled, will make a mockery of Native cultures, including the Anasazi and "Pueblo" cultures (as if there was a single, generic "Pueblo" culture).

In addition, they proudly advertise that their dance party will be held "in a bordello complex" built on top of an ancient Ohlone site! Adding desecration to this insult is outrageous!

The event organizers have been contacted by *many* people in the community, and in addition to being completely insensitive to the Native people who have contacted them, they have also been unable to establish any connection between their "fundraising event" and *any* Native American Church group or individual.

The follow-up from AIM:

'Go Native' organizer cancels event

Brothers and Sisters,

(Friday) Tonight, March 27th at the IFH Women's Day event, Visionary Village organizer Caapi and "Go Native" flyer designer Byron Pope stood before the gathered elders and community members. They respectfully listened while person after person publicly spoke to them about the injury inflicted on our community and the anger their "Go Native" event and promotion aroused. Speakers ranged in age from 8 to 80. When asked what could be done to rectify the situation, the gathered community unanimously demanded that the event be canceled.

In front of the assembled community members and recorded on video, Visionary Village organizer Caapi and artist Bryan Pope both signed an agreement that read as follows (spelling corrected):

"Visionary Village members Caapi and Byron have agreed to cancel the event at the Bordello on Sat, 3.28.09."

The paper was signed and dated by both men.
A photo of the agreement paper is attached to this email.
They also verbally agreed to and acknowledged the following:

1. They will be at the venue to turn away event attendees and explain the agreement reached.
2. There will be no DJs/music played at the venue, and no impromptu gathering of any kind.
3. Members of the Native American community will be present at the venue with them to ensure that their word is kept.
4. Members of the Native American community will still gather as planned for the protest to further ensure that they keep to their word. Should the agreement be perceived to be broken, the Native American community will move to stop the event.
It is imperative that the Native community still come as planned in order to support and ensure the cancellation of Saturday night's event. Visionary Village organizers Caapi and Byron Pope undertook the difficult task of facing the anger of the Native community. Tomorrow night they will face the disappointment and unpredictability of a potentially large crowd of party-goers. Our presence at the venue will both support them and reassure our community that our agreement is honored.

Following the successful cancellation of the event, a dialog can then follow to address ways we can further heal the rift between our communities.

Mark Anquoe
American Indian Movement

The story from a white settler paper:

Burners Torched Over Native Party

Local Native Americans go to war against insensitive Burners and win.

By David Downs

April 1, 2009

There was supposed to be a "private" Burner party last Saturday night at the Bordello in Oakland, complete with three hundred guests, twenty DJs spinning thumping techno and bass, dancers, a fashion show, micro-massages, raw food, an absinthe bar, and coconuts. Instead, the event ended in tears.

More than fifty Bay Area Native American rights activists converged on the historic East Oakland property at 9:30 p.m. to ensure the shutdown of popular Burning Man group Visionary Village's "Go Native!" party. The fired-up Hopis, Kiowas and other tribal members spent more than four hours lecturing the handful of white, college-class Burners about cultural sensitivity until some of them simply broke down crying. The emotional crescendo capped a month-long saga that started with a tone-deaf dance party flyer, led to an Internet flame war and a public excoriation of Visionary Village's young, neo-hippy leaders before real tribal elders in the East Bay demanded a cancellation of the event.

The strange saga all began in early February when Visionary Village — a loose group of artists and other young people who enjoy the annual Burning Man arts festival in Nevada — began routine publicity for a Burning Man-style "private event" at the Bordello on E. 12 Street in Oakland. The online flyer circulated on Tribe.net read: "GO NATIVE" in an Old West font set against a desert sun, and the dance party was advertised as a "fundraiser for the Native American Church." Native-rights activists got wind of it and publicized additional text from the VisionaryVillage.org web site indicating four "elemental rooms" would be themed: "Water: Island Natives (Maori); Air: Cliff Natives (Anasazi); Earth: Jungle Natives (Shipibo); Fire: Desert Natives (Pueblo)." Ravers were offered a discount off the $20 door fee "if you show up in Native costume," and the money would fund "neurofeedback research demonstrating causality between medicinal use [of peyote], improved brainwave patterns, and heightened mirror neuron activity in users." The 140-year-old Bordello property abuts Interstate 880 and an ancient Ohlone Indian site dated to the 12th century B.C., which was also promoted.

By Wednesday, March 25, Native Americans across the country were seething on the comment boards, especially IndyBay.org — a popular web destination for alternative news and culture. American Indian Movement West member Mark Anquoe, a 39-year-old San Francisco resident, said he'd never seen such a swift reaction. The Burners touched a third rail when they invoked the Native American Church, which has had to fight for legal status from the United States for years. The costume discount, lumping distinct tribes in with each other and the promise of debauchery next to sacred Ohlone land, only added gasoline to the inferno. Commenters demanded that the event be canceled, started a petition amongst rights groups, and some began threatening Visionary Village with arson and rape. Among the most incendiary comments received by the Village: "YOU FUCKING CRACKKKERS[sic] ARE THE REAL DEVIL AS SPOKEN IN THE SCRIPTURE! SHIT LIKE THIS DOES NOT SUPRISE ME ONE BIT, ... I PRAY TO THE MOST HIGH THAT A METEOR WILL FALL OUT THE SKY AND HIT 1247 E. 12th Street AND ALL YOU FUCKING DEVILS WILL BE BURNING MEN ALRIGHT!!!!"

Anquoe said the sum of the Burners' actions turned them into a focal point for latent Indian rage over things as broad as the Cleveland Indians mascot and the Boy Scouts. "This is so many different levels all at once that the whole community from everywhere went up in flames all at once," he said.

The Burners quickly backpedaled online, signing a petition to distance the event from any Native themes and stating: "The decorations in the Air Room include a parachute. Our organizers are dressing as time-traveling aliens, Nickelodeon cartoon characters, and fire-dragons because that is how they identify their native identity. That is their NATIVE ATTIRE/COSTUME. ... Please stop slandering our event and misleading people."

But the bonfire was too big. Real Native Americans promised to protest the event and some DJs egged them on. On Friday, March 27, IndyBay reporter and UC Berkeley attendee Hillary Lehr proposed a meeting of both sides in Mosswood Park to work out their differences. Visionary Village leaders "Caapi" and Byron Page attended the meet with Anquoe and others. The Native Americans persuaded the Burners to come to the Intertribal Friendship House on International Boulevard in Oakland that night. There, they got blasted by Natives young and old for their party idea.

"They were brave for even coming," said Anquoe. "They saw the real tears of the people there and saw the heat of people's anger. The Village Elders demanded a cancellation. There was a ten-year-old girl sobbing in front of them."

Caapi and Page offered to cancel the event to wild applause, but the Native Americans planned on showing up Saturday night anyway. The event had been promoted for a month and they wanted the chance to talk to whoever showed up dressed in "native costume." More than twenty partygoers would arrive Saturday night, some in pattern-printed Hopi T-shirts or rustic, Andean fabrics and cuts, but all of them fled after hearing what was transpiring inside the Bordello.

Within the dark, labyrinthine walls of the 140-year-old former brothel [a place where women whose survival options have been narrowed by patriarchy are rented out to be raped], old Native Americans were lecturing young Burners on what it meant to be Indian. Lit by dim lamps under red glass lampshades, tribal elder Wounded Knee DeOcampo — wearing a black T-shirt that read "original landlord" — stood over performance artist "Cicada" in her sparkly, sheer scarf and layered hipster garb, lecturing her about his grandmother's forcible kidnapping and rape at white hands.

"There's a lot of pain," he said. "I don't want you to agree with me, I want you to understand!"

IndyBay reporter Lehr was nearby saying, "I've never seen anything like this. Their grievance is very real and it wasn't reconciled, it was escalated. We're starting to go down a long road now. It's not like everything's going to be okay. We're not going to sit around singing kumbaya."

At 10 p.m., activists and party planners sat cross-legged in a circle in the main room, lit by a lone spotlight and led by stern Intertribal Friendship House director Morning Star Gali. Native Americans vented and asked questions, while twentysomething Caapi — dressed in a Baja surf sweater — apologized profusely along with his crew. Byron Pope — noted for his Asian-Native American heritage and piercings, said he recently moved from his native Canada and was stunned at the response to his flyer. "I offer my sincere apologies. It's a different world here and I'm really learning that."

Caapi said his team's hearts were in the right place and they did not intend to steal Indian culture. "I think everyone here and inside of our community at large know how poorly promoted this event was in its iconography, in its text, in the affiliations and implications. I think perhaps after tonight the intent will be recognized for the good heartedness it was and the absence of anything resembling cultural appropriation."

But for every apology, the group often inserted a foot into its mouth. Some Burners said they'd been trained by shamans to build altars, others sang racist childhood songs, or noted the lack of Native Americans at Burning Man (which occurs on an Indian reservation). Others asked for Indian help with their Burning Man projects, prompting a Hopi woman to go off.

"I'm trying to articulate my feelings as best I can without completely losing it," she said. "What we do is not an artistic expression. And you don't have artistic license to take little pieces here and there and do what you want with it. That's something you people don't understand, probably never will understand.

"Name your little villages whatever you want, but don't ever associate it with Native Americans. Call it the Crystal Ranch or something. Call it the Mars Ranch. If you want to be spiritual — go be a Druid or something."

The back and forth went on until 1 a.m. and everyone was emotionally beaten, exhausted, and silent. No further reparations are planned, but the topic still smolders on places like Tribe.net. The organizers lost thousands of dollars in party planning fees, and face the continued ire of the Natives as well as their own Burner peers.

"Elaine" on Tribe.net writes: "Dude, don't kiss anymore ass! [Visionary Village] did nothing wrong in the first place. This whole thing is blown completely out of context and out of control. The public apologies shouldn't have to be made. Its not like the theme camp was screaming some Michael 'Kramer' Richard shit at the tribe. Sorry this is just ridiculous."

Anquoe says the non-party was a rare example of effective conflict resolution that is unique to the Bay Area, and he commends Caapi for their actions. Those bystanders who claim overreaction should reverse the situation.

"If Indian people put together a fund-raiser advertised to benefit the Catholic Church where we did our version of a Catholic Church ceremony and there wasn't actually a fund-raiser — you know what the reaction to it would be in the white community!?" he asked. "People would take legal actions against us, it would be crazy, it would be far beyond not having a party. As it is, these kids didn't get to have their party and they had to listen to Indian people being angry and that's about right for the injury they caused the Native community."

Caapi maintains that the fund-raiser for the Native American Church was genuine, and will be providing the names and phone numbers of the event's beneficiaries as soon as he can collect them all.

A Reader Has Questions

And they are very good ones.

Before we attempt to answer, we think it would be a good idea to allow other readers out there to consider, and perhaps sound off with your own take on the question of white privilege and drumming circles.

Hi, I have a question about drum circles. A lot of my friends - mixed races - like going to drum circles. They take place outdoors and consist of people from the community showing up with drums (mostly djembes; African-derived hand drums), and drumming while others dance inside the circle. Most of the attendees - probably from 60% to 80% - are white. Every time I go, everyone else seems to be having a great time, getting "lost" in the music or whatever, but I just can't get over my discomfort. They don't understand why I can't have fun - most of them are socially and politically conscious, they enjoy drums, they enjoy dancing, they have anti-oppressive politics, so what's wrong with that?

And I can't come up with any good responses. It just feels wrong in my gut. I feel like they're romanticizing the idea of "tribal culture" or something, or that they just want a sense of "tribal community" - but again, as they point out, even if that's the case - what's wrong with that? When white culture is increasingly shallow and consumerist, what's wrong with them trying to infuse their lives with something that feels physically, mentally, and maybe spiritually invigorating? They're good people, and most of them are culturally aware. I'm not sure that they are directly ripping off anything. So I don't know why I can't just get over it.

I feel like if they're going to have a drum circle, they ought to pay some kind of dues to indigenous cultures - but how, who do you credit drums to? And even if they all started standing in solidarity at Native road blockades for land rights, I still wouldn't feel comfortable at drum circles. I'm white, and maybe this discomfort is just overdeveloped white guilt or something, but when I see these drum circles I can't help comparing them to powwows back in my hometown and I just feel sick inside.

I'm also worried that I might be totally racist - that all I really want is to feel like I'm at something "culturally authentic", which would explain why I don't feel uncomfortable at Native powwows. Of course, I don't feel like I "belong", since I don't, but at least I don't feel nauseous.

I'm asking what you think because I guess this has to do with cultural appropriation and you seem like an expert.

Obviously it's totally okay to respond that this questionable is inappropriate and racist or that I'm inappropriate and racist.

I hope all is well.

addicted to your blog,

_ cut _

A Reader With The Write Stuff

Now THIS is how to ask the right questions about anything or anyone associated with the Teaching Drum. In response to Tamarack's Craigslist ad for an editor, our dear contributor (who asked to remain anonymous) astutely observes why there is something seriously wrong with a writer who wants a live-in editor.

Great follow-through, anon. We shiver everytime Tamarack writes that he is looking forward to "our sharing." You've spared yourself a lot of grief and given us yet another good chuckle at Dan Konen's loony desperation.

"A liberal percentage of royalties..."? Oh, please. Tamarack self-publishes. You'd make more money looking under the sofa cushions!

Hi there. I just wanted to say, thank you so much for your website. I just wanted to share with you why I came across it.

-cut-

I'm looking for a job in the editing or writing field. I came across this post on Craigslist.

http://madison.craigslist.org/wri/598355561.html

Writer-Editor--Earth conscious material
Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-03-07, 8:22AM CST

This is a full-time, live-in position in northern Wisconsin. Established book writer needs writer-editor to assist with organization and structure, proofreading, and research. Topic matter includes social change, personal healing, Native spirituality, and nature writings. You'll be working on and off with another editor and an award-winning book designer.

Writing talent and organizational skills are required; will teach editing. Compensation is a liberal percentage of royalties and a small monthly stipend. Room and board (modern or rustic cabin, organic food) and vehicle use provided. Please submit two writing samples (resume optional but preferred) to tamarack@teachingdrum.org

* Location: Three Lakes (four hours north of Madison
* Compensation: Compensation is a liberal percentage of royalties
and a small monthly stipend. Room and board (modern or rustic cabin,organic food) and vehicle use provided.
* This is at a non-profit organization.
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Phone calls about this job are ok.
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
PostingID: 598355561

-----------

I'm badly in need of a job and decided to respond looking for more information. I didn't want to send my resume or writing sample because I don't know this person, who knows what kind of creep he or she may be (I was once a New Yorker so I'm pretty paranoid on the whole). Also, the fact that they are looking for a live-in editor, prior editing experience not required, set off alarm bells in my head. Most editing can be done over the phone or email; I can't think of one professional writer who -lives- with an editor. That seemed a little ridiculous. Anyway, I responded to the ad listing my qualifications and also asking for more information about the project itself. I received this email in return:

Greetings _,

You have the training and experience I'm looking for, so yes, I would like to explore possibilities with you. I think it might be easier to fill you in on the job by phone, as I could answer your questions directly. If you will provide me your number, I can call you at your convenience, or you may call me at 715-546-2944. I look forward to our sharing.

In Balance,
Tamarack

More alarm bells. At first, I thought Tamarack was a fake name. Secondly, the man required no training or experience, so how is it that I have what he's looking for? And finally, what can't be said over email that can be said over the phone? So I decided to do a little digging. I started with public records then did some general Google searches. Everything seemed okay - he seemed a little kooky but nothing out of the ordinary.

-cut-

Anyway, I can't remember how I came across your website, but I am so glad that I did. I just wanted to thank you for putting that information out there before I wasted more of my time following up on his ad. There is also a copy of the ad on his website as well.

-cut-

A Note From A Warrior For The People

And one of our heroes. The Angry Indian is the editor of the finest indigenist newswire on the Internet. He kindly reposts our better work, and we thank him heartily for both his acknowledgement and his editorial leadership. The Struggle would be so much harder without the Angry Indian's truly international spirit.

Make the time to read indigenous-centered news from InteligentaIndigena Novajoservo (International Indigenist News). You will learn so much.

To: nemeses.united@yahoo.com
Subject: Good coverage
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008

Congrats for keeping the light on those that exploit the people.

The Angryindian

Mystery Guest Dishes Dirt on the Teaching Drum

A dear reader chimes in on the post "What's the problem here? Why "New Age Fraud" Fits Tamarack Song to a T" with alleged drug arrest and child support information s/he says was found in county court records. While none of us here are close enough to Rhinelander, Wisconsin to go down to the court house and confirm the info, we found the comments worthy of front paging as they fit a pattern of dirty secrets so prevalent with all things Teaching Drum.

Anonymous' comments reminded us of the rumors that used to swirl around the house and the camps about the first few Yearlong classes Tamarack ever held. Due to Tamarack's complete incompentence and lack of outdoor leadership experience, the first Yearlongs were said to have been nothing but drug and booze parties in the woods. The story was that he actually kicked the students off "his" land! He did finally manage to put a stop to all the wild parties and give the program a little more structure, but just barely. The rumors that constantly dog Tamarack Song and his school are a direct result of Tamarack's intentional mystification of his origins and training and relationships - a sure sign of a guru/cult leader if ever there was one. There's no trail of accountability. No one can verify anything he asserts.

As for the child support tip from Anonymous, again it's not something we ourselves have confirmed, but it dovetails with a rumor once prominent at the house and camps. Apparently Dan Konen waged one of the most bitter custody battles that Oneida County Wisconsin has ever seen. The settlement gave Konen possession of Wabibineshi (Morning-Bird, aka Rabin, aka Bub, aka Dan Konen's white child with the Ojibwe name). The court battle was so acrimonious, it was said, that people in the town of Three Lakes were shocked beyond belief that such a seemingly peaceloving man could be so violent. Of course, only Konen's former wife can confirm the scuttlebutt. Since we have not contacted her, take all reported here with a grain of salt and make up your own minds.

That Dan Konen avoided the Vietnam War does not appear to be in question: he pretty much says as much in the only book he has ever been able to get published by someone other than himself - and that was way back in 1994! Anonymous took issue with Tamarack wearing military style garb - to convey militancy apparently - yet never having served in the armed forces. While we would not encourage military service in any of this country's race wars, we do agree that it is wrong to don the garb of the imperial forces to try and look all badass. It's kinda like a white person shaving his head to the skin, then enjoying the sense that others perceive him as a dangerous skinhead to be given a wide berth. In any event, the time is long past since white peaceniks wearing military gear was seen as subversive.

Here are the relevant comments:

Anonymous said...
Perhaps just informing the people of Konens past in Tigerton WI with the Posse .... Or the fact he was a Vietnam conscience objector, yet proudly stands in photos from his school of ill repute wearing military clothing! Or perhaps the drug raid in 2007, where an arrest was made at the Teaching Drum! He is a Koresh or Rev. Moon brainwashing wannabe!! Need to know more??

1/15/2008 2:15 AM

Anonymous said...
Someone needs to ask Konen why is he in such poor health, if living is way is so healthy? Maybe all that mosquito training now makes him in need of his cardiologist?? It sure wasn't from working hard, that drone is too busy mating. Dude, lay off the sex and shrooms!

1/15/2008 2:23 AM

Nemeses said...
Wow Anon! With tips like that, you so need a better name than Anonymous. We'd like to front page your findings, but can you tell us where/how you found the information?

And yes, yes, yes! We'd like to know more.

1/15/2008 10:04 AM

Anonymous said...
Much came from MANY hours reviewing public court records, and years of trying to reveal the core of this slime! Recent court records show the income he "claims" to draw from the "school" as he receives child support from his exwife! OH what a man!! Dorothy must be so proud of her son!! As far as the drug bust, Oneida County Sheriffs Dept.

Since we're talking about Tamarack's hypocrisy, it seems like a good time now to resurrect the Banishment issue to illustrate how cult-minded the Teaching Drum circle is. Back in Fall of 2005, one of our contributors confronted Tamarack's racist refusal to stop calling himself and his followers "Natives," as well as his refusal to expose his students to authentic Ojibwe history, culture, and contemporary people at his "school" - which would reveal just how far his overprivileged customers are from real Native Americans. The confrontation resulted in the Banishment of the person who dared to challenge Tamarack, which just goes to show that his claim to respecting "truth-speaking" is as phony as everything else about him. Confront him and he will ritually kill you off. Note that not one of the Teaching Drum's sycophantic, transient bootlickers (including Warrior Glenn) stood up against this blatant act of racist, sexist censorship:

To: teaching_drum@yahoogroups.com
From: "Tamarack Song"
Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 14:28:21 -0600
Subject: [Teaching_Drum] A death in our group

Greetings to my Kin,

As an elder of the Circle, this person has been asked to inform everyone that "Teresa" has Passed Over (died). In her life she had brought us a tremendous gift -- an awareness of the preciousness of Truthspeaking. She had also struggled with recognizing that what really matters is not what we do, but how we do it. This made it very difficult for her to speak the truth of her heart and honor the truths of others. She has chosen to Walk On, so that she would no longer torment her people, and so that she could reconnect with who she really is, and find healing. If and when that happens, she will come back to life and return to gift her Circle with the intrinsic beauty of her person and the balance that she walks. We will then hold a great celebration, welcoming her back as a long-lost sister.

As her kin, we support her in her Passing Over by recognizing that she has become invisible. Her spirit will want to linger, because it finds comfort here among us. This is good and necessary, because it gives us the opportunity to participate in her journey by consciously sending her off. If she stands in front of us, we are to look through her; if we hear her voice, we are to ignore it completely, so that her spirit will not be fed. If a "From TF" e-mail comes, it gets deleted without even opening it. Any acknowledgment at all, of her existence, will keep her here, rather than embarking upon her healing journey.

"Teresa," we are grateful for your time with us and we honor you for the powerful teachings you have brought us. We wish you blessings on your walking, and we await your return.

Mashkigwatig w Nagamon nindizhnikaz, Gookookoo neen dodemTamarack Song, Owl clan,on behalf of the Teaching Drum CirclePlease visit our website at http://www.teachingdrum.org/

A year later, the guru sends the following e-resurrection notice to the Banned One, which she kindly forwarded to us:

"Tamarack Song"
Subject: Folded Wings
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006

Greetings ***,

When I first met you, I recognized something you couldn't disguise: the quick flash of connection that shot from your eyes every time you keyed on to something that resonated with you. As quiet as you attempted to be, I still learned much about you. We got to know each other, even though it didn't -- couldn't -- happen in typical fashion.

Yes, there was all the standard stuff I picked up on. And then there was the quality I've seen in only a few people spawned by this culture -- an organic awareness of one's essential self that was neither stomped out nor did it need to be revived by some conscious process. Was it some genetic anomaly, or perhaps an early-learned adaptation or self-protective mechanism that allowed you to remain functional and at the same time not lose yourself?

The reason didn't matter; I just felt blessed for the privilege of knowing you. Obviously we were intended to meet and join our energies in some way, and I'm still convinced of that. I am inviting you to come and join our Circle. We would be honored to have you.

Tamarack

Well, sorry you hypocritical Creep, you cannot have her back; she belongs to us now, and we thank her for her unwavering support. May her terrible experience be a warning and a lesson to us all.

Follow-up 1.17.08: More tips from Anon:

Check out the: Wisconsin Circuit Court Access web page also known as CCAP. This has all court records from all counties in the state of Wisconsin. These are all open to the public! Konens Case # 1994FA000090 and 1994A000090 , Oneida County. Also in search of his many bogus appearances, is the hearing where he had his named changed. And where did this money come from?? Konen moved here with no pot to piss in, now he has more then the working man!!

1/17/2008 2:02 AM

Go to it, Dear Readers! Phonies can lie, but they can't hide their court records.

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.

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