Stop The Abuse Of Native Spirituality In Florida!

Stop Exploiting Native Americans Spirituality For Profit!

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: The Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp and all persons associated there-with.


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Stop Exploiting Native Americans Spirituality For Profit!

We demand that The Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Located near Lake Helen Fl. Cease and Desist The Use of the Words Native,Native American,American Indian,Indian or Indigenious in all Promotional & Adverstment Materials,Forms and Venues.Cease & Desist in The Teaching & Practice of Accepting Payment For All Classes Involving Native American Traditions and/or Spirituality.Cease and Desist in any activities that distrub or endanger any and all Sacred Grounds,In or around the Location of The Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp.


The Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp continues to saturate the Community with vulgar, sensationalist and grossly distorted representations of Lakota & Other Nations spirituality and culture which reinforce the public's negative stereotyping of Indian people and which gravely impair the self-esteem of our children; and

WHEREAS individuals and groups involved in "the New Age Movement," in "neo-paganism" cults and in "shamanism" workshops all have exploited the spiritual traditions of our Lakota & First Nations people by imitating our ceremonial ways and by mixing such imitation rituals with non-Indian occult practices in an offensive and harmful pseudo-religious hodgepodge; and Continue to do so for profit.

WHEREAS the absurd public posturing of this scandalous assortment of psuedo-Indian charlatans, "wannabes," commercial profiteers, cultists and "New Age shamans" comprises a momentous obstacle in the struggle of traditional Native people for an adequate public appraisal of the legitimate political, legal and spiritual needs of real First Nations people

We urge our people to coordinate with their tribal members living in urban areas to identify instances in which our sacred traditions are being abused, and then to resist this abuse, utilizing whatever specific tactics are necessary and sufficient --for example demonstrations, boycotts, press conferences, and acts of direct intervention.

We Ask That All Strong Hearts Of All Nations Step Forward,Sign this Petition & Follow Thru In What Ever Means Needed To Let The Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Know that "Their Freedom Of Religion" Does not Include the Right to Theft, Stealing & Selling Of First Nations Spirituality & Desecration Of Sacred Grounds.

(Portions Of The Above Text Taken from "The Declaration of War" )
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Sincerely,
Joelle Clark


You are violating Article 11 of the United Nations Declaration Of The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples

Article 11
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.
2. States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs.

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