James Ray, owner of a mulitmillion-dollar motivational company based in Carsbad, Calif., was indicted Wednesday after he injured more than 20 people and killed three others in a fake sweat lodge ceremony. Ray claims he did nothing wrong during his “makeshift suana” Oct. 8 where he purported to lead his followers in a spiritual journey modeled after the American Indian sweatlodge ceremonies. Every Native person I know was floored by the idea that a non-Native was conducting these ceremonies and collecting thousands of dollars from each participant. The for-profit James Ray International organization has been operating contrary to Native spiritual beliefs, raising, once again, questions about who has the right to run these ceremonies. Here’s more on the Ray indictment story in today’s New York Times.
Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., died during a two-hour ceremony inside a dome-shaped tent where hot rocks were placed. The hot air inside was then supposed to help the participants sweat and purify their mind, body and soul. If done right under the guidance of someone who knew ow to lead such a ceremony, the participants may have succeeded. These ceremonies are taken seriously by Native people. We believe that only certain people, even among American Indians, have a right to run a sweatlodoge ceremony. News of the deaths prompted many Native people to speak out against Ray, including Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle. Here’s the statement Looking Horse issued on Oct. 29, 2009. “What has happened in the news with the make shift sauna called the sweat lodge is not our ceremonial way of life!” said Looking Horse in his statement.
Prayers to all the families still suffering from the loss of their loved ones.
Jodi Rave