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Navajo Butterfly



Last Updated: 11/6/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 100
Sign: Pisces

City: Flagstaff
State: Arizona
Country: US
Signup Date: 11/17/2006

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October 14, 2009 - Wednesday 

Current mood:  bummed
Category: News and Politics

Retreat leader speaks out over sweat lodge deaths






LOS ANGELES — The self-help expert who led a spiritual retreat in Arizona where two people died after being overcome in a sweat lodge said the tragedy last week has left him “frustrated and confused.”

At a seminar outside Los Angeles, James Arthur Ray broke down in tears as he addressed the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y., and James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee. Authorities say Brown, Shore and more than 50 other people attending the retreat near Sedona were crowded into a 415-square-foot sweat lodge over two hours last Thursday.

Brown and Shore died, and 19 others were hurt. One remains in critical condition. Autopsy results are being withheld pending additional tests, but carbon monoxide poisoning was ruled out as a cause of the deaths and illnesses. Fire officials said the surviving victims exhibited symptoms ranging from dehydration to kidney failure.

“This is the most difficult time I’ve ever faced,” Ray told a crowd of about 200 at a hotel in Marina del Rey Tuesday. “I don’t know how to deal with it really.”

An audience member asked Ray to describe what happened at the retreat, but he declined, saying only that he has hired his own investigative team and is cooperating with authorities.

“We’re looking for answers,” he said. “I’m as frustrated and confused as other people are.”

Ray, who said he is “being tested” by the tragedy, added that he wrestled with whether to go through with Tuesday’s seminar. He said it had been scheduled weeks before the Arizona retreat.

“My advisers told me, ’Don’t do that. You don’t know who’ll show up. They’re going to eat you alive,”’ he told the audience. But he said it was important for him to keep his commitments.

“I’m grieving right now,” said Ray. “I’m grieving for the families.”

The comments followed a demand earlier Tuesday from a spokesman for Brown’s family for more accountability from Ray.

Tom McFeeley, Brown’s cousin and family spokesman, called on Ray to assure that the retreat’s participants “were not mistreated and not put in a reckless situation.”

McFeeley also said he is concerned that Ray exhibited a “godlike complex” during the event that might have kept people from opting out of activities that Ray acknowledged could cause “physical, emotional, financial or other injuries.”

Ray’s spokesman, Howard Bragman, declined Tuesday to address McFeeley’s concerns.

Fire department reports released Tuesday show the incident wasn’t the first involving a sweat lodge ceremony at the resort, the Angel Valley Retreat Center. Verde Valley Fire Chief Jerry Doerksen said his department responded to a 911 call in October 2005 about a person who was unconscious after being in a sweat lodge.

Angel Valley resort owner Amayra Hamilton confirmed that Ray was leading the sweat ceremony during the 2005 event. Ray’s spokesman declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office continued to investigate last week’s ceremony to determine if criminal negligence played a role in the deaths or illnesses. Sheriff’s spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn said Tuesday that authorities have not yet spoken with Ray.

No charges have been filed.

Participants paid between $9,000 and $10,000 for the retreat, and police said they were highly encouraged, but not forced, to remain inside the crudely built sweat lodge the entire two hours, authorities said.

A statement released by the family of Liz Neuman, who remains in critical condition at the Flagstaff Medical Center, said she is in a coma and doctors are working to stabilize damage to multiple organs.

Two others remained hospitalized.

Officials say the sweat lodge, built specifically for the five-day retreat, lacked the necessary building permit.

———

Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca reported from Sedona.
October 10, 2009 - Saturday 
September 25, 2009 - Friday 

Current mood:  curious
STOP YOUR HATING NOW!!!.
I am tired of reading messages of this person who is demeaning herself by complaining and gossiping on myspace! This is not a place to dump your garbage. Control yourself by looking into the mirror. We are are good people, despite our pasts, or our families past.
My family, and I are aware of our own problems. We work hard to make a living, and take good care of our children.
We are educated and yes we have made mistakes in the past. All that is over, my friend. I know who you are. I had Watson Gaddy as a pre-school student at Red Lake Preschool. I am a Red Lake community member. He is not my brother's son. If you want to talk about these things you are so mad about, I want you to come up to me, and talk to me.
I am the one to talk to. I will listen to your complaints and I'll hear you out. I love my family very much. We are all very strong people who have helped YOUR community for so many years!! Our grandfather made sure YOUR family had proper care, and HE made sure YOUR family had a school to attend while YOU were a very young child.
I am sure you're not a bad person, just someone who is bored and nothing else to do.
See you at TC Fair. I will be waiting for you....GOD BLESS YOU and YOUR FAMILY.

For readers who want to know why I wrote this...a person was sending awful messages about my brothers and sisters to another member of the family. These messages were forwarded to me to read and analyze. I made some calls to find out what it was about. I found out it was all a childish act on the part of one family member and another scorned female. My family had nothing to do with this episodic strings of events.
August 12, 2009 - Wednesday 

Category: Life
August 12, 2009

Here I am in another town...just moved by a drop in the bucket! New Mexico was fastastic for out doors and full of of history. The employment there was slow as in everywhere else. I went to San Juan College for the summer to gain new skills. Which was very fun.
I'm now in Flagstaff, Arizona. Back in my home party town. I've ran into my highschool friends the first day back. It was all good...just the same.
We just had our family reunion last week. Not very many people show up. Just a few of us, but it was nice to be home with the family. We shared a lot of memories of our grand parents, and life as children. We shared knowledge about the old ways, new ways, and about drug and alcohol abuse. That was my job. hehe... had to anyways.
My daughter starts a new school tomorrow. Today, she's meeting her new teacher. She is a little apprehensive, but excited as well. I understand that very well. I let her get a kitten, which she named, "Special." She is a siamese cat.
For my family members: I didn't take any pictures of the family reunion this year. I didn't have a camera, and my camera phone is suspended.
I'm looking forward to being closer to home. It's an hour an half away. My dad had his water turned on as well. We can take showers!! It's finally happening! All these years without running water and indoor plumbing. That's the story I want to share with all of my family and friends. Hang in there with all you've got! Life is good. May the Creator bless you all. Belinda
July 1, 2009 - Wednesday 
April 2, 2009 - Thursday 

Current mood:  bullied
Category: News and Politics

Protesting is not Resisting, Resistance are based on profound manifestos 

Ancient Big Mountain

Supreme Ways Dictates Dineh Resistance


 

Pauline Whitesinger Continues to Defy Bureau of Indian Affairs and Police Harassment

By Bahe Y. Katenay, Sheep Dog Nation Rocks


 


 

Sweet Water Stronghold, Big Mountain. March 1, 2009 - Dineh elder resister of the traditional lands of Sweet Water is bundled up for the chilly winds as she takes some hay out to her sheep and goats. The herds need a little extra feed before going out to graze. The non-Indian, volunteer supporter is dressed warm and ready to follow the sheep as he chops some wood for grandma, Pauline and while the herds nibble on the scattered hay on the ground. Not many non-Indian volunteers do occasionally make themselves available from their busy lives to come out for short stays and help traditional, elder resisters. Very few traditional elder residents are now left throughout such regions affected by the harsh relocation laws of 1974.

When asked, "How is everything out here?" The well-outfitted supporter says, "Just a lot of babies, and that is why I'm carrying this!" He wears a large, hand-sewn canvas bag which he referred to is to be used in case any of the sheep or goats have "babies." Soon the sheep and goats are done feeding and they head towards the great pristine canyon of Sweet Water, and the supporter suddenly quits all chit-chat, grabs his stick and runs off toward a herd that is disappearing into the juniper forest.

Each non-Indian supporter that make these short stays with traditional elders have unique and deep sense of passion that is more than just positive, but they have the understanding of the suffering from injustice and the presence of environmental destruction. Though these kind of 'hardcore' supporters are becoming rarer, they value the human connections to nature or to the eco-systems rather than connections to corporate entities and its policing/policies. They see and appreciate, more than most native Americans, what still exist out here at Big Mountain especially where an elder like Pauline lives. Supporters like this one at Sweet Water do have 'profound' commitments to stay two weeks or more to learn and experience a glimpse of natural survival skills and maybe a very small bit of ancient human ritual ways. Within their profound commitments they know they may encounter at any moment the 'terror-threats' of the U.S. sponsored, BIA Indian
 

Police Gestapo.
Grandma Pauline moves about slow as she closes the "hay barn" doors that are made from frames of a single-bed, and the barn's roof is of tattered plastic tarps and the walls are of leaning juniper logs. She greets with a friendly and joyful hand shake as she adds a little sense of humor to her greeting. Grandma is still strong but age is still giving her a challenge, too. She is like a story teller as she makes numerous comments about things and about the conditions out there. She also knows that she is part of a situation which is the struggle for liberation at Big Mountain—her birth place.

A few supporters are very concerned and that is why this independent monitoring of human rights violation and religious intolerance is being carried out. The Arizona-based, Black Mesa Indigenous Support had received a phone message on behalf of Pauline in January about BIA Police personnel posing threats to demolish a traditional earth lodge. Because of the lack of resources, it took a while for the support network to finally establish contact and get the information. This situation with her re-building this sacred lodge should be a natural process but the regional BIA Hopi Agency saw it as a violation of U.S. Court decisions in the name of the federally-supported Hopi council. Grandma Pauline who still lives according to her ancestors' ancient, cultural lifestyles completed the earth lodge and which is another, direct-action that is obviously missing in Indian country, true Native Resistance!

Grandma recalls what happened on January 20th as she also refers to a radio announcement, "It was about that time, 10 AM, when the radio said that in the east 'the hand shall to be raised,' when my grandson beckoned me outside because there were some visitors. It was those BIA-Hopi Police, again, and one officer got out of the vehicle followed by a female officer. I sat down on the bench against the house and they both sat on either side of us, the man who spoke Dineh sat next to me. As he said, 'we hear you are out here sitting in the mud and we come to check on you,' the third officer got out of the vehicle and started to walk over towards the newly rebuild lodge.

"My response to the officer next to me was, 'I'm sitting in the mud out here? You say that as if you spoke with someone that lives with me and knows about my situation.' Then we all noticed that the third officer was taking more pictures of the earth lodge like (they) do not have enough pictures of it by now.

"I begin to ask the officer sitting with us, why do you all need more pictures and you all should just stop these picture-taking of my home? The officers both ignored my request but the third officer came over and took a couple pictures of me and my grandchildren. The police said nothing more to us but left to return and drive by my resident again, and they drove slowly like they were still up to something. About a week ago, (they) did not come here but (they) again drove by very slowly like they were making some intense observations. I believe these (BIA) police are going to start doing as they please because the actual Hopi council is in defunct…"

The Call to Action for Support Continues
The protests in the American streets where Starbuck, Bank of American and GE own the concrete-n-steel sidewalks are hopeless! Come to the place of opportunity to show the American Police State that you support the natural humans pay homage to, not control, the Mother Earth. At Big Mountain, you will see and understand what real resistance is and experience being part of defending the profound ancient ways of life that are threaten into extinction. Come out, rough it, have patience, find that humbleness within you, and you will be in the human circle for revolution. Help, Save the Microcosm of the Universe at Big Mountain, the Whitesinger Earth Lodge!

© Sheep Dog Nation Rocks, 2009

November 21, 2008 - Friday 

Current mood:  breezy
Category: Games

Well, I have to say it's about time, or are we late in getting started? Whatever the outcome is, we are in the gambling business. My thoughts are "wow! I can't believe it! What is going to happen to our people? Are we going to open more rehabs for gambling addictions. Are we ready?

In any case, I personally think the casino is beneficial for business. I agree with the majority of the people who feel we need more jobs for our people. I do have concerns for the down side of gambling. I know people who are addicted to gambling. I live close to Mesquite, Nevada, and Las Vegas. Gambling addiction is as bad as alcoholism and drug addiction.

I have to look at the bright side, and say we are in progress as well. I don't gamble personally, but have dropped a few coins in the machines two times in my life. I am serious. It is fun. I know there are different opinions about this issue. I just want to share my thoughts. Enjoy your visit at Fire Rock Casino, and there will be more to follow.

Click here to read:http://navajotimes.com/news/2008/1108/111308casino.php

Click here: Fire Rock rolls out the red carpet

After decades of talk and controversy, the Navajo Nation on Wednesday joined the Indian gaming community with the opening of the tribe's first casino near Gallup.

October 6, 2008 - Monday 

Current mood:  blessed
Category: Life


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BkT6-CDIjw

Hello Family and Friends! Sharing this video with you all is a gift from me to all those out there who need a little hope for the day. Take care and may you walk in beauty always. B

August 28, 2008 - Thursday 

Current mood:  breezy
Category: Life

I was reading about this show. If you missed it here is a link. or just go to myspacetv.

Here is the link for this documentary: 30 days. Life on an Indian Reservation.

Click here to view: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=38530511&searchid=0776f728-6ef9-49b2-be99-416efe917c4e

Currently reading:
2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl
By Daniel Pinchbeck
July 15, 2008 - Tuesday 

Category: Blogging

 Spiritual Journey Youth Run is now in Northern Arizona. They will be in Wheatfields this weekend, where I'll be going to a family reunion as well. I hope to see them again. They were in St. George, UT on Saturday, July 12, 2008. I had the blessings to meet them here on their journey. Please support them if you can. They are coming from Alaska to Panama. Thank you and May the Great Spirit be with you. B