This guide is intended as a brief overview concerning the false information being spread in regard to Native American shamanism. It is unfortunate that sellers are now spreading false information in order to counteract my guides which seek to share the truth. I find this rather nonsensical and pointless, since everything I am sharing here can be verified by countless religious and historical sources. The deceit that some will stoop to in order to sell their trinkets on Ebay is unfathomable. As always, you do not have to take my word on any of this, you can speak with any Native elder who who will back up the information I am sharing here. I am half Cherokee and am saddened that anyone would attempt to unsurp the values of my culture in such a way. I have no ulterior motives in writing this guide other than to protect the exploitation of my culture and our spiritual traditions. I do not even sell American Indian related items unlike other sellers who are trying to discredit my guides.

Shaman is not a Native American word and it is not used by us. This misunderstanding must be corrected in order to preserve our traditional culture and to stop these false beliefs from being spread in the name of money.

Shamanism is one of the oldest magickal practices in the world. Evidence of Shamanism has been found throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, And Australia. Native Nations people are not "shamans" and are not called shamans. Thanks to the New Age movement, when one hears the word "shaman", images of feather headresses and medicine wheels come to mind. While these are indeed tools associated with American Indian cultures, a "shaman" is not an American Indian medicine man, and shamanism is not an American Indian religion. The word "shaman" has it's origins among Siberian natives, where it represents a holy man who interacts with spirits through rituals, trance, prayer, and offerings. In tribal and indigenous cultures, a shaman is a person who can enter a state of altered consciousness in order to commune with the "other world" and spirit entities. He communicates from an altered state and recieves information on how to heal the sick and other practices.

Those who use the word shaman in reference to Native American  culture are usually non-native or are ignorant of Native Americans' feelings about this issue. The term shaman has arisen from a misunderstanding and denigration of non-European cultures. The reason why this misunderstanding came to be in the first place is because anthropologists and other Westerners thought that all primitive religions where alike. Because of this, they took one umbrella term and tried to fit everyone under it.

For further information, the following writings may be of interest:

We Don't Have Shamans by Joseph Riverwind

Shamanism: It Ain't Native American by Starhawk

Shamanism Is Not A Native American Religion by Tori McElroy

The Confusion Between Shamanism And The American Magico-Religious Practices by Lothar Tuppan

Shamanism New And Old by Jack Forbes, Professor Of Native American Studies, UC Davis

You can also check the Wikipedia entry on Shamanism where you will find further confirmation of all of this.

From Wikipedia:

"Though many Native American cultures have traditional healers, ritualists, singers, mystics, lore-keepers and "Medicine People", none of them have ever used, or use the term "shaman" to describe these religious leaders"  -Wikipedia entry on shamanism

It is unfortunate that there are some people who are so eager to sell their items that they would continue to stereotype, falsify, and outright lie about our culture.

Blessings,

Meena