Tom Castillo
Homeland Administrator
Letter On Sacred Ceremonies
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Sacred Ceremonies
Although we live in and defend a nation who insures us the first
amendment right to Freedom of Religion, we as American Indians have
always held ourselves to a higher standard. We should never forget
that our grandfathers have set a precedent, for hundreds, if not
thousands, of years now, that Native American Ceremonies are sacred
and only those who have learned the rite, through years of study
with a Medicine Man and have been accepted as a Medicine Man by
their Medicine Man Teacher, (and only then), should perform these
Ceremonies. Only a person with these qualifications should carry
out our sacred ceremonies. But, however, it is up to all of us to
assure that our beautiful and precious Sacred Ceremonies, and our
people, are not disrespected nor disgraced through the work of
those who do not have these credentials but only have the desire
of self-promotion and thus refuse to recognize the holiness of
these ceremonies, and that these ceremonies must include true
Medicine Men/Women. Unfortunately in this day and age there seems
to be some people who find it “easier” to copy a ceremony carelessly
rather than to carry out the appropriate requirements needed for a true
sacred ceremony. As we all know these individuals claim to have “powers”
and/or they “feel” that this would be sufficient enough to be “self-proclaimed”
as a Medicine Man. However, we must assure that our ceremonies are not left
to these individuals, for they will also “feel” that they could change, twist,
and distort the ceremonies to suit “their” own personal needs or agenda.
Let us not forget that one of the main reasons the Europeans came to our
land was due to their differing beliefs of religion which all basically
stemmed from one religion. Those that came wanted to celebrate their religion
in their own way, rather than to have their method of worship dictated by someone
far away. We can certainly see the consequences for that diaspora, as today there
are hundreds of different Christian Denominations, Churches, Ministries, Evangelisms,
etc. Each one has their own interpretation of the Bible and “feel” that their way
is the right way. As you can see this is a Neo-American Ideal w/European influences,
not a Native American one. But, again, we live in a nation who insures us the
First Amendment right to Freedom of Religion. What does this mean? Well basically
anyone can do just about anything they want to with regards to religion/spiritually,
even copying a Sacred Ceremony! And so, there are those who perform ceremonies
without any observance and/or respect to those who came before us, whose ideals
are of the Neo-American variety rather than that of Traditional Native American.
I ask you how sacrilegious would it be for someone to attend a Jewish Prayer
Service, a Catholic Mass, A Hindu worship, or an Islamic Prayer Service a couple
of times and “feel” they can, and do, perform these ceremonies without permission,
proper teaching, and/or vestment? Now, I ask you, are Native American Ceremonies
any less Sacred than these, that anyone, without proper training, should be able
to perform them, after having merely seen these ceremonies a couple of times?
Certainly your answer must be an overwhelming, “NO!” It is up to us, in this
case, to assure that this does not happen. In order for our sacred ceremonies
to stay true to our ways we must call out those who defy our Native American Traditions.
It is in this light that I condemn the actions of the Lipan Apache BAND of Texas,
and anyone else associated with this blasphemous ritual (a copied coming of age ceremony)
which they have conducted before, and plan to perform again, without regard to the true
traditional Apache Sacred ceremonies, the Apache People and our Grandfathers.
Tom Castillo
Homeland Administrator
Lipan Apache TRIBE of TX
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