Native American Association of Germany e.V.

Native American Association
of Germany e.V.
Press Release of the NAAoG e.V.
May 31, 2016
The Native American Association of Germany e.V. (NAAoG e.V.) distances itself from the
Henry Red Cloud Tour (2016), the "Native American Medicine Academy", William Jervis,
a.k.a. "Medicine Turtle", and Sabine Böhler, a.k.a. "Sun Turtle Woman".
Important background information regarding Henry Red Cloud on tour in Europe 2016,
the "Native American Medicine Academy", William Jervis and Sabine Böhler.

The "Native American Medicine Academy" was set up by William Jervis, a.k.a.
"Medicine Turtle" and Sabine Böhler, a.k.a. "Sun Turtle". Thus far, William Jervis
did not respond to queries whether "Native American Medicine Academy" is a
business or a registered, non-profit association. The business address is listed as
Sweatlodge Road 9 in Pikeville, Kentucky 41501, USA. Thus far, there is no such
address found in Pikeville. The bank account “Support the Lakota Nation – Chief
Red Cloud” in Austria used to receive donations is neither a donation account nor
one of a registered, non-profit association. The owner of this account is an
individual, Sabine Böhler.

The so-called "academy" is offering Native American ceremonies for money, to
which the majority of Native American peoples are strongly opposed as it violates
their beliefs. This "academy" is also offering sweat lodges for money in direct
connection with this tour and told organizers that it's part of their “preparations”
and that this money would be sent to South Dakota. The majority of Native
Americans are strictly against any use or misuse of their sacred ceremonies.

William Jervis claims to be a Cherokee medicine man and publishes different
stories to try convincing people this is true. Thus far, he has provided no proof he is
Cherokee. True Native American medicine men or women are clearly known among
their own people where they are working. It is not a title one can claim or confer
upon themselves. They for sure do not offer ceremonies for money or promote their
“services” online. Whether native or non-native, any who are selling ceremonies are
going against traditional beliefs and practices in doing so.

William Jervis, used different names in the past to promote his activities, mainly
offering ceremonies like sweat lodges and vision quests, e.g. for money. This has
been on-going for many years. Some of the names he has used: William Firewalker
Jervis, Firewalker, Turtle Winds, Turtle Winds Firewalker.

After posting online that Turtle Winds Firewalker died in a car accident in Florida in
2011, he changed names again and started to promote his activities under "Medicine
Turtle". Despite that, he continues to use many different fake profiles on Facebook.
So far over thirty have been identified, and include: John Hoss, Sam Smith, Paul
Cherokee Slone, John Woods, Medicine Turtle, Waya Tatli, Shaman Luxembourg,
Turtle Firewalker, Schwarzenberg Austria, Lakota Indianer, Schwitzhütte Dakota,
Firewalker Speaks, just to name a few.

In these fake profiles and pages, photos, names, graphics, texts and videos of
individuals and organizations have been plagiarized to promote his activities and
businesses. Several have been reported and deleted by Facebook, but new ones keep
being created copying and using others intellectual property and images without
permission. Also, he has used some of these fake profiles to harass and threaten.

Both "Medicine Turtle" and "Sun Turtle" have been found to publish information
that is incomplete or even incorrect about Native Americans, their cultures,
traditions and beliefs, as well as current events and situations. Unfortunately, many
hosts or organizers of these events and the media have accepted and published this
misinformation without proper research or fact-checking, which should be
important in any form of journalism.

Most of the things William Jervis, a.k.a. Medicine Turtle, is sharing about Native
American ceremonies, especially Lakota ceremonies, is also incomplete and
incorrect. Point one: traditional medicine people do not share these things anyway
and especially not for money, the result of his actions is Europeans with great
interest in Native American cultures are being misled. Point two: why would a
supposed Cherokee be claiming and selling Lakota ceremonies anyway.

People are being taught by people like Jervis, and supported by the presence of
Henry Red Cloud, that it is okay to “pay to pray” or sell ceremonies. Since people
like Jervis claim a native identity and call themselves a medicine man with false
(wrongful or inadvertent) validation by German media and one native person,
others begin to think it is okay for them also. So, Jervis is promoting his “academy”
as a place they can learn to “be native, be healers, be medicine people”.

After a past of not being widely known, William Jervis, a.k.a. Medicine Turtle and
his "academy" finally got the attention of the German media. That would not have
happened without Henry Red Cloud's consent and backing, especially considering
Jervis’ history and current highly dubious activities and ceremony misuse. Henry
Red Cloud’s presence is being used to promote Jervis’ “Native American Medicine
Academy” and justify his cultural appropriation and claiming of a native identity.

All of this gives the impression this is happening in agreement with a majority of the
Lakota nation, especially since Henry Red Cloud is stated as being here as a Lakota
Chief who is asking for support for his people. This is completely false. Henry Red
Cloud is neither a chief nor a spiritual leader of the Lakota people. In reality, the
Lakota we've been communicating with, including those who are also descendants
of Red Cloud (1822–1909) have expressed outrage, sadness and disappointment at
how their name and people are being used this way, especially without their
agreement and consent. Native Americans from various tribes have also stated they
disagree with this and these events, and are greatly upset.

Henry Red Cloud decided to come to Europe for this tour arranged by William
Jervis and Sun Turtle despite being informed of the information we are now sharing
here. He chose to ignore the information about dubious schemes, cultural
appropriation and misuse of native cultures, traditions, beliefs and identities. There
are many legitimate venues and groups who are also enthusiastic and willing to host
cultural educational exchanges that show respect for native nations and beliefs as a
whole. Events and sources where Europeans can learn accurate information about
natives, past and present, and where appreciation can be shown in appropriate
ways.

Recently more and more sellers of Native American ceremonies who claim to be
medicine man, medicine woman, spiritual leaders, healers or shamans have
sprouted up in Germany. Some have visited Henry Red Cloud in South Dakota.
These ones use photos made at Pine Ridge or other locations to justify their
activities in Europe. For example, one such person even calls herself "White Buffalo
Woman" now, because she claims to be in contact with the spirit of a white buffalo
and she is combining new age beliefs with native to do “healing”. It is important to
know that the White Buffalo Calf Woman is one of the most spiritually significant
beliefs among the Lakota.

Here in Europe, several travel businesses are even promoting travel packages to
visit Henry Red Cloud on location, claiming that participation in a ceremony might
be possible or that it is even included already. So the situation is one of
misrepresentation and misuse from both sides and without regard to the wishes of a
majority of Native Americans.
We will keep informing Native Americans in North America about what is going on over
here in Europe. In order to raise awareness on both sides, Native Americans as well as
Europeans, we launched the campaign "Stop Misuse of Native American Spirituality and
Ceremonies". It's not only a campaign in form of a protest, but an on-going educational
project.
For more information, please visit our website www.naaog.de.