Dear Udo, It was such a pleasure meeting with you at BioFach in Nurenberg, this past February. I apologize for my delay in following up with your request regarding the Hopi Nation and their non use of ear candles, however, life has been very busy since our return and then the tradeshow at Expo West in California, etc. I am sure you can understand. As requested, I would like to share some information with you. Martin Gashweseoma was no longer a member of the Hopi Tribe when he shared information with you in 1992. "Gashweseoma had been the keeper of the Sacred Tablets until he was stripped by the Fire Clan for an attempted unauthorized speech at a press conference in 1990. He and Thomas Banyaka tried to warn the world about the expending strife they foresaw for the planet and gave a press conference in which he "brought the sacred tablets out." This did not sit well back home at the "Rez" [reservation] A political struggle ensued with Gashweseoma stripped of his custody of the Sacred Tablets in early 1991...." [The Mysterious Valley page 285 St. Martins Press, 1996] Regrettably, you met Martin during a time of strife and survival for him and this caused commotion for the Hopi tribe and has apparently placed you in an odd position. For example, it is common knowledge in the USA, including within our US government, that the picture you claim Martin Gashweseoma used to represent the use of the ear candles in the fire clan is an incorrect explanation. According to the National Park Service of the United States of America: The mural is onequadrant of a 4 quadrant mural painted by Fred Kabotie in 1932 at the Desert View Watchtower (constructed by the Fred Harvey Company and designed by famed architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter). In her 1933 book entitled “Manual for Drivers and Guides of the Indian Watchtower at Desert View and its Relation, Architecturally to the Prehistoric Ruins of the Southwest,” the image displayed is one of the father giving prayer sticks to his son. The son is about to leave on a journey down the Colorado River in search of the snake people. The mural is part of the snake legend story of the Hopi people. The prayer sticks (feathers) are commonly depicted as part of Hopi customs. (3) For the complete story of the snake people, please visit: http://www.firstpeople.us/FPHtml Legends/The_Origin_Of_The_Hopi_Snake_ClanHopi.html Mary Coulter, commissioned the Wachtower at Desert View, which is where the picture you refer to is drawn. She drew on her southwest history to conceive a structure that told tales: (from Mary Colter, Architect of the Southwest)
Transcript
Dear Udo,
It was such a pleasure meeting with you at BioFach in Nurenberg, this past February. I apologize for my delay in following up with your request regarding the Hopi Nation and their non use of ear candles, however, life has been very busy since our return and then the tradeshow at Expo West in California, etc. I am sure you can understand.
As requested, I would like to share some information with you. Martin Gashweseoma was no longer a member of the Hopi Tribe when he shared information with you in 1992.
"Gashweseoma had been the keeper of the Sacred Tablets until he was stripped by the Fire Clan for an attempted unauthorized speech at a press conference in 1990. He and Thomas Banyaka tried to warn the world about the expending strife they foresaw for the planet and gave a press conference in which he "brought the sacred tablets out." This did not sit well back home at the "Rez" [reservation] A political struggle ensued with Gashweseoma stripped of his custody of the Sacred Tablets in early 1991. . . ." [The Mysterious Valley -‐-‐page 285 St. Martins Press, 1996]
Regrettably, you met Martin during a time of strife and survival for him and this caused commotion for the Hopi tribe and has apparently placed you in an odd position.
For example, it is common knowledge in the USA, including within our US government, that the picture you claim Martin Gashweseoma used to represent the use of the ear candles in the fire clan is an incorrect explanation.
According to the National Park Service of the United States of America:
The mural is one-‐quadrant of a 4 quadrant mural painted by Fred Kabotie in 1932 at the Desert View Watchtower (constructed by the Fred Harvey Company and designed by famed architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter). In her 1933 book entitled “Manual for Drivers and Guides of the Indian Watchtower at Desert View and its Relation, Architecturally to the Prehistoric Ruins of the Southwest,” the image displayed is one of the father giving prayer sticks to his son. The son is about to leave on a journey down the Colorado River in search of the snake people. The mural is part of the snake legend story of the Hopi people. The prayer sticks (feathers) are commonly depicted as part of Hopi customs. (3)
For the complete story of the snake people, please visit: http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-‐Html-‐Legends/The_Origin_Of_The_Hopi_Snake_Clan-‐Hopi.html
Mary Coulter, commissioned the Wachtower at Desert View, which is where the picture you refer to is drawn. She drew on her southwest history to conceive a structure that told tales: (from Mary Colter, Architect of the Southwest)
This project brought Mary together with Hopi painter, Fred Kabotie. Kabotie shaped the artwork to communicate the physical and spiritual origins of the Hopi life.
The now famous picture:
Kabotie did not tell the tale of ear candling but rather the Hopi snake legend – the story of the first man to navigate the Colorado River.
Please note that this position is clearly affirmed by the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office which states their position as follows:
“The Hopi people desire to protect their rights to privacy and their intellectual property rights. Due to the continued misrepresentation and exploitation of the rights of the Hopi people, guidelines were established to protect the rights of present and future generations of Hopi people.
The Hopi Tribe requires that any entity whether private or commercial wishing to engage in research, publication, or recording activities on the Hopi Reservation first obtain a permit from the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office, located in the Honahnie building in Kykotsmovi, AZ.” (Exhibit 1)
As of this date, there has been no permit granted to Biosun or anyone else for that matter to use the Hopi name or share any of the Hopi Intellectual Property regarding ear candles (as there is none), especially for commercial profiteering.
The Hopi Tribe, which is a very poor and devastated tribe, has asked Biosun (we personally delivered a letter to your booth four years ago and the tribe has stated they sent you notice) to stop using their name illegally but they have been ignored. The Hopi Tribe does not have the resources available to them to engage in legal proceedings except to respond to the claims that Biosun has made with the following statement:
“The Hopi Cultural Preservation Office is not aware of Hopi people ever practicing “Ear Candling.” Biosun and Revital Ltd. are misrepresenting the name “Hopi” with their products. This therapy should not be called “Hopi Ear Candling.” The history of Ear Candeling should not refer to as being used by the Hopi Tribe. Use of this false information with reference to Hopi should be stopped.” (Exhibit 2)
The Hopi Tribal Council is not even sure that the pictures of Martin Gashweseoma are to be used for the promotion of ear candles:
“We appreciate your efforts to stop this false representation in the United Kingdom, and we will inquire as to whether Martin Gashweseoma gave permission for the use of his image for the promotion of ear candles. Thank you for your interest in resolving this situation.” (Leigh J. Kuwanwisiwma, Director, Hopi Tribal Council)
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Lee Wayne Lomayestewa at the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office. Thank you again for your consideration. (Exhibit 2)
Regrettably, Gashwesoma is not an authorized representative among the Hopi and was specifically condemned by actual Hopi priests, in another similar matter where a person was misrepresenting the Hopi name using Martin Gashwesoma as a reference. This person, Delicado, was specifically asked by the Hopi tribal council to stop her misrepresentation of both Gashwesoma’s status and Hopi prophecy. She refuses.[1]
Even if Martin Gashwesoma had misrepresented the ear candles the truth is very clearly documented. To depend upon an elder that has been banished from his position and tribe and a phone call from Andrew Bushenreiter (who is not a Hopi member) as expertise in this matter is hearsay and probably not wise. If you check with the United States government and the Hopi Council, you will be able to verify the truth first hand versus second hand misinformation.
As you may or may not know, the Hopi Indians live in a very remote region, in the desert of the southwestern United States. Understanding Hopi culture, and Hopi spiritual beliefs in particular, is extremely difficult. The Hopi have survived as a distinct culture for thousands of years by withdrawing from outsiders to avoid conflict. Part of this includes keeping Hopi spiritual traditions as secret as possible from non-‐Hopi. Hopi practices are so secretive that its members are today legally barred from discussing their religion without express permission from the tribal council. Outsiders are barred from Hopi ceremonies and religious sites, and meddling of any kind in Hopi affairs by non-‐Hopi is explicitly barred[2]. In 1997, a meeting by the Hopi religious priesthoods decided to restrict access to Hopi villages. The meeting condemned “new-‐age interpretation and appropriation of Hopi religious practices [and]…self appointed leaders and spokespersons.”[3] Thus any outsider claiming to represent the Hopi, or claiming to be teaching Hopi traditions or expounding on Hopi prophecy is either engaged in deception or fraud, or deluded. Several outsiders claiming to be Hopi spokesmen actually suffer from mental illness.
The central reason for Hopi secrecy is the frequent lies, distortions, and abuse of their spiritual traditions. Their isolation and semi-‐pacifism (most Hopi will only fight if directly attacked) leads many outsiders to deeply romanticize and exoticize Hopi tradition, projecting their fantasies of a purer and better world upon them. Spiritual exploiters and imposters have frequently taken advantage of the longings of such seekers, seeking to build cults, influence, and power, and gain money or sexually abuse their followings.
The Hopi Nation issued a warning in 2002 entitled, “Cultural Theft and Misrepresentation”: "Over the years many individuals, both Hopi and non-Hopi, have purposely distorted and exploited Hopi spirituality and the Hopi way of life to suit their own ends. The reasons for this misrepresentation vary as much as the people who engage in it. The most common motives, however, are notoriety, profit, or political manipulation. Irrespective of the intent, it all results in an unwanted intrusion by outsiders on the Hopi way of life.
The Hopi Tribe then cautions: Beware of any individual or organization using the Hopi name to promote spiritual workshops, seminars or other "religious" activities. It is not a Hopi cultural value to try and convert non-‐Hopi people to Hopi religious beliefs or ways. And, sharing religious knowledge for profit is unacceptable to most Hopi people. (4)
You can see why it is so important not to be associated with others that the Hopi Tribe have warned about that do not have the same admiration of the Hopi tribe as you do. Not only can this discredit Biosun but the reputation of ear candles as well.
Ear Candles have a rich history of stories that have been passed down in history with no known origin. The majority of the testimonials come from Europe, Italy and Poland in particular where their elders rolled up something to blow smoke into their ear.
As we discussed at the meeting with you in Germany, We both need to be very careful with how we handle marketing and claims as to protect our category. To misrepresent the Hopi Tribe as users of ear candles has the potential to hurt the ear candling community as a whole as it creates doubt for the validity of the category.
If you have any questions or if I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to call on me directly. As well, if you find anything that is threatening to the ear candle category in Europe within our marketing scheme, please advise and we will correct immediately.
1 ↑ “Issues.” “The Dream Masters,” http://www.thedreammasters.org/hopi/martingashweseoma.php, accessed 8-‐18-‐10 http://psiram.com/en/index.php/Hopi_and_Pseudo_Hopi_Prophecies?COLLCC=2756161686&
4. Cultural Theft and Misrepresentations: http://forums.powwows.com/734623-‐post596.html
Exhibit 1
http://www.nau.edu/~hcpo-‐p/hcpo/index.html
HCPO Policy and Research
Protocol for Research, Publications and Recordings: Motion, visual, sound, multimedia and other mechanical devices
The Hopi Tribe
Policy:
The Hopi people desire to protect their rights to privacy and in and to Hopi intellectual resources. Due to the continued abuse, misrepresentation and exploitation of the rights of the Hopi people, it is necessary that guidelines be established and strictly followed so as to protect the rights of the present and future generations of the Hopi people.
Towards this end, the Hopi Tribe shall be consulted by all projects or activity involving Hopi intellectual resources and that such project or activity be reviewed and approved by the Office of Historic and Cultural Preservation through a permitting process or other contractual agreement.
This Protocol should in no way be construed as being a call for commoditization or commercialization of the intellectual resources of Hopi people, nor is it a justification to bring the Hopi people unwillingly into a commercial relationship. The Hopi Tribe reserves the right to NOT sell, commoditize or have expropriated from them certain domains of knowledge or information.
Exhibit 2
March 1, 2004
Dear Ms. King,
Thank you for your letter dated March 2, 2004, in follow-‐up to your September 19, 2003, requesting clarification of the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office's response.
The Hopi Cultural Preservation Office is not aware of Hopi people ever practicing "Ear Candeling." Biosun and Revital Ltd. are misrepresenting the name "Hopi" with their products. This therapy should not be called "Hopi Ear Candeling." The history of Ear Candeling should not refer to being used by the Hopi Tribe. Use of this false information with reference to Hopi should be stopped.
We appreciate your efforts to stop this false representation the United Kingdom, and we will inquire as to whether Martin Gashweseoma gave permission for the use of his image for the promotion of ear candles. Thank you for your interest in resolving this situation.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Lee Wayne Lomayestewa at the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office. Thank you again for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Leigh J. Kuwanwisiwma, Director
Hopi Cultural Preservation Office
xc: Martin Gashwesoma, Hotevilla
Lee Wayne Lomayestewa
Kenneth Quanimptewa, CSA, Hotevilla
Raj Vora, Revital, Ltd., 78 High St., Ruislip-‐Middx. HA4 7AA, UK
The mural is one-‐quadrant of a 4 quadrant mural painted by Fred Kabotie in
1932 at the Desert View Watchtower (constructed by the Fred Harvey Company and designed by famed architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter). In her 1933 book entitled "Manual for Drivers and Guides of the Indian Watchtower at Desert View and its Relation, Architecturally, to the Prehistoric Ruins of the Southwest", the image displayed is of the father giving prayer sticks to his son. The son is about to leave on a journey down the Colorado River in search of the snake people. The mural is part of the snake legend story of the Hopi people. The prayer sticks (feathers) are commonly depicted as part of Hopi customs.
