The Church of Indigenous Shamanism

Due to the recent arrest of Taita Juan Agreda Chindoy, it seems an important opportunity has been reached for the collective to respect the traditional Religious and spiritual traditions of Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples in all areas of the world. It is absolutely absurd that Taita Juan has been arrested and detained in a federal prison in Texas, and is facing a possible 20 year prison sentance. Arresting Taita Juan for carrying Ayahuasca into the United States is equivalent to arresting the Dalai Lama for carrying Singing Bowls and a Dorje through Airport security. They are both traditional spiritual leaders of their cultures and people, and despite the different religious traditions, symbols and tools of each traditional spiritual culture - both Taita Juan and the Dalai Lama are holy people. It is time to renounce and permanently end the Spiritual Imperialism that has been in effect in North, Central and South America since the introduction of Europeans to the American continents. It is time to recognize that the Shamans and Medicine people of the thousands of diverse tribes scattered from North to South America are the Religious Wisdom Elders of their cultures, and have roles that are equivalent to both Doctors and Priests. Due to the precedent that has been set by both the Native American Church and their religious use of Peyote for their religious meetings, and the recent victory for the Santo Daime Church in Oregon which has allowed Ayahuasca to be used in Oregon for religious ceremonial use - it is now time to create a new Church that protects All Traditional Indigenous Shamanism practices in the United States.The unique and interesting issue with traditional Indigenous Shamanism is that it is not the same for different tribes and regions; the shamanic practices and beliefs are unique to each region, tribe, language and ecosystem. And not all Native American shamanism uses entheogens, such as Ayahuasca, while many do. However - in certain regions, Peyote grows more abundantly, and in other regions it is psilocybin mushrooms that grow naturally, while in South America the San Pedro cactus grows as do the plants that co-create Ayahuasca. And so, while a Mazatec shaman in Mexico may use Mushrooms for his spiritual healing work, a Quechuan Shaman in Peru may use San Pedro cactus. But these are obviously not formally indoctrinated dogmas or rituals from a religious hierarchy, these are the local customs and practices of various local regions and ecosystems. However, were either that Mazatec Shaman or that Quechuan Shaman to travel to the USA bearing the traditional spiritual and religious healing tools of his culture, both of them would be seen as equal in the eyes of the law if they carried with them illegal "scheduled" substances - even if they are both Religious Elders of their region.So, it seems that it is time for a Church of Indigenous Shamanism to be created - for the safety, protection and upliftment of all visiting traditional Shamanic teachers in the United States. At this time, there are a number of Native American Shamanic teachers visiting the United States, bearing the tools and practices of their cultures; some of them include Ayahuasca. It is time for all these teachers to unite and create an umbrella organization for their protection in the United States, and to be officially recognized as Religious Priests and Priestesses - as Holy People who are in the United States to offer their healing gifts and services. Given that over many hundreds of years, the religious Priests of one culture invaded the traditional Shamanic religions of every region of Native America, in order to brainwash local communities and destroy their local traditional ways of life, it is only fair that these Shamanic religions are granted access into and are protected and honored in the United States. Much in the same way that Christian Priests and Missionaries have entered into foreign countries to spread Christianity, it is time that the sharing of Religious practices returns back to the Christian countries from whence these Priests and Missionaries came.Thus I call upon, inspire and invoke the formation of a formalized Church of Indigenous Shamanism, or perhaps a Church of Ayahuasca, that will protect and serve all Shamans, Priests, Priestesses and Medicine People that live within or are visiting the United States to offer their traditional Shamanic Practices. It is time for people like Taita Juan to walk through airport security and be treated with the same degree of respect and honor as the Dalai Lama, The Pope, any Catholic priest, or any Buddhist Monk would receive.Please Support the Release and Freedom of Taita Juan Agreda Chindoy from prison, and allow him to return to his family and community to live his life and do his work. And please support him in the name of all traditional shamans who visit the United States!Free Taita Juan Website