Seven Arrows

Seven Arrows by Hyemeyohsts Storm Publisher: Ballantine Books, 1975 ISBN is 9780345247001 / 0345247000 Paperback 8.1 x 9.2 inches, 374 pages Lots of black and white photos and several beautiful color illustrations. This book is about the Plains Indian People and the Medicine Wheel. ------------------------ Charles Storm, pen name Hyemeyohsts Storm, was the son of a German immigrant who claimed to be Cheyenne; he misappropriated and misrepresented Native American teachings and symbols from a variety of different cultures, such as some symbolism connected to the Plains Sun dance, to create the modern Medicine Wheel symbol around 1972. Subsequently Vincent LaDuke (a New Age spiritual leader going by the name Sun Bear), who was of Ojibwe descent, started also using the Medicine Wheel symbol, combining the basic concept with pieces of disparate spiritual practices from various First Nations cultures, and adding elements of new age and occult spiritualism. LaDuke self-published a newsletter and several books, and formed a group of followers that he named the Bear Tribe, of which he appointed himself the medicine chief. For a fee, his mostly wealthy and white followers attended his workshops, joined his "tribe", and could buy titles and honors that are traditionally reserved for respected elders and knowledge keepers. For these activities LaDuke was denounced and picketed by the American Indian Movement. Storm and LaDuke have been described as "plastic medicine men". They and others who have used this symbol to introduce their own ideas into what they claim are Native American and First Nations teachings have been accused by traditional Natives and activists of harming and displacing traditional teachings for financial motives. Others using the symbol for profit have added in ideas from Ancient Greek and Persian philosophy, ideas founded in colonialism, teachings from Hinduism, what they claim is Celtic symbolism, or concepts from New Religious Movements like Wicca.