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→Promotion of a Plastic Shaman
===Promotion of a Plastic Shaman===
===Promotion of a Plastic Shaman===
Ngystle Society further promotes [[Plastic Shaman|plastic shaman]] Erick Gonzalez, a Gualtemaltekan who has been living in the USA since the age of 11.<ref>http://www.earthpeoplesunited.org/who-we-are accessed 20/09/2013</ref> Gonzalez claims to be Mayan, but goes by a name taken from Aztec Nahuatl language, Tata [Uncle] OmeAkaEhekatl.<ref>http://www.earthpeoplesunited.org/who-we-are accessed 15/09/2013</ref>
Ngystle Society further promotes [[Plastic Shaman|plastic shaman]] Erick Gonzalez, a Gualtemaltekan who has been living in the USA since the age of 11.<ref name="earthpeoplesunited">http://www.earthpeoplesunited.org/who-we-are accessed 20/09/2013</ref> Gonzalez claims to be Mayan, but goes by a name taken from Aztec Nahuatl language, Tata [Uncle] OmeAkaEhekatl.<ref name="earthpeoplesunited" />
The Ngystle website, in an advertisement titled „Intensive Healing Training Wokshop“, claims:
The Ngystle website, in an advertisement titled „Intensive Healing Training Wokshop“, claims:
:''Please contact Ngystle Society for more information.''<ref>http://www.haidagwaii.net/ngystle/upcoming_events.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>
:''Please contact Ngystle Society for more information.''<ref>http://www.haidagwaii.net/ngystle/upcoming_events.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>
It is not evident why a Guatemaltekan living in the USA is needed to teach participants belonging to the Haida nation who have traditions of their own, including spiritual traditions. Gonzalez' activities are further to be seen critically since his living in the USA most probably speaks against an acculturation within Maya cultures and traditions, especially in Maya spirituality. Native medicine persons are also supposed to work within their communities and are expected to have done an apprenticeship which may well last 20 years and even more. It is highly to be doubted that Gonzalez did such an apprenticeship, although he claims „initiation“ into several different indigenous „sacred rites“<ref>http://www.earthpeoplesunited.org/who-we-are accessed 20/09/2013</ref> which usually is an indication of a plastic shaman. Another question is whether Gonzalez is indeed recognised by one of the Maya peoples or rather is of distant native descent.
It is not evident why a Guatemaltekan living in the USA is needed to teach participants belonging to the Haida nation who have traditions of their own, including spiritual traditions. Gonzalez' activities are further to be seen critically since his living in the USA most probably speaks against an acculturation within Maya cultures and traditions, especially in Maya spirituality. Native medicine persons are also supposed to work within their communities and are expected to have done an apprenticeship which may well last 20 years and even more. It is highly to be doubted that Gonzalez did such an apprenticeship, although he claims „initiation“ into several different indigenous „sacred rites“<ref name="earthpeoplesunited" /> which usually is an indication of a plastic shaman. Another question is whether Gonzalez is indeed recognised by one of the Maya peoples or rather is of distant native descent.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a warning on Erick Gonzalez in 2012, as Gonzalez is suspected of applying drugs to participants in his seminars, in particular Ayahuasca, Peyote, mescaline, and other substances<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>, none of them part of any traditions of the ethnic groups living in the North-West Coast cultural area of North America. While Peyote is being used ceremonially in some indigenous traditions and today also by the Native American Church, its use outside of these fields is illegal. Ayahuasca is from South America where it is used as a diagnostic tool by medicine persons, quite in contrary to the use by plastic shamans who will administer the substance to their clients. Both Peyote and Ayahuasca are unknown in Mayan traditions, so Gonzalez is not in a position to justify their use with tradition and it is to be doubted that he is sufficiently informed about their dosage, contra-indications etc.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a warning on Erick Gonzalez in 2012, as Gonzalez is suspected of applying drugs to participants in his seminars, in particular Ayahuasca, Peyote, mescaline, and other substances<ref>http://www.thenorthernview.com/news/169704226.html accessed 15/09/2013</ref>, none of them part of any traditions of the ethnic groups living in the North-West Coast cultural area of North America. While Peyote is being used ceremonially in some indigenous traditions and today also by the Native American Church, its use outside of these fields is illegal. Ayahuasca is from South America where it is used as a diagnostic tool by medicine persons, quite in contrary to the use by plastic shamans who will administer the substance to their clients. Both Peyote and Ayahuasca are unknown in Mayan traditions, so Gonzalez is not in a position to justify their use with tradition and it is to be doubted that he is sufficiently informed about their dosage, contra-indications etc.