Cultural Appropriation in the Mankind Project | Real or Imagined?
Last Sunday, a man reached out to the Real Men Feel page on Facebook and said - I would like to appear on your show and debate "cultural appropriation in MKP." That man, B Crittenden Freeman, is my guest today.
Crittenden has been a member of the ManKind Project for 30 years holding multiple positions, Center Director, Elder, Leader In Training, and Recording Secretary for the MKP USA Board. He was responsible for the occurrence of the 1st NWTA Urban Adventure.
Initially, I thought this subject had been played out. I've done two shows about it, but they were me alone, and I did ask for people to step forward and discuss this with me. So, here we are. I don't think we are on opposite sides of any issue for a brawling debate, but let's find out.
To follow our conversation, you'll need to know a few acronyms; MKP is the ManKind Project, NWTA is their New Warrior Training Adventure weekend, and LKS is the Lodge Keepers Society, the group within MKP responsible for building and running sweat lodges.
Topics and Questions
- 1:22 - Could you lay the groundwork; what is the controversy around cultural appropriation and MKP?
- 4:55 - Andy's experience of the NWTA in 2016
- 5:38 - Have indigenous people claimed MKP has been ripping them off from the beginning or only recently?
- 6:25 - What happened last year to make this a big issue and result in changes?
- 7:55 - Andy was ready to staff an NWTA last fall, but MKP halted everything.
- 9:51 - The millions being made.
- 13:14 - How MKP learned to put on sweat lodges.
- 16:56 - The shadow elements of the situation.
- 21:20 - Cultural appropriation in the melting pot of the United States.
- 23:57 - Are you good with the outcome but oppose the communication around it?
- 26:01 - With the changes made, are you in or out with MKP?
- 30:24 - What's your ideal scenario for resolution?
- 31:45 - Andy's experience with the updated MKP weekend.
- 33:45 - What drove your 30 years of participation with MKP?
- 36:42 - Tell me about the first Urban NWTA.
- 41:43 - Anything else you want to share?
- 42:57 - How can people connect with you?
- 43:37 - Is there a way to get off the limited activities list?
"How does a dominant culture say to a non-dominant culture, you are coming from a wounded place?" - B Crittenden Freeman
Links
Critt on Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/b.crittenden.freeman
MKP USA -- https://mkpusa.org/
Spirit -- https://www.spiritprotection.org/
Connect with Andy and the Real Men Feel Podcast:
Interested in a Clarity Call with Andy? - visit theandygrant.com/talk
Instagram | @realmenfeelshow & @theandygrant
Personal Website | theandygrant.com for coaching, healing, and book info!
Podcast Website | realmenfeel.org for all things podcast-related!
RMF Facebook Group | realmenfeel.org/group
YouTube | https://youtube.com/realmenfeel
#RealMenFeel ep 300
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Hello and welcome to real men
field.
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This is your host off the coach
and healer and he Grant, you can
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visit the Andy Grant.com to
learn more about me.
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This is the 300th episode of
real men feel, wow.
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You know, this program exists to
remind men that you're human
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beings and you have the right to
experience and express all of
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your emotions.
We have conversations that most
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men are not having but that all
men can benefit from last
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Sunday, a man reached out to me
to the real men feel page on
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Facebook and said I would like
to appear on your show.
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Show and debate cultural
appropriation in MPP that man.
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The Crittenton Freeman is,
here's my guest.
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Today Brendan has been a member
of the mankind project for 30
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years holding multiple
positions, Center Director,
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Elder leader in training and
recording, secretary for the MK
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P.
MK P.
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USA board.
He was responsible for the first
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occurrence of the nwt a urban
Adventure.
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Now initially I thought this
subject had been played out.
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I've done two shows about this
already but it was Alone and I
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did ask for people to step
forward and talk about this
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further and discuss it with me.
So, so here we are.
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And honestly, I don't think that
we are on opposite sides enough
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to have like a brawling debate,
but but let's find out.
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So welcome to room and feel
crit.
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My brother, what's up?
How you doing?
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I'm doing great, good afternoon
to you.
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So let's dive in.
You've been involved for 30
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years.
Could you lay the groundwork
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about this controversy of
appropriation and the mankind
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project for people that are not
familiar with this at all?
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Okay, so the groundwork we take
a look at North American
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indigenous folk.
They have experienced what I
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refer to as 500 plus years of
genocide of enslavement. and
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with all that, that includes
such things as murder, rape
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torture child trafficking, and a
whole list of other things, a
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lack of Integrity, lack of
honesty breaking of treaties and
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much, much more taking, all that
into account, I would hope that
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we can all understand how they
are very protective of their
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culture, your traditions, and
their spirituality, all Under
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the Umbrella of culture.
Being that they have gone
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through five hundred plus years
when they see or experience
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people doing something that
comes across as indigenous, it
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can be taken of taken as or
looked.
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As once again, somebody is
raping our culture.
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Once again, it's being done for
profit and just as an example,
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let's say that one businessman
observes moccasins being sold by
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indigenous.
But when that person decides
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any, I can do the same.
In fact, not only that but I've
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got websites available, I can
use amazon.com, I can make a ton
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of money.
That's an example, of a
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misappropriation, ripping off a
culture.
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It may not have access the all
the, all the Avenues and doing
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it from, for money for
themselves, and, of course, not
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sharing any of that money with
the indigenous folk.
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So, I would hope that everyone
all of us can be sensitive and
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understanding when these issues
come up, okay?
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How to break it down to mkp?
Part of the history of mkp has,
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in fact, been using some of the
traditions of one is called
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animal names.
We can talk about this, where we
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are allowed to speak about what
goes on on, the nwt, a naming
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using animal names such as let's
see.
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Our founder had a double name of
Crazy Horse.
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When I went through, I had the
animal name of running deer and
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I like, I let go of that back in
2005 and there were other
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processes that incorporated
indigenous ideas and part of
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their culture.
Now, the biggest thing is the
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was the sweat lodge.
We referred to, as a sweat
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lodge, they have a different
name for it and that was being
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looked upon as it was seriously.
:, it was taken a taken apart,
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not done the right way and this
organization is making a ton of
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money off of quote selling sweat
lodges.
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So basically overall that's the
groundwork one culture.
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The indigenous culture of this
continent looking at the
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dominant culture, the ones that
have all the power, raping them
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taking advantage of them and
doing it for.
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Fit.
That's the overall umbrella.
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Okay, so I went through the new
Warrior critic Adventure
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weekend, back in 2016 and I got
my animal name.
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I am fun-loving chipmunk,
initially hated that out.
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Everyone else is bull and aux
and Powerful things and I'm
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like, really but I've grown to
really own it and and and
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embrace it and yeah and went
through the, the sweat lodge and
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It was all it was presented to
me on my weekend.
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As you know, we mkp staff were
trained by indigenous people and
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it was very nothing.
Nothing was claimed, as we
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invented this and we own this,
it to me, it was really
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presented in the very honoring
way.
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But, but, yeah.
So, I've experienced the things
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that you're talking about have
indigenous.
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People claimed that mkp has has
been ripping them off since the
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beginning.
Or is it only recently?
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It has been going.
The debate has been going on for
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several years and basically we
have some indigenous men who
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come through and they are okay
with way things are or they even
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may have had G.
I don't like white men doing
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this, but they experience
something that they had not
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within their own culture, and
because they experienced it, it
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inspired them to go deeper into
their culture.
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And we've had men who come
through who say I'm not
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comfortable with this at all and
I don't like you white men doing
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this.
So it's run the gamut.
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Now what what happened last year
that made this become such a big
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issue and result in changes with
how mkp does things when you
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look at it.
This if things that aren't
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addressed, if men are being
listened to wounds can Fester
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And then men may take other
avenues to get the attention,
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they feel they need.
So this has been going on for
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several years, this
conversation, or the attempt to
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have a robust Dialogue on these
issues and to find some sort of
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mutual ground of understanding.
So men were not achieving that
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they were feeling.
They were have not, they're not
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being heard, they're not being
understood their being.
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Ignored and feeling like, even
feel like I as an indigenous,
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man, don't really belong to this
organization.
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So they went to outside
resources and that outside
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resources.
Well, we will address this with
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this organization and they
started that by putting up a
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website Spirit protection dot
org.
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And in that website, there were
a lot of I will use the word
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allegations such as MK.
P is selling sweat lodges.
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Mkp has made millions of
dollars, and absolutely, none of
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that money has gone to
indigenous folks indigenous
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tribes organizations.
So, yeah, last fall, my
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experience of the pandemic made
everything stopped.
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So I was ready to staff and MK p
and N WT a weekend, last
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October.
And then everything got
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cancelled because of these the
spirit organization group had
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come up and gone public and was
making these charges and then
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threatening the that they would
show up at the weekend and and
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be obstructionist and and and II
when I saw making millions and
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and selling sweat lodges to, I
laughed out loud because like,
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again, I went through the
weekend.
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I didn't know what was going to
be in it.
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I didn't go.
Yeah, yeah, sweat lodge.
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Let's do that.
Like, the sweat lodge was one of
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dozens of different activities
and processes that happened over
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the course of the weekend and
and like I, I know people that
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that died in the sweat lodge
from someone that did really
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misappropriate and Sweat lodges
out of out of plastic tarps and
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ended up killing people in
Sedona and I knew people that
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rat that event.
So the author Ray event.
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Yes, yeah.
Well, okay.
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Yeah, I was, I was involved with
him for a couple years.
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So if someone had said come to
our sweat lodge, I was said, no
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fucking way.
I got when it showed up, I like
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I was scared and I didn't want
to, I didn't want to raise fear
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and other men, but at a company
with the staff and they knew
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that I was talking about Padonia
seemed like I was like, how can
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you assure me that that's not
going to happen and they did.
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So I felt Safe went forward.
And again, lots of honoring of
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indigenous process and people
and and giving again in my eyes
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and ears giving proper credit to
to what had come before them.
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So yeah, as far as selling this
event and and and I know mkp is
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a it's a nonprofit organization.
I know some people higher up
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than just Staffing weekends,
like I do and I've heard no talk
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of the millions millions that
they make and do you notice it's
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pretty My understanding it's a
pretty shoestring operation and
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its really done out of service.
Correct.
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Let's deal with this concept of
millions then we can deal with
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everything else.
The reality is when can I've
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been with mkp for 30 years?
Reality is as it grew and men
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develop their own centers, some
of them managed very well, a lot
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of them managed horribly.
In fact, they were in the in the
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red.
So this concept the making
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millions is not necessarily
true.
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Now, as an example of one that
did well for a long time was,
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there was one referred to as new
Warrior Houston or mkp Houston.
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They're no longer there, they
did so well, they were having a
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weekend every month.
And they were able to have a
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full-time Center Director fully
paid.
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How I was a center director and
I was not a so-called full time
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and the only time I got paid a
couple hundred bucks is when we
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had a weekend and do my two
years, we had 55 weekends and
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that's only time I got paid.
So mostly as you said, it is a
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volunteer organization.
So this concept of making
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millions just is not true, but
when people, Make these claims
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these allegations.
It comes across good to say hey
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you guys are ripping us off for
millions of dollars.
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Unfortunately it's called
gaslighting and unfortunately
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it's it's not true it's not
Truth at all.
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Now you pointed out something
that's we need to talk about and
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that is the concept that about
selling sweat lodges as you
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pointed out, there was nothing
in the brochure.
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There's nothing on the website
and no one ever said unto you
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come to our weekend.
Spirits of sweat lodge.
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So that's a part of the case
that was done in regards to
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Arthur Ray indigenous, folks
sued over that because they
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wanted their tradition to be
respect and kept to themselves,
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but that case was lost because
number one, a sweat lodge is not
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a product It's not a physical
thing.
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Like this phone that you can
buy, you can pass along its a
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service.
And the other reason they lost
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the case is because There was
nothing in it.
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That was being said, come here
for this sweat lodge.
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Now, you said you were familiar
with the author, Ray incident,
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resuming thing in it, I said
come and experience this.
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Wet launch In advance.
Yeah, no, we didn't.
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Yeah, you didn't.
It wasn't detailed.
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Yeah.
You do not know part of many of
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these experiential weekends.
You don't know what you're
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getting into.
So there's an arts and craft
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legislation to United States
sovereign, country and vision is
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00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,100
sovereign country.
And within that, that was the
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00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:46,800
challenge that went before the
courts, Louis v-ray, I think it
206
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,400
was 2009 and it was decided in
2010.
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00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:56,100
And because of those two reasons
that case was dismissed things
208
00:12:56,100 --> 00:12:59,000
called dismissed with prejudice
means like it cannot be refiled.
209
00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:04,700
So under us law.
No they lost the case about
210
00:13:05,500 --> 00:13:08,400
Americans will not be able to do
sweat lodges.
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00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:15,200
So now where are we though?
With all of that, okay, so our
212
00:13:15,300 --> 00:13:19,200
lks lodge-keeper society, the
ones who perform the sweat
213
00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,700
lodges How did they get to that
point?
214
00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:27,000
Well, in the very, very
beginning one of our Founders
215
00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,700
had experienced, a sweat lodge
and thought, hey, we need to
216
00:13:29,700 --> 00:13:33,300
make this a part of our weekend.
So he did do what you might.
217
00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:37,100
Look at is the disrespectful
thing, mean not really knowing
218
00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:41,000
much of anything about and just
what do you call it winging it
219
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:46,500
totally literally, and for other
cultures, that's considered very
220
00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:51,400
disrespectful.
However along the way other
221
00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:55,700
folks a part of the sweat lodge
connected with indigenous folks
222
00:13:56,400 --> 00:14:00,000
within the who were doing also
doing sweat lodges, and there
223
00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:04,700
became a gifting a passing along
of the tradition.
224
00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:09,000
Here's where it gets dicey.
You have some indigenous folks,
225
00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,800
that's a part of their
spirituality, their culture,
226
00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:17,400
what they call culture of
generosity to pass along these
227
00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,900
things. and then you have others
who say, no, we don't want the
228
00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:25,900
dominant culture outside of
indigenous to be touching our,
229
00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,800
our, our traditions, Who's
right?
230
00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,900
Who's wrong?
Who's right, who's wrong.
231
00:14:33,300 --> 00:14:39,600
So, realistically and KP is
correct and what they have been
232
00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,300
doing because there is no
standard.
233
00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:45,600
There is no agreement between
the Sovereign Nations.
234
00:14:46,700 --> 00:14:48,500
You can't do this here in
America.
235
00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:53,000
No, there's no such agreement.
So, and, and the gift was passed
236
00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:57,100
along and the men of the large
lodge-keeper Society are also
237
00:14:57,100 --> 00:14:59,800
passing the gift against the
culture of generosity.
238
00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:03,700
So, they're not doing anything
wrong, they have not done
239
00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:06,100
anything wrong.
Now, that is not necessarily the
240
00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:14,300
opinion of many indigenous men.
I phrase it as they don't like
241
00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:18,400
white men doing this.
That's how I phrase it and
242
00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,900
that's how I'm looking at.
They don't like white men doing
243
00:15:20,900 --> 00:15:25,300
this.
And in that I looked further and
244
00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:31,000
I say there's some Shadow here.
Is a plenty of things in this
245
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,200
life that I don't like people
doing no one's going to change
246
00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:39,500
to make me happy.
But what they did then is they
247
00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:42,100
got together with the group
called themselves, the Council
248
00:15:42,100 --> 00:15:46,100
of Spirit, and the council
Spirit put up that website and
249
00:15:46,100 --> 00:15:50,500
then within the organization, we
were fighting amongst ourselves.
250
00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,000
With an MK P within mkp.
We were fighting amongst
251
00:15:55,000 --> 00:16:00,000
ourselves and with that going on
within the organization and with
252
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:05,600
this alleged perceived, this
illusion of protests and
253
00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,000
lawsuits.
That's where our board of
254
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:13,400
directors, says timeout.
We need to really just stop and
255
00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,800
we need to really get ahold of
what's going on, which was a
256
00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:23,200
smart thing to do at the time.
So, looking at it, though, there
257
00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:24,300
are large.
Keep the people.
258
00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,400
Did they do anything wrong?
No, they didn't.
259
00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:31,400
Here's some of the problems we
didn't give any sir in my
260
00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,400
opinion.
We have not given any support to
261
00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:38,000
our lodge-keeper got men, as as
in saying, man, you have done.
262
00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,900
Nothing wrong.
And we support what you're
263
00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:45,500
doing.
We are we have been giving in to
264
00:16:45,900 --> 00:16:48,800
Spirit pretty much with
everything they want.
265
00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:53,300
First thing, I consider that
being held hostage poor
266
00:16:53,300 --> 00:16:55,600
negotiations.
That's just my opinion in my
267
00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:00,900
judgment.
The shadow here is What is real
268
00:17:01,700 --> 00:17:06,500
and what is perceived?
Are we really doing something
269
00:17:07,300 --> 00:17:10,800
dishonest and making a ton of
money or are we not?
270
00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:12,900
I look at as.
No.
271
00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:17,200
The money factor is not there.
We're not doing this to make
272
00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,700
money and in fact we're not
making money so the whole
273
00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:24,500
appropriation and
misappropriation is not
274
00:17:24,500 --> 00:17:26,800
applicable.
That's my point of view, it's
275
00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:31,200
just not applicable because that
whole money concept is not there
276
00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,400
and there has been respect.
As you pointed out from your
277
00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,000
experience of going through the
respect to the culture
278
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:43,100
indigenous culture, is being and
was being expressed
279
00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,500
appropriately.
But what do you do?
280
00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:51,500
How do you handle?
How does how does the dominant
281
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:53,600
culture?
Say to another non-dominant
282
00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,900
culture?
We think you're coming from a
283
00:17:55,908 --> 00:18:00,000
wounded place.
What you're saying is not really
284
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,500
reality.
It's not happening.
285
00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,800
We think you're acting out from
a wound.
286
00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,600
To be easy for me to say because
I'm not part of the dominant
287
00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,000
culture as a black as a
so-called black man.
288
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,500
But is the dominant culture
actually comfortable saying
289
00:18:16,500 --> 00:18:19,100
something like that to the
non-dominant culture?
290
00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:24,200
No, not yet, they don't know how
to express, something like that
291
00:18:24,900 --> 00:18:29,200
in a positive fashion.
That's also setting appropriate
292
00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,300
boundaries but also making that
statement and as you pointed out
293
00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:37,600
there was all this fear fear of
protest fear of lawsuits, there
294
00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:42,100
was never ever any chance of a
lawsuit as you pointed out from
295
00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:44,500
me.
Arthur a incident.
296
00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:49,400
There was a lawsuit back then it
lost they lost that they cannot
297
00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:53,000
refile.
That the other part was there
298
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:58,900
were inaccuracies being
presented to mkp concerning the
299
00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:03,000
United Nations declarations that
are in support of indigenous
300
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,600
cultures.
Briefly those declarations are
301
00:19:06,700 --> 00:19:11,400
non-binding.
So therefore as a non-binding
302
00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:15,500
declaration, we have not
violated anything as an
303
00:19:15,500 --> 00:19:21,100
organization mkp had not engaged
in any type of contract in
304
00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:25,100
regards to these declarations.
So, again, we're not in
305
00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:30,100
violation, but we were having
men within the organization and
306
00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:33,800
the council that Spirit saying
to us, you violated our rights,
307
00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,500
you'd violated our culture and
it's not true.
308
00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:39,800
We haven't.
Mkp has not done any violations
309
00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,300
now, within the concept of all
that.
310
00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,500
Is absolutely nothing.
Wrong with an organization
311
00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:51,900
saying to itself and saying, to
his membership, We choose to be
312
00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:56,700
sensitive to the history of
what's going on in this country.
313
00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:03,400
And as such, we want to make
modifications, that will support
314
00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:08,600
the cultures of all people to
whom we offer this gift of
315
00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:12,000
initiation.
Now, that's, I think that's a
316
00:20:12,008 --> 00:20:14,800
pretty win-win statement to
make.
317
00:20:15,700 --> 00:20:18,400
I haven't heard that come from
our, from our leadership, from
318
00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:23,000
our board of directors, It's
been kind of a shaming and
319
00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:27,200
blaming toward large launch
keeper guys, which I don't like.
320
00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:32,200
And they've got no blessing of
support for all the committed
321
00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,900
work.
They've done for all these years
322
00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:38,200
and we are we are an
organization that has the high
323
00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,300
principle of Integrity.
Integrity is honesty and a high
324
00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:45,300
moral code.
And when someone comes at us,
325
00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:50,700
with lies misrepresentations and
exaggerations, I believe we
326
00:20:50,700 --> 00:20:52,700
should say hold on a second.
That's not true.
327
00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,100
No, no, no.
We have not made Millions.
328
00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:58,900
No.
No, we are not in violation.
329
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:04,200
However, we aren't choosing to
make modifications because we
330
00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:09,100
want to be sensitive to all
cultures and be supportive in
331
00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:13,700
terms of the gift that we are
offering to all cultures.
332
00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:19,300
It's nothing wrong with saying
that way and that's that's where
333
00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:21,800
I'm at.
Let me make a very good point.
334
00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,600
Here in terms of cultural
appropriation, we are in this
335
00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:29,000
Melting Pot, called the United
States of America Appropriations
336
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:30,500
going to happen all over the
place.
337
00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,900
As an example.
Eric Clapton plays the Blues.
338
00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,700
He's a blues guitars made
millions of dollars off of it.
339
00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,200
The Beatles.
Always said they got a lot of
340
00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,700
their inspiration from black
music.
341
00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:51,300
Little Richard.
Made millions of dollars for
342
00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:55,400
them, perhaps you for the people
who are running their business,
343
00:21:56,500 --> 00:22:00,100
but cultural appropriation is
going to happen.
344
00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:04,000
Now, there is some, some folks,
as an example, who hate black
345
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,300
folks, who hate Elvis Presley,
who will come right out and say
346
00:22:07,300 --> 00:22:10,000
he just ripped off black people,
he was just imitating black.
347
00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,400
People hate Elvis Presley and
then there are others musicians.
348
00:22:14,100 --> 00:22:17,500
Famous musicians, like b.b.,
King, who are who greatly liked
349
00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:19,800
Elvis Presley.
It's going to go both ways.
350
00:22:19,900 --> 00:22:25,800
As as an example, for indigenous
folk though they have
351
00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:30,800
appropriated black urban culture
and that you can get on YouTube
352
00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,900
and they will be video
indigenous videos of young
353
00:22:34,900 --> 00:22:38,500
indigenous, youth, rapping and
break dancing.
354
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:43,200
Obviously rapping breakdancing
is a black, urban artistic
355
00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:46,800
expression, Black Culture, but
they have appropriate for
356
00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,300
themselves.
I've done the same thing.
357
00:22:49,300 --> 00:22:55,000
Now, I play the bagpipes at
Scottish culture, obviously,
358
00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,600
growing up here.
I'm not involved in.
359
00:22:56,600 --> 00:23:00,800
Scottish culture.
I teach my students are Hindu
360
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:07,600
The very first indian-american,
bagpipe man of in do folks and
361
00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,400
they wear the complete Scottish
outfit, we have appropriated
362
00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,000
Scottish culture.
They will play Scottish Tunes
363
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:19,400
like Scotland, the brave or
Irish tunes and their own music
364
00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:21,800
on the bagpipes we have
appropriated.
365
00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:25,000
That's a part of this Melting
Pot called the United States of
366
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:29,400
America and though we want to
keep in front of us.
367
00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:33,500
That we have it, this culture of
these people in their own
368
00:23:33,500 --> 00:23:37,100
Sovereign Nation, who Nation who
have experienced five hundred
369
00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,500
plus years of genocidal.
Enslavement.
370
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,400
So that's why the organization
is electing to show sensitivity
371
00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:51,000
and make modifications.
That was a mouthful so you are
372
00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,700
good with the outcome.
You don't like the communication
373
00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:57,600
around it.
Is that a proper summation?
374
00:23:57,700 --> 00:23:59,500
I'm not necessarily good with
the outcome.
375
00:24:00,100 --> 00:24:06,600
Okay, sweat lodge sauna is a
part of many cultures, African
376
00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:10,700
and European.
In fact, back in 2018, I send a
377
00:24:10,700 --> 00:24:14,000
letter to about 30 different,
Lots Keepers.
378
00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,300
And I said, look, why don't you
take a look at your own
379
00:24:17,300 --> 00:24:23,300
backgrounds, your own culture,
free Christianity and create a
380
00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:27,400
brand new, sweat lodge
experience, including absolutely
381
00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,600
none.
Of North American indigenous
382
00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:33,600
Traditions.
My point in saying that was this
383
00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:37,300
simply enough of this arguing.
Let's just put an end to this
384
00:24:37,300 --> 00:24:41,800
arguing and men like to build
things and I looked at as this
385
00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:46,900
is an opportunity to be creative
and to do and to delve into your
386
00:24:47,300 --> 00:24:50,900
your combined backgrounds and to
bring that forward.
387
00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:53,600
And use that to create something
new.
388
00:24:55,100 --> 00:25:00,800
So, now today, what they are
trying to do is come up with a
389
00:25:00,808 --> 00:25:07,700
different experience but they
were very unappreciative of,
390
00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:10,100
they still looked upon what they
were doing as though, it was
391
00:25:10,100 --> 00:25:13,000
ripping off North American
indigenous culture.
392
00:25:14,300 --> 00:25:18,300
In fact, I sent a letter to them
saying, here is examples of nine
393
00:25:18,300 --> 00:25:21,500
different cultures doing sweat
lodges met.
394
00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:26,100
Mexican African Irish finish
Russian.
395
00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:30,200
You guys tell us which one of
these and what do they, what
396
00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:34,000
they do?
Does not infringe upon North
397
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,600
American indigenous culture.
Tell us, you tell us, no
398
00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,200
response.
So that's when I'm not happy
399
00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,700
with, right?
I believe, we should still be
400
00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:47,800
doing our sauna based sweat
lodges, having absolutely
401
00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:51,100
nothing to do with indigenous
culture, right?
402
00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:56,800
So the changes have been made.
I imagine there's no turning
403
00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,900
back but but who knows so with
this process would and with your
404
00:26:00,900 --> 00:26:04,500
30, with the 30 years you're
involved and these changes has
405
00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:08,500
this resulted you and being in
or out with with mkp going
406
00:26:08,500 --> 00:26:12,900
forward.
I'm in somewhat with MK P.
407
00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:19,800
MK p is still learning how to
work with and resolve conflicts
408
00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:24,100
mkp is still on what we refer to
as the eye level of thinking.
409
00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:28,400
I mean mine I can quote George
Harrison for a moment.
410
00:26:30,300 --> 00:26:33,600
It's having a lot of difficulty,
moving towards the we level of
411
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,700
thinking.
And as such, it has not yet
412
00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:41,300
learned how to resolve conflicts
and way too many times.
413
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:46,200
A solution by Too Many Men is
social exclusion, either the
414
00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,300
person takes himself of the
situation or they remove the
415
00:26:49,300 --> 00:26:54,200
person from the situation.
So right now I am on a what's
416
00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:58,200
called a limited activity list.
With mkp.
417
00:26:59,900 --> 00:27:04,900
Because of things like this, I
will involve myself and I will
418
00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,200
speak my mind.
Unfortunately we're not at the
419
00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,900
point within the organization of
understanding and respecting
420
00:27:11,900 --> 00:27:15,400
freedom of speech.
And the fact that people will
421
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,800
say, hey I don't feel the way
you do and I'm going to speak up
422
00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:24,100
and I'm not the only one.
Our previous chairman of the
423
00:27:24,108 --> 00:27:26,300
board.
Brian Arab was put on that list.
424
00:27:27,700 --> 00:27:30,400
I think he was actually noted as
suspension.
425
00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,300
We have another person on on the
board who's now under what's
426
00:27:35,300 --> 00:27:40,100
called a three-month sabbatical?
When I'm trying to share his as
427
00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:44,200
conflicts come up, we have not
developed a set of skills to
428
00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,000
work with those conflicts in a
good way.
429
00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:51,400
Unfortunately, one thing that
struck me, was that, let's say
430
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,900
that all the charges are true.
Let's just say they were and mkp
431
00:27:55,900 --> 00:27:58,100
decides, yep, we've done you
wrong.
432
00:27:58,100 --> 00:28:01,700
So, we're going to eliminate the
sweat lodge, but the main Camp
433
00:28:01,700 --> 00:28:04,800
project is global and it's only
the United States to stop doing
434
00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,000
this.
So, it always struck me like,
435
00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,700
well, North American indigenous.
People there in Canada to and in
436
00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:13,300
Canada, there's no issue.
So is that still accurate or
437
00:28:13,300 --> 00:28:15,600
sweat legislature or accept the
United States.
438
00:28:16,500 --> 00:28:18,700
Okay?
So I believe that within North
439
00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:24,300
America USA and Canada issues
are the same.
440
00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:29,000
Outside of there.
It's interesting.
441
00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:32,600
They are communicating.
Okay.
442
00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:37,900
S is gone.
However, what they are doing, I
443
00:28:37,900 --> 00:28:42,300
believe, for example in Germany.
They are just taken from their
444
00:28:42,300 --> 00:28:47,300
background from their culture.
And put those things in place.
445
00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:53,000
So as far as I'm aware, they
have not stopped doing a sauna
446
00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,700
best based sweat as an example
in Germany.
447
00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,800
Now, some place like New Zealand
is going to be completely
448
00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:04,600
different because you have the
indigenous culture there.
449
00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:06,700
I know absolutely nothing of
that culture.
450
00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,900
So I'm not even going to try to
speak of it and I have no idea
451
00:29:09,900 --> 00:29:12,600
what they're doing and so called
sweats or even if they're doing
452
00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:18,900
one. so, It's going to be
different outside of the United
453
00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:21,300
States.
They have been asking about it
454
00:29:21,308 --> 00:29:24,800
though.
The council the spirit has asked
455
00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:30,100
about our their indigenous
Traditions, a part of sweats
456
00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:35,300
outside of the United States.
And apparently the phrase, what
457
00:29:35,300 --> 00:29:38,400
they're being told is whatever
is going on.
458
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:44,600
Lks wise has stopped its ended
because as you pointed out, mkp
459
00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,600
has disbanded launch launch
Keepers Society.
460
00:29:48,500 --> 00:29:50,600
Yeah, I wasn't sure if that was
everywhere, or only invented
461
00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:55,300
States and what Rich Gahanna,
who's in charge of negotiating.
462
00:29:55,300 --> 00:29:58,800
This issue from what he said.
In that December 9th meeting
463
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,200
Everywhere.
But what they're actually doing
464
00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:08,500
post that so-called disbandment.
It's not necessarily what's
465
00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:12,900
happening in, I'd States.
And Rich cahawba will say he has
466
00:30:12,900 --> 00:30:15,500
nothing to do, what's goes on in
your, because they're separate
467
00:30:15,500 --> 00:30:20,300
entities, they're separate legal
their own type of 501, c 3, S.
468
00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:23,700
Not every country has the
concept of 501 c, 3.
469
00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:28,800
If you could create the ideal
scenario, what would you like to
470
00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,500
see happen?
Exactly what I said, the
471
00:30:31,508 --> 00:30:34,500
statement being made.
Number one that what's on this
472
00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:38,100
website is not truth and we want
this changed.
473
00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:42,700
Number two, vocally, give
support to the lks guys.
474
00:30:42,700 --> 00:30:47,300
Number three, come up with a
solid base, sweat lodge that is
475
00:30:47,300 --> 00:30:49,900
a reflection of African and
European Traditions.
476
00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,300
Here's a, here's an extremely
important thing.
477
00:30:53,300 --> 00:30:57,800
What this has shown us is that
We within the organization, we
478
00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:02,400
have very poor listening skills.
We have very poor communication
479
00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:06,000
skills.
We have very poor conflict.
480
00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:11,600
Resolution skills.
We have very poor teaming skills
481
00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:14,900
coming together as a team to
work together towards a goal,
482
00:31:15,300 --> 00:31:19,800
but those are opportunities.
There's a lot of gold in all
483
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:26,000
that for us to mine and say this
is where we can improve and we
484
00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,000
can better ourselves.
I don't expect mkp that have
485
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:34,400
every training program for every
solution everything out there.
486
00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:36,300
Because that would be
ridiculous.
487
00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,200
But since these opportunities
these challenges have presented
488
00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:45,100
themselves to us, we can mine
some gold from all that the
489
00:31:45,100 --> 00:31:50,200
first weekend of April, I
staffed the first and WTA New
490
00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,400
England in three years and it
was with these changes.
491
00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:54,900
There was no sweat lodge and
other.
492
00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:59,800
And anything rooted in
indigenous culture was gone now
493
00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,500
and I did it to see you know is
this is this still potent?
494
00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:07,700
Is it Still helpful or men
growing is it, does it work?
495
00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:12,300
And I'm a i happily got a yes to
all those.
496
00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:16,700
So have you gone through the the
weekend with the changes at all
497
00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:19,600
or no men that have gone through
as kind of a, as a new
498
00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,000
participant going through it at
all.
499
00:32:21,500 --> 00:32:24,800
I wish I could, I can't.
I'm on that limited activity
500
00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,500
list.
So what are we limited?
501
00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:31,600
The, according to them, the only
thing I can do is being an Eye
502
00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:33,300
Group.
Okay.
503
00:32:33,700 --> 00:32:37,000
I'm the type of person.
I'm an advocate and I will
504
00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:41,100
advocate for situations or
people as an example.
505
00:32:41,100 --> 00:32:44,700
A friend of mine was in a
nursing home and he received
506
00:32:44,700 --> 00:32:49,000
absolutely no attention to his
situation and shortly thereafter
507
00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:52,700
died.
During the time, he was there, I
508
00:32:52,700 --> 00:32:54,900
went in there with him and said,
what's going on here?
509
00:32:54,900 --> 00:32:57,000
That you're not giving this man
the attention.
510
00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,400
He's supposed to have in other
words.
511
00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,200
What I'm saying is if I see
something wrong, I will
512
00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:06,600
intervene.
I will speak up, I will do Civil
513
00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:12,100
Disobedience but I will
intervene mkp is not used to.
514
00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:14,800
That does know how to work with
that.
515
00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:18,000
So that's why I'm placed on this
limited activity list.
516
00:33:19,500 --> 00:33:26,300
So no, I have not experienced
the changes With that though
517
00:33:26,700 --> 00:33:30,700
there are a lot of people like
me who are not happy with how
518
00:33:30,700 --> 00:33:33,200
our board of directors have
addressed this issue.
519
00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:39,400
So I don't know how they will
deal with that, that descent how
520
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,500
they were help heal those
situation.
521
00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:47,200
So that's another opportunity.
What drove?
522
00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,900
You are 30 year participation
with mkp what was behind that?
523
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,500
But Joe me to go through the
weekend and no to end to stay to
524
00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:58,100
be active for 30 years.
What, what, what drove that?
525
00:33:58,700 --> 00:34:01,200
All right.
So, I went through, I'll start
526
00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:03,200
the beginning.
I went through the weekend
527
00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:09,100
because I realized that I had no
trusting relationships with men.
528
00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,900
I looked at men as the
competition and I had to get
529
00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:15,100
them before they got me.
That's how I looked at it.
530
00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:18,100
And I decided, I think I want to
confront that and see what
531
00:34:18,100 --> 00:34:20,600
that's all about.
And I think this might be a
532
00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,400
place to Do this.
So that's what made me go
533
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:28,000
through the weekend.
How the gifts that I had gotten
534
00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:31,600
from being a part of all.
This is it helped me with my
535
00:34:31,699 --> 00:34:34,199
self-expression.
I had zero self-expression.
536
00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:40,100
And actually, what's would help
it believe it or not was when
537
00:34:40,100 --> 00:34:42,199
the organization implemented
email.
538
00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:49,400
Then I began to open up and push
myself through all the toxic,
539
00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:53,900
shame and toxic fear that I had
and to express my opinions.
540
00:34:55,900 --> 00:35:00,600
And it was, it was still a
13-year Journey for me to find
541
00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:05,700
my warrior.
I couldn't say no.
542
00:35:07,100 --> 00:35:10,400
I couldn't say no to people in
situations and people would walk
543
00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,400
all over me and laugh at me.
I couldn't sit healthy
544
00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:18,400
boundaries.
With people in situations
545
00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:23,400
because I kept rejecting fear
and humiliation embarrassment on
546
00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:26,500
everything.
So this organization helped me
547
00:35:26,500 --> 00:35:32,300
confront that, and to get past
that also I've made a whole ton
548
00:35:32,300 --> 00:35:34,900
of friends who are supportive
and I like being around them.
549
00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,900
So that's why I'm still here.
Now, this whole limited activity
550
00:35:38,900 --> 00:35:48,300
thing, it gets silly, you know,
I haven't staff since 2005 So, I
551
00:35:48,308 --> 00:35:50,600
can't stay at one point had me
at doesn't mean much of
552
00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:52,800
anything.
What I do miss is, I like doing
553
00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:57,400
men of service the kitchen work.
So I miss that, but it's not the
554
00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:01,200
end of the world.
One of my friends pointed out
555
00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,200
something, which is quite a
Larry's.
556
00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:06,100
He said, you know, since you
been - restriction now for
557
00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:09,300
almost three years, you've done
the most amount of communicating
558
00:36:09,300 --> 00:36:11,000
and being involved in having
influence.
559
00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:15,100
Did you ever had in 30 years?
It's true.
560
00:36:16,700 --> 00:36:21,400
So no, they're not able to stop
me from getting my voice out.
561
00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:24,900
Even if they said, we're
throwing you out here, totally.
562
00:36:24,900 --> 00:36:27,700
I'd still would get my voice out
and gets the type of person that
563
00:36:27,700 --> 00:36:30,200
I am type of, man, that I've
chosen to be.
564
00:36:30,500 --> 00:36:35,200
So, I stay around because of the
attraction of the values, the
565
00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,000
promise of the values, the idea
of the values, the organization
566
00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:40,400
espouses, and the friendships
and connections.
567
00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:45,700
And I have tell me about that,
that first urban and WTA, like,
568
00:36:45,700 --> 00:36:49,300
what does that even mean?
Good one.
569
00:36:49,900 --> 00:36:54,700
So during the time, I was a
center director, I had a leader
570
00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:59,900
named Jeff Altman and he used to
tell this joke and a joke was
571
00:36:59,900 --> 00:37:03,600
we're going to do newer training
adventure and the city, and when
572
00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:06,100
we do the trust Walk, we're
going to we're going to March
573
00:37:06,100 --> 00:37:09,800
everyone down into the subway
station and up.
574
00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:15,400
And that was the punchline.
Then I'll said he gave me a
575
00:37:15,408 --> 00:37:17,500
call.
And he says, you know what, I
576
00:37:17,500 --> 00:37:20,900
want to do it, do what I'll
actually wanted to do the nwt a,
577
00:37:20,900 --> 00:37:23,200
in the city.
Okay.
578
00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:26,300
Now what happened was, I had a
challenge.
579
00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:30,500
We had blessed a large part of
the community who were in New
580
00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:33,700
Jersey to go ahead, Do Your Own
Thing.
581
00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:37,900
Start your own organization.
The man there, we blessed were
582
00:37:37,900 --> 00:37:40,800
actually the movers and shakers
of New York.
583
00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:44,800
So here I was with no
infrastructure.
584
00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:48,600
Of support to move forward.
What do I do?
585
00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:52,300
Well, there are men who were
saying, well, you know, we
586
00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:55,000
should stop everything, and we
should just build community.
587
00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:58,800
Well, I've seen centers where
they stopped in a everything and
588
00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:01,500
it took him two years to get
back on track to doing another
589
00:38:01,500 --> 00:38:03,800
weekend.
And I said no, when I'm not
590
00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:06,300
going to do that, I'm not going
to stop everything for two years
591
00:38:07,100 --> 00:38:10,200
and I decided we're going to do
what happens in corporations.
592
00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:12,200
We're going to do more with
less.
593
00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:18,900
So I said, we're going to keep
our regular schedule of weekends
594
00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:22,600
and what's an idea?
Jeff had that Urban we're going
595
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:25,800
to do that, too.
So I added one more weekend to
596
00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:30,100
what we normally do.
And, of course, no one believed
597
00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:33,400
the very first weekend.
No one believed could happen.
598
00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:37,000
So I did something unusual, try
Inspire men, I would make 40
599
00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:40,300
phone calls every night from our
roster.
600
00:38:41,300 --> 00:38:44,900
Inspiring man and asking men to
invite men to our very first
601
00:38:44,900 --> 00:38:48,000
weekend.
No one believed that would work
602
00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:51,200
it worked.
There were men in the
603
00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:55,200
organization who didn't believe
that weekend was going to
604
00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:56,700
happen.
I said that's fine by me.
605
00:38:57,100 --> 00:39:00,700
I can get men outside of New
York to staff and I did.
606
00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:05,300
So we got over the hump.
I'll never forget the leader of
607
00:39:05,300 --> 00:39:07,300
the weekend called me and said,
okay, you proved me wrong.
608
00:39:07,300 --> 00:39:09,000
Let's go, let's move ahead with
the weekend.
609
00:39:10,300 --> 00:39:13,000
Now, Jeff was the one who came
up with the idea.
610
00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:20,500
And so we found a site which was
an old Warehouse turned into a
611
00:39:20,500 --> 00:39:23,600
theater and across the street
was a park.
612
00:39:23,900 --> 00:39:27,200
So the park is where we did the
Friday night stuff and we did
613
00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,300
everything inside this old
theater.
614
00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:35,800
Interestingly, you like this?
The fellow who is from the West
615
00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:39,100
Coast North American Community,
came in to do the sweat lodge.
616
00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:42,900
Now, the interesting thing is
that half the men in New York
617
00:39:43,100 --> 00:39:46,800
hated this idea.
The head of the idea, I don't
618
00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:49,600
know.
It's got to be in the woods and
619
00:39:50,100 --> 00:39:52,100
refused to have anything to do
with it.
620
00:39:52,700 --> 00:39:57,400
My local sweat lodge, man
refused to have me to sit fine.
621
00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:00,900
I can get somebody else.
So the guy came in from the west
622
00:40:00,900 --> 00:40:05,100
coast and he said I'm going to
commit that this is going to be
623
00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:10,300
just like any other sweat lodge.
It every man experiences were
624
00:40:10,300 --> 00:40:12,100
just not going to be able to
have a fire.
625
00:40:13,700 --> 00:40:18,700
And so he was able to do exactly
that he used candles and Men
626
00:40:18,700 --> 00:40:21,700
didn't physically, sweat inside
and he conducted.
627
00:40:21,700 --> 00:40:27,700
It just the same as if he was
doing a sweat around a camp with
628
00:40:27,700 --> 00:40:30,100
the with the fire and stones and
all that.
629
00:40:31,100 --> 00:40:32,600
So the commitment was
maintained.
630
00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:38,500
Now, this one you'll laugh at
showers There were no showers
631
00:40:38,500 --> 00:40:43,200
inside the warehouse theater so
Jeff and his Brilliance figured
632
00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:45,500
out.
There's a fire hydrant.
633
00:40:46,900 --> 00:40:48,700
So we got a permit to use the
fire.
634
00:40:48,700 --> 00:40:52,200
Hydrant for showers.
We just had to tell everyone
635
00:40:52,500 --> 00:40:57,500
bring a bathing suit.
That was the very first and Jeff
636
00:40:57,500 --> 00:41:02,400
named it that Urban training of
a jet turbine nwt a.
637
00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:06,500
But I pushed that I told
everyone, I actually told her
638
00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:09,900
what we're doing this, I didn't
even ask my counsels buying or
639
00:41:09,900 --> 00:41:12,000
permission.
Just told me you're doing it
640
00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:14,800
because I wanted the
organization, the men to know
641
00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:17,900
you're capable of doing more
than you think.
642
00:41:18,700 --> 00:41:22,900
But I wanted them to have that
under their belt, They created
643
00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:25,400
this thing.
They participate in it.
644
00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:30,200
It was the first time and it was
successful and those have become
645
00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:33,000
a Mainstay right though, that
that was the first of many and
646
00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:34,200
throws for his ultimate.
Yeah.
647
00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:37,100
In fact, Jeff did another one
after that, and it was
648
00:41:37,100 --> 00:41:40,400
specifically for Orthodox,
Jewish men, which he did.
649
00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:45,000
I believe in the, I think I'm
still called greater Washington
650
00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:47,100
Center.
What do they call it now?
651
00:41:48,100 --> 00:41:51,600
I can't remember but he did a
specifically for Orthodox,
652
00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:54,700
Jewish man.
So Creek, is there anything else
653
00:41:54,700 --> 00:42:01,100
that you want to share?
For mkp, Don't Be Afraid.
654
00:42:02,500 --> 00:42:07,200
Face the issues and face
yourselves is a couple of
655
00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:09,400
Dynamics.
I didn't talk to that are part
656
00:42:09,400 --> 00:42:13,700
of what happened, that is white
guilt and white, savior is mmm.
657
00:42:14,900 --> 00:42:18,200
The white guilt is oh I feel so
bad for the indigenous people,
658
00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:20,400
although there's still treated.
Oh yeah.
659
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:23,900
We should just do it everything.
So that's what we call the white
660
00:42:23,900 --> 00:42:28,200
guilt.
The white savior ism is I'm
661
00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,500
going to be there, a Great White
Hope and I'm going to make sure
662
00:42:30,500 --> 00:42:32,100
they're taken care of.
Yes.
663
00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:37,100
Those are two Shadows that also
went up going on within our
664
00:42:37,100 --> 00:42:41,000
organization and there needs to
be a robust dialogue about that.
665
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:45,500
So I want the organization to
face these Shadows.
666
00:42:46,100 --> 00:42:49,200
Look at, what is the gold in
them, and the opportunities
667
00:42:49,500 --> 00:42:53,300
being presented, and how we can
be better?
668
00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:58,100
We can be better men and better
leaders and crit.
669
00:42:58,100 --> 00:43:01,200
Is there a way that people can
connect with you find out what
670
00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:02,700
you're up to.
You want to have a give a
671
00:43:02,707 --> 00:43:05,600
website or anything you want to
share your website but I am on
672
00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:11,000
Facebook be Crittendon Freeman.
I am on Facebook and my email
673
00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:16,400
address is B.c.
Freeman 02 at yahoo.com, bees
674
00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:21,100
and boy season, Charlie
screaming 02 at yahoo.com.
675
00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:23,500
Well, I appreciate you reaching
out.
676
00:43:23,500 --> 00:43:28,400
I appreciate you coming on.
And Shiny more light on this.
677
00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:30,700
I've definitely learned some
details that he was not aware
678
00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:33,300
of, and I had no idea that this
limited availability.
679
00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:35,100
Secret list thing was a thing at
all.
680
00:43:35,300 --> 00:43:40,200
So, is there a way, have you
been told anyway, to, to get off
681
00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:43,800
of that to be more active, if
you choose to be, um, they gave
682
00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:47,700
a whole list of things that they
wanted me to do, which I laughed
683
00:43:47,700 --> 00:43:52,800
at.
Basically, it's like changing me
684
00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:58,100
into a Kylie different person,
which I'm not going to do. and,
685
00:44:01,700 --> 00:44:09,200
I may never get off that list.
We are challenged in our
686
00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:14,800
Expressions when it comes to
honesty and we have not gotten.
687
00:44:14,900 --> 00:44:18,300
I am I support team.
We have not gotten honest,
688
00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:22,800
expressions, and return
information from the people who
689
00:44:22,800 --> 00:44:27,100
are maintaining all this.
So what do I do?
690
00:44:27,500 --> 00:44:31,300
Well, I can complain.
I can get a lawyer and file a
691
00:44:31,300 --> 00:44:36,700
lawsuit.
I don't want to I want to I, you
692
00:44:36,700 --> 00:44:39,700
know, I got lots more fun things
I can do with my money.
693
00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:45,600
Well I really hope that
communication opens up again.
694
00:44:45,600 --> 00:44:50,300
I do hope that this is just, you
know, one step in a multi-step
695
00:44:50,300 --> 00:44:53,900
process to having a better
solution supportive of everybody
696
00:44:53,900 --> 00:44:57,000
that wants to support other men.
Because that's, you know, the
697
00:44:57,800 --> 00:45:01,300
these little debates about this
that and communication, like
698
00:45:01,300 --> 00:45:05,400
it's just deprives everyone of
That core of initiating more men
699
00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:07,300
and helping guys feel and
express themselves.
700
00:45:07,300 --> 00:45:11,200
And they are you write this,
this should be an organization
701
00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:16,200
that can just show off how well
we are at dealing with descent
702
00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:19,200
and coming to agreements.
And and and blessing people that
703
00:45:19,200 --> 00:45:21,200
for the work, they've done, even
if that work isn't going to
704
00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:23,300
continue and just so many the
points you raised.
705
00:45:23,300 --> 00:45:26,200
So I want to say something
positive though.
706
00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:30,600
What one of the major things I
was doing Civil Disobedience
707
00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:34,900
about was I wanted the Shinto
address violence and threats of
708
00:45:34,900 --> 00:45:38,100
violence in our circles.
And if the about almost three
709
00:45:38,100 --> 00:45:41,800
years, Dan Baldwin of our
community, coordinator stepped
710
00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:44,400
up to the plate and he took care
of that.
711
00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:51,000
He created a safer Circle policy
within mkp and you can review
712
00:45:51,000 --> 00:45:56,600
that on the website mkp usa.org.
But although it took three years
713
00:45:56,600 --> 00:45:59,800
of me doing Civil Disobedience,
almost three years, damn ball
714
00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:03,600
went stepped up to the plate and
he made sure that was In place.
715
00:46:04,900 --> 00:46:08,300
Well, I hope other positive
changes continued to be made.
716
00:46:09,100 --> 00:46:10,400
So, thanks for joining us.
Thanks for joining us.
717
00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:13,000
Everyone who's listening in?
Please visit real men, feel
718
00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:14,400
dot-org.
They'll be a blog post for this
719
00:46:14,400 --> 00:46:15,700
episode.
We'll have links to all the
720
00:46:15,700 --> 00:46:18,500
various resources mentioned,
wherever you're discovering real
721
00:46:18,500 --> 00:46:21,400
men, feel, please give a like, a
follower share, comment,
722
00:46:21,500 --> 00:46:23,700
whatever you can do on the
platform that you're listening
723
00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:25,500
and always, you can reach out to
re at real men.
724
00:46:25,500 --> 00:46:27,800
Feel at gmail.com, always glad
to hear from you.
725
00:46:28,100 --> 00:46:31,600
And if you can explore making
this job your best year yet,
726
00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:34,100
having the growth that you want.
For your for yourself or your
727
00:46:34,100 --> 00:46:36,500
family community.
Look at having a freak Larry
728
00:46:36,500 --> 00:46:38,100
called with me.
It's a lot of conversation, not
729
00:46:38,100 --> 00:46:41,600
a podcast and we just dig into
what's in your way of getting
730
00:46:41,600 --> 00:46:44,000
the life.
You want until next time be good
731
00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:44,600
to yourself.