Is
the Quaker Sweat Lodge "Racist"??
Personal Testimonies About the QSL
During the 2005 FGC Gathering at Blacksburg, VA, a discussion-action session was held during which 36 participants signed the following affirmation, intended to be brought to the attention of the relevant FGC committees:
"I believe the Quaker Sweat Lodge is an authentic, respectful spiritual experience. It deserves to be a part of the FGC Gathering, starting now."
NOTE: Additional endorsements of this affirmation are invited. If you agree with the statements, send it with your name, address (including email) to: cf@quakersweat.org
In addition, these Friends were invited to add their own comments to the affirmation. Many did, and a selection of these comments is below.
| "The Quaker Sweat Lodge was the most powerful spiritual experience my son has ever had. It needs to be available to other Friends." Aaron Fowler | "I believe Friends are too afraid of controversy. In trying to seek the truth, we need to try to be respectful, but we are never in control of individual's responses so we can never proceed with a guarantee of no hurt feelings. We should have faith in our Quaker process." Christine Carver |
| "I never knew what silence could be without steam." Tim Shea | "I believe the Quaker Sweat Lodge is an authentic, respectful spiritual experience. It deserves to be a part of the FGC Gathering, and that FGC reopen this matter to find a way to interview George Price and other supporters of the Lodge and those opposed, to find unity on how the Lodge can be restored." William Seltzer |
| "I believe that there is a way to continue the Quaker Sweat Lodge without hurting the Native Americans. The QSL is something of our own based on the Native American tradition." Alana Riemerman | "This is not a matter of racism. As a white Quaker who lives and works among African-Americans (15 years) -- you need to inspect more deeply what racism is and is not." Laura Dungan |
| "I believe that the Quaker Sweat Lodge meets a specific spiritual need for teens and young adult Friends that is not met in any other way. I feel that it is not in any way an appropriation of Native American culture." Janet Lee Hilliker | "The QSL was one of the most moving spiritual experiences I have ever had. It has definitely played a huge role in forming my spirituality. Young Friends will lose a lot if the QSL is not given. They will not have that chance to explore there spirituality." Doug Crauder |
|
* The Quaker Sweat Lodges I participated in at FGC were the most spiritual
experiences of my life. * I didn't attend Gathering last year because there was no sweat lodge. * I feel that George [Price] was clear about the lodges being Quaker and not Native American. He is very respectful and is in no way racist. * I acknowledge that Alice Lopez and others from the Wampanoag Tribe were hurt. I do not think it is fair that she refused to meet with George to discuss the matter. * I feel with all my heart, soul and mind that the Quaker Sweat Lodge is a respectful, non-racist spiritual experience. I feel that it should be offered at FGC in 2006. -- Krista McKinnon |
| "My son, Will King, participated in the FGC Quaker Sweat Lodge workshop at the Gathering in 2003. i also attended a QSL that year. For me , it was one of the most powerful experiences of community I have ever had. My son reported a similarly powerful experience. I am concerned about the abrupt cancellation of the QSL in 2004. This seems a betrayal of Quaker process. I would like to see the QSL brought back home to FGC and that this betrayal of process is repaired." Alice Carlton |
Hearing these eloquent voices, the question now is: Who at FGC is listening?
Reflections on the QSL >>
Appendix 1: "Cultural Appropriation" >>
Appendix 2: Wampanoag Letter >>
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