Brief history of trusting ones' gut

 

Since 2006, significant changes were made by the Tsuutina Nation, Alberta. These charges were not only made by the Tsuutina Nation but by the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. First, Tsuutina Nation announced the banishment of self-proclaimed medicine man in 2015, Nathan Chasing Horse, from its territory. Second, Fort Peck contacted Tsuutina Nation in the process they took in tribal banishment. These actions came in light of Nathan’s claims to offer healing therapies rooted in indigenous cultural practice, which were revealed to be a guise for his misconduct reoccurring since 2007  in both indigenous communities.

 

Nathan Chasing Horse was arrested in Las Vegas Neveda. Chasing Horse faces various counts of sexual assault against children. Unlike other Indigenous communities, there was no collective from the Chiefs of Treaty Seven declaring they would not tolerate violence against our people. It was only after Chasing Horse’s arrest did certain indigenous communities came forward to ensure justice was served and remain steadfast in their commitment in protecting our people and creating a future where such violence no longer occurs. We must provide a safe community for our children. We must honor the bravery of those survivors who were children at that time, who came forward since 2007 until present day to ensure they witness justice.

 

Between 2006 and January 31, 2023 many courage women came forward reporting inappropriate behaviors by Nathan Chasing Horse during the healing session he offered. Many wonder why it took so long, 17 years of sexual assault some report, most dismissed due to insufficient evidence for conviction. Despite the heart-wrenching testimonies from indigenous girls and indigenous women throughout the USA and Canada it took the courage to two adult children to bring to light Nathan’s propensity for indigenous girls. Nobody knows for sure just how many indigenous girls he sexually assaulted, but his usual attachment to older female role models or relatives gave him access to children. Ultimately, it was addiction video graphing his sexual assaults of these children that further charges were laid after initial charges were dropped.

 

As decades of systematic racist judicial systems not stopping violence against indigenous women. Our indigenous leaders have a responsibility to stand against violence and ensure the safety and dignity of indigenous girls and indigenous women. Restorative justice and Transformative justice revolving around the case of Nathan Chasing Horse scores the importance of not depending on colonial legal systems. Our indigenous people existed long before a legal system was in place, and it succeeded in delivering justice relying on our traditional cultural practice to protect our people. The present legal system does not work and fails to deliver justice. It’s within our own hands as its within our indigenous communities where we can restore and transform justice.

 

 

 

 

 

From my own lived experience, I realize that I’ve had to listen to my own intuition. If I’ve had a strong feeling, it’s critical for me to trust my inner voice. As I grew up, my parents and family warned me about healers and medicine people who were corrupt. They explained to me that these individuals may possess healing abilities, but they are still human and susceptible to greed. Without trust of ourselves and trust of the other Sexual trauma is so normalized in our indigenous communties. When sexual crimes are not challenged, given a name, and when victims are not given space to bear witness that justice is serviced the population becomes apathetic. 20 years ago warning children about dangerous people seems enough; however, today, indigenous educators are advising our children what to do to when sexually assaulted. Children are dating at age 10 onward. Healthy human sexuality is not being taught age appropriateness. We say as adults we are creating a safe space of our children when in fact there is no safe space left.

 

In the 70’s John Trudell said to protect your spirit, because we are living in a place where spirits are eaten. Disciplining our minds is essential in taking care of ourselves, as children are depending on us. As human beings we connect with an unseen world & our spiritual self sense this presence so we pray to be grounded by listening to our intuition and in so doing acknowledging Creator’s will is being done. Protecting ourselves from manipulative energies in situations where we find ourselves feeling vulnerable. We, as human beings are all gifted but some individuals believe they are gods, manipulating energies for their own gain. Acknowledging Creator’s will is vital to everything around us. Nobody escapes accountability. Restorative and transformative justice when done correctly serves our communities in a healing journey.

 

It's a difficult Pill to swallow trying to acknowledge that our indigenous nations failed to protect our women and girls. It’s no fault of our own that our traditional wisdom and practices were taken away from us; however, I believe that it’s we as indigenous women who need to heal. We need to look at who recruited these girls into Nathan’s cult.  There’s a high percentage documented of women recruiting and indoctrinating girls into this horrific practice of human trafficking. There does need to be the presence of an elder, a acknowledge keeper present during healing sessions. It’s all based on trust. We as indigenous people have attachment disorders called Limerence. People within our communities know each others’ vulnerabilities. It’s why a collective of community members needs to be present. When Nathan had ceremonies here when I was present there were leadership present, but no elders. Nathan did not bring any elders from his community or from communities where he practiced. This traditional law was not followed, and as a result people within my community were left vulnerable.

Restorative and transformative justice involves addressing shortcomings within indigenous communities. It takes time and effort but it does work if you have the patience & a good police force. In 1994, when Nathan Chasing Horse was 18 years old, a white buffalo was born. A close family member was tasked with delivering funds from a nonprofit organization to the rancher where the white buffalo was born. However, this individual was arrested on drug charges while enroute, and the funds did not reach their intended destination. This family member had a reputation for drug dealing within Nathan’s community.

In 2006, Nathan worked on the set of "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," and I visited Wolf Point to support his Sundance and meet his followers. In 2009, when Nathan was 32 years old, I reconnected with a woman I had met at Fort Peck in 2007. I asked various people about their knowledge of Nathan Chasing Horse but did not receive responses until three years later. Five years later, I took my late mother to a Sundance held by a family friend of Nathan's, a sacred pipe holder, for healing prayers. After my mother passed away, I invited the sacred pipe holder to assist with ceremonies for releasing her soul and for wiping away tears in 2014. At that time, Nathan Chasing Horse was 38 years old. In 2014, I inquired with the partner of the sacred pipe holder about Nathan’s behavior. It was during this period that she seemed surprised in becoming aware of Nathan's alleged criminal behavior. In 2009, a woman at Wolf Point informed me about efforts to stop Nathan, but no action was taken. It wasn't until 2015 that Fort Peck banished Nathan Chasing Horse from their community. The sacred pipe holder, who knew Nathan's immediate family, claimed to have addressed the issue in 2003 but denied any association or knowledge in 2014 when asked.

The normalization of sexual assault in any community is concerning, as even those holding sacred positions may fail to acknowledge issues. It is crucial for individuals to trust their instincts, ask questions, and recognize that support may not always be forthcoming. The lack of policing and support for children who are sexually assaulted is a serious issue, compounded by those profiting from spiritual practices. Despite continuing evidence from various communities the sacred pipe holder visited, he did not report his findings to the local police. The sacred pipe holder did not disclose this information when questioned in 2014 but in a documentary in 2025 claimed he was aware in 2003. Today, followers who previously supported Nathan now follow this sacred pipe holder, who has been associated with Nathan’s immediate family since 1994.