- Nemenhah Band
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The Nemenhah Band is a Weaubleau, Missouri-based religious group founded and headed by Phillip "Cloudpiler" Landis. It was founded circa 2000 and has about 7,000 members.[1] It practices alternative medicine, specifically natural medicine.[2]
The group says that it is composed of Native American healers and those "spiritually adopted" into the band. According to the Nemenhah Band's website, "membership is by spiritual adoption only." Those who seek spiritual adoption must agree that natural healing is a significant part of their spirituality and that they seek to do no harm. In addition, those seeking spiritual adoption are asked to provide a $250 USD donation and an additional annual donation of $100 USD. The Nemenhah band also provides a curriculum to become a medicine man or woman. Some Native Americans have criticized these practices.[3]
The group received widespread attention in 2009 when a judge ordered chemotherapy for a 13-year-old boy with Hodgkin's lymphoma whose family were members of the group; his mother fled with her son to avoid the court order,[4] but later returned. Her son successfully completed chemotherapy and radiation.[5]
References
- ^ Religious beliefs drive mom and son on the run, Bill Strande, kare11.com
- ^ Band Discusses Alternative Treatments, Christine Daues, kspr.com, 18 May 2009
- ^ A closer look contains hints of sham artist, not a shaman, Jon Tevlin, Star Tribune, 19 May 2009, retrieved 20 May 2010
- ^ [1]
- ^ Danny Hauser finishes his cancer treatment, November 06, 2009
External links
Categories:- New religious movements
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