Introduction

In the remaining days of November 2018, a group gathered in Monument Valley for an event entitled Witness in the Desert hosted by the charismatic leader Derek Broes (“Global Witness”), a Christian Gnostic who believed there is secret knowledge hidden in both the landscape and heart of the Native American people, in this case, the Navajo. While the unusual event became known to the community, a decision was made by local authorities to stop the “cult-like” event to ensure the safety of Navajo residents in Monument Valley.

Derek Broes, better known as “Global Witness”

What followed was a pile of misinformation concerning the intent of Broes as well as the reasoning for the shutdown. For instance, the Navajo Times characterized Broes as a “Gnostic Luciferian,” more than likely from a youtube video criticizing Broes and his beliefs. Moreover, Derek Broes accused the Navajo Authorities of selling their “birth right” for “beer and casinos” and working for the “god of this world,” a reference to the biblical story of Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:19-34). However, if we were to take a step back, it isn’t hard to understand that if Navajo Officers saw a gathering of unverified white people with a bonfire in our tribal park, then action must proceed due to the lack of information of the groups intent and the lack of accountability for potential damage to the park. The Immediate concern is for the safety of the community, thus, it is necessary to break up the gathering before a threat ensues. Reflecting on Navajo Law Enforcement, Jeffery Daugherty, a colleague of Broes, commented, “If you’re a law enforcement officer and you’re going into a place and you don’t know how well they’re armed, you could say that’s justifiable force.” However, I would suggest that the stem of misinformation is from the Bigman family, in whom, didn’t clarify to Broes that these types of events need to go through a review process before anything gets a greenlight, nor did Bigman inform the local leaders of the incoming wave of New Agers eager to host a broadcasted event on the land. I digress.

This article is not for the purpose to argue logistics or legalities, but rather to clarify a larger problem with various forms of mysticism and their infatuation with Native American prophecies and hidden knowledge. Any type of spirituality outside the domains of native tribes need to be evaluated, dissected, and criticized in order to identify the philosophical underpinning in which it exists. In other words, just because you burn sage in your house while you meditate doesn’t mean your practice is consistent with tribal spirituality. Therefore, consider the following paragraphs.

Sacred Knowledge, New Age Mysticism, and Passive Colonialism:

“Growing up on an Indian Reservation makes one acutely aware of the mysteries of the Universe.” – Vine Deloria Jr. (Metaphysics of Modern Existence, p. 1).

There is indeed a potent spiritual climate in every reservation, whether it be of blessing or tragedy, our perspective is forged by a consistent interaction with a spiritual reality. For generations tribal peoples have performed ceremonies that are reflective of particular events in their lives as well as the lives of their ancestors. Interestingly, as the western world delves more and more into materialism and hedonism, they are beginning to understand that their current worldview will only lead to destruction while the native worldview is that of preservation. Vine Deloria Jr. writes, “Indian customs and beliefs were regarded as primitive superstitions unworthy of serious attention. In recent decades, non-indians have finally come to recognize that many Indian ideas were ecological and scientifically sound and only seemed primitive” (Metaphysics, p. 2). Unsurprisingly, we see a wave of people who are seeking this ancient perspective and will go out of their way to obtain it. I do not have an issue with the genuine pursuit of knowledge, rather the problem lies in the mindset that you are somehow entitled to receive this knowledge without a lifelong commitment to the people. The important part of Deloria’s quote I headed this section with is “Growing up on the Indian reservation.” Sacred knowledge CANNOT be received in a single weekend at Witness in the Desert, but rather in a lifetime of existing in the presence of that knowledge, and in our case, our birth is the beginning of our connection to it.

Next, New Age practices and methods should not be equal or relevant to native tribal practices. Every tribe retains their own practices, narratives, and intentions of why they do what they do, therefore introducing foreign people and pseudo-spiritual practices into tribes may harm the original ceremonial function and may compromise the very knowledge they sought after. I do not know exactly what type of activities were taking place at Witness in the Desert, but I assure you they weren’t relevant or significant to southwestern tribes in the least, otherwise our own spiritual leaders would’ve been in charge. While I’m on this topic, I need to address the non-native use of smudging (burning sage); namely, certain tribes practice smudging because of their tribal narrative and relationship to the land in which the herb comes from. I come across many new agers who burn sage without the cosmological or spiritual framework to justify their adoption of this practice, rather they do it because it makes them “feel better”. Cleansing in the native world is beyond just “feeling better” but has the potential to cause discomfort as it comes at the cost of your ego and adjusting to the world as it was meant to be. I’m not assuming there was smudging at Witness in the Desert, but… If I were to take a bet, there’s at least a 90% chance that it would’ve taken place.

In regard to both the incoming wave of new agers and the visitors sense of entitlement, we must be wary of passive colonialism. Active colonialism, or classical colonialism, is the pursuit of domination over a people or nation, whereas, passive colonialism are the “practices, policies, and structures” inherited following the pursuit of control (Mulinge and Lesetedi, 14). In this article, I will extend the definition to include the social and psychological dynamic, in that, participants in the colonial structure subtly invade the minds of the colonized. For example, a white liberal friend of mine wanted to know some Navajo Stories, so I told her the story of The Separation of the Sexes. However, while I was speaking she continuously inserted liberal and political themes into the Navajo story and interpreted everything through the lens of her feminist activism. I am all for activism that challenges the status quo, but in respect to the ancient story, it is far more beneficial to let the story speak for itself rather than inserting your own meaning to fit an agenda. So if there are red flags in telling one story to a well-intentioned white individual, then how much more troubling would it be to reveal ancient secrets to a group of foreigners who will more than likely interpret these revelations through a colonial lens. In fact, the very excitement in DISCOVERING ancient secrets is a red flag due to our knowledge of the Doctrine of Discovery that justified western expansion in the first place.

In Defense of James F. Adakai

What initially compelled my response to the situation of Witness in The Desert is Derek Broes’ defamation of my father, James F. Adakai, Oljato Chapter President and Long serving advocate for Navajo rights in the state of Utah.

As a child, I remember early mornings in Monument Valley when my father used to wake up 4am to get ready and drive to Window Rock for his job. What was left of the evening he made time to be with his family. Weekends he worked for the Oljato Chapter House listening and helping his community with a wide array of concerns. As I grew older, I learned of his education as a political science major at the University of Utah, and while a young man he always wanted to help his people and provide a bright future for his community. It is remarkable to know that even when we had family problems, it never compromised his commitment to serve the Navajo Nation. To this day, I am amazed at his perseverance and effort to work late into the night, pray early in the morning, and always finding ways to show his family that he appreciates them. He surely does love his people. His leadership is phenomenal and will forever be a model of what a Navajo can achieve if they have the heart to pursue a greater future.

On Dec. 1, 2018, Derek Broes uploaded a video to his youtube page entitled Navajo Police & Tribal Park Council Lies To Protect Their Lies in which asserted my father, James F. Adakai, “sold his soul and birthright for a beer and a casino” as a response to my fathers memorandum to stop the event “due to high level of potential threat to the health and safety of the public.” This is undeniably a racist and defamatory statement of a leader whose whole life is dedicated to the benefit and protection of the Navajo people. There is nothing that Broes can do or say to match the service and leadership of James F. Adakai, nor can Broes ever conceive of returning to our people with the intent to deceive and manipulate.

The True Story of Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25-27,32-33):

As grad student pursuing a Masters in Theology, I couldn’t let this one slide.

Why is Derek Broes using this story to justify his position in the situation? Consider the following text (Gen 25:21-34):

21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.)31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Derek Broes, in this case suggests that my father is Esau who sold his birthright for “beer and casinos,” but who did he sell it to? Who is Jacob in this scenario? If the federal government is Jacob, then mankinds salvation is in the possession of the federal government. But I am sure Broes would not grant that interpretation. So who is Jacob? Is Broes saying he is Jacob or is the federal government Jacob? A broader question is what is the purpose of the birthright and who gave it?

First let’s point out the fact that Esau selling his birthright didn’t immediately transition to Jacob, rather Jacob had to deceive his blind father Isaac and pose as Esau to obtain the blessing (Gen. 27). Thus, deception and manipulation is a characteristic of Jacob and is visible throughout his whole story. Again, what is the birthright for? These are the words of Isaac blessing Jacob:

27 “See, the smell of my son
    is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed!
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven
    and of the fatness of the earth
    and plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you,
    and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
    and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
    and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

This blessing or birthright stems from God’s call to Abram in Gen 12:

1 “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Why is this important? The birthright IS NOT suppose to be solely for material blessings or dominion, but rather is a generational promise that God will bless all peoples of the earth through the lineage of Abraham. Therefore, the birthright is not epitomized in the life of Jacob or Esau, rather is completed in the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in whom all mankind/womankind are blessed and brought into relationship with Him.

Derek Broes use of scripture is shady, and going through many of his videos, any undergrad theology student can point out the misuse of the biblical text to tickle the ears of his followers. Therefore, if there are any followers of Derek Broes, then ask yourself why seek “hidden” knowledge if you already have the knowledge of Jesus Christ, not the american version either, Yeshua who came from the tribe of Judah whose people were subjugated under the colonial Roman Empire, and lived his life according to the Father.

Esau Embraces Jacob

Lastly, If we were to continue with the relationship between Jacob and Esau, they met once again in Gen. 33. Jacob feared that his brother would seek vengeance on him for stealing his birthright. Surprisingly, “Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.“ (v. 4). Esau had his own people, his own flocks, his own land, and instead of taking vengeance he embraced his brother and forgave him. Neither men are perfect, neither men are worthy of the birthright, but soon One came who was worthy, and He forgave all.

Let’s end this with a final question: Is Derek Broes too far gone to be embraced by the Navajo? I’ll leave that up to the people.

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References:

Charles, Mark. The Doctrine of Discovery- A Buried Apology and an Empty Chair. http://wirelesshogan.blogspot.com/2014/12/doctrine-of-discovery.html

Deloria, Vine Jr. Metaphysics of the Modern Existence (Golden; Harper & Row Pub. Inc. 2012).

Mulinge, Munyae M. and Gwen N. Lesetedi, “Interrogating Our Past: Colonialism and Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa” in African Journal of Political Science / Revue Africaine de Science Politique Vol. 3, No. 2 (December 1998), pp. 15-28.

The Problem with Derek Broes, New Age Mysticism, and Native American Sacred Knowledge

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