WocusWoman

Terry Tafoya

Terry Tafoya uses his Indian blood and Indian mythology as a popular lecturer on mental health issues, and in several appointments at well-known institutions. Unfortunately, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has found, Tafoya's Indian blood is questionably thin, his academic record elusive and, worse, his qualifications in psychology are troublesome.

The P-I's well-researched front-page piece by Ruth Teichroeb explains how the charismatic Tafoya jets around the U.S. and Canada appearing at up to 100 events a year -- most of them paid at least in part by public dollars. He typically commands fees of up to $3,000 plus expenses ... all based on dubious claims (among others) that he was raised on the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico (he wasn't), has a Ph.D. in psychology (he doesn't) and a life story that bears little resemblance to reality.

If this reminds you of University of Colorado provocateur Ward Churchill, another dubious storyteller, you're not alone. His own lineage has never been fully explained, and his academic record is clearly cockeyed. His qualifications to teach are certainly doubtful.

I'm wondering: What would make a non-Indian want to fib about his Indian-ness? Or is it just a minor lie among many others? Do the rest of us somehow give more weight to the opinions and teachings of Indians just because they claim Native American blood flows in their veins? Are we so shallow?

WocusWoman

This was a news item I found online, published back in June 2006.

Today at one of my human services classes, my academic advisor, who teaches my counseling class found the need to somewhat apologize and set us straight. He apparently crossed paths with Terry Tafoya long ago, in his career, and was clearly disappointed about just finding out this information. He stated that over the years, while occasionally bringing up Mr. Tafoya's name as an authority on certain issues, in the counseling field, he was sorry not to have been more careful when choosing to use a source that was clearly un-ethical.

Blackbear

Wow! It's cool that he apologized! Some folks are too proud and get embarrassed and just don't say anything.

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WocusWoman

This man, who runs the Human Services program for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks has been a very good advisor to me. He inspires me to go forward with my career as a certificated drug/alcohol counselor. I'm not suprised he brought it up, because the honesty in his character shows through when he teaches. I realize not ALL people in these positions or this much authority would come out and apologize or admit something was wrong with the source.

outershell

i've heard him speak and was very impressed with him.

this wouldn't be gay bashing against him, would it?

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WocusWoman

Interesting. How do you get gay bashing out of an news article that was published in a reputable circular? I could care less what this man's sexuality is. Its all about making claims that you cannot back up. He has traveled all over and made proclamations to people, such as my professor who has worked in the counseling field for over three decades. It is wrong, no matter how you cut it, there is no excuse for becoming an authority on something, only to be found out to be a fraud. I'm working hard in college right now, to do the things required to become a licensed counselor, there are no short cuts in my book.

outershell

i heard him speak once at a female to male trans conference.
And since the lgbt community, including two-spirit ppl are discriminated against here and there; i wanted to make sure that it had nothing to do with attacking him.

a link to the actual article would have helped.

but still, i don't really like these kind of threads
maybe terry is a total fraud
maybe its just a big misunderstanding
either way should terry be allowed to speak on his own behalf
before we pass judgement?

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WocusWoman

The fact is: my University professor, advisor, head of Human Services has used Mr. Tafoya as a source over the years in teaching his courses to students like me that are working to become drug/alcohol counselors. He was big enough, after finding out about the current status of Tafoya, to first apologize and then to remind us to always double check our sources before deciding to use them. This professor, whom I'm very fond of as an educator, is a person that had personally known and worked with Mr. Tafoya in the past, and was clearly disappointed. I feel strongly about this because his claim really makes Native people like myself, who are working towards legitimate degrees and work historys, not as deserving or legitimate in the backs of the minds of the bigger society. As far as I know, he has not spoken up or apologized for anything. The last thing that was found online, is an arrest of a DUI on Mr. Tafoya, which is really just sad, sad, sad.

outershell

ok, but again.
if you make a claim as strong as this, the least you can do is post a link to your sources.

We are living in a world that thinks Rush Limbaugh and the national enquirer are reputable news sources.

but so far its just been your conclusion/ opinion and really how do any of us know who YOU are?
anyone can type anything they want into those profile boxes. you could be some chines guy living in cambodia for all i know.
now as you get angry at me for calling in your reputation, you may ask me to back up my accusation with proof.

i'm sure they teach you to site your sources when working toward a degree.

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Skillet

Heres links for you outershell,in nationally recognized and accredited newspapers,and how you got gay bashing out of any of this is beyond me,i saw no references to his sexuality at all.Why make an issue when there isnt one,save it for when theres a real issue

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/..._tafoya16.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/..._tafoya23.html

http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/016424.asp

WocusWoman

Wow, are you Mr. Tafoya, or one of his best buddies or something, sorry to have hit a nerve with you. I'm done replying to you now.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...oyamain21.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart...licereport.pdf

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20060621/court.pdf

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart...deposition.pdf

http://underthenews.blogspot.com/200...churchill.html

Joe's Dad

I haven't read this thread, and don't intend to. However, since I have been on this site, Wocus Woman is one of the persons who speaks her piece and doesn't come on here to cause trouble. I have enjoyed her posts and have learned alot. To say she might be a Chinese guy living in Cambodia is pretty rugged. What you need to do is apologize to Wocus Woman.

As far as this Tofoya dude...I don't give a shyt!


BTW outershell, you might be some white dude who dresses up in leather claiming to be all spirchal. And I won't apologize.



Jim

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outershell

Skillet, these links were not available to read at the top of this thread.
And these aren’t the ones she’s referring too. She posted different links.
The first link of hers mentions his sexuality and connection to the LGBT community quite a bit.

Apparently I am the one who hit nerves here.

I have nothing personal against wocus woman or anyone here but whenever anyone makes a potentially libelous thread intending to hurt someone and destroy their lively hood I will ask for more then just their opinion on the matter. Even if everyone on this board gangs up with their opinions, I will still ask for fact. And I will do so no matter who the thread is about.

Thank you for posting the links and answering my questions. I will read over these and do more research.

The Chinese comment was to make a point.
If anything shouldn’t this Terry Tafoya situation remind us that you can’t take ANYONE for granted. Terry Tafoya had an excellent reputation, he came highly recommended. BUT People should have asked Terry Tafoya to back up his statements with proof. So shouldn’t we ask EVERYONE to back up there statements with proof.

If all we are using is opinion, that opinion could be inspired by a jealous rivalry or homophobia or racism or this or that. So I asked….. just to be sure.

I don’t live in Seattle so I didn’t know what “PI” is so I asked for a link.

Maybe I am a Chinese guy living in Cambodia. Maybe I’m a full blooded tribal member displaced on the east coast , maybe I’m one of those dreaded half- breeds or *shudder* orphans. Either way I AM some one who likes to make up their own mind and ask a lot of questions.

It is not my intention to hurt anyone, but to get to the bottom of the matter. So, Forgive me if I don’t accept anyone’s opinion as law. Forgive me for accidentally wounding anyone’s pride by daring to question them. But nowadays, as we see with Terry, we have to ask for proof to back up our statements.

So again, thank you for finally posting the links.
Oh and thank you for correcting my spelling. There are some other threads you might want to correct as well.

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