The Earth Temple: Center of Prayer & School of Shamanic Arts is honored to be a Branch of the Oklevueha Native American Church (pronounced AWK-LA-VAH), our Mother Church. By becoming a member of The Earth Temple, you are becoming a member of ONAC.

Agreements:

Code of Conduct

Preamble: I hereby agree with and understand that my being a card holding member of ONAC puts me in a very sacred and privileged position where indigenous peoples of all ethnic ancestral backgrounds can be honored with ONAC membership. I also agree that others may judge or criticize the organization by my attitudes, actions and words. Therefore, I will do my best to not do or say anything that reflects badly on ONAC and our other members. If I should have a problem with another ONAC member or my community (particularly if it is a legal issue) I hereby agree to either address it directly with the other person, through my Branch leaders or individually through the courts. I will not make ONAC a party to any legal proceedings without written authorization to do so from church headquarters in Utah.  My signature below acknowledges that I am committed to faithfully living and practicing my spiritual pathway in alignment with these Sacred ONAC Codes of Ethics and Conduct.

• I commit to living a Sacred Earth–Honoring Lifestyle which Embodies the ONAC Principles of: Gratitude, Humility,  Faith,  Respect,  Honor,  Charity and

• I commit to making effort to spend time each day in meditation and prayer, drawing closer to the Great Spirit and all of creation, Mother Earth, her living beings, such as: the Mountains, Rocks, Trees, Streams, Rivers, Lakes, Water Systems, Oceans, Father Sky, Winged Creatures, all two-leggeds and four-leggeds.

• I commit to only use the sacred indigenous medicines and ceremonies to empower my body, mind and spirit and to serve myself and others and thereby create peace and harmony in my relationships.

• I commit that I will keep the ceremonies and what is shared there by others sacred, not sharing it outside the circle.

• I commit that I will understand my responsibility to financially sustain and support those who bless me. I will remember that medicine people and leaders have lives and families that need their time and they need to provide for them. I will be respectful and generous as they support and assist me.

• I understand that being a member of ONAC puts me in the position where people may judge the organization by my actions and words. I will not do things that reflect badly on ONAC and our other members. I will use public media in a positive and respectful way, not criticizing other members or violating the sacred trusts developed in the Oklevueha Native American Church (ONAC) family circles. This includes social media, interviews and other public forums. If I have criticisms or concerns with another member, I will work it out with them directly or through my leaders within Oklevueha

• I will never share sacraments with or sell medicines to those who are not members of ONAC. I understand that doing so removes my legal protection and exposes me to prosecution.

• I agree not to disrespect the medicines and sacraments by using them for any recreational or abusive purposes.

• I will never manipulate or take advantage of others emotionally, sexually, mentally, spiritually or physically that are in the open state during and after ceremonies or while using sacramental medicines.

Code of Ethics

General Principles and Indigenous Spiritual Practices

The world–wide Oklevueha Native American Church (ONAC) and its Branches are dedicated to the revival and preservation of Ancestral Indigenous Native Earth–Based Honoring Cultures, Religions, Lifestyles, Sacred Rituals, Healing Sacraments and Loving Humanitarian Codes of Ethics and Conduct that protect Mother Earth and all of her living beings from desecrations, pollutions or abuses for economic gains.

Oklevueha Native American Church and her branches accept all natural organic plants as Healing Sacraments. These plants have been used for thousands of years and are central to our established religious beliefs and sacred ceremonies. These include: a. Peyote – the significant Indigenous Earth–Based Healing Sacrament (Eucharist) for this church. b. Any other Indigenous Earth–Based Healing Sacrament (Cannabis, San Pedro, Ayahuasca, mushrooms and etc.) that has been found to benefit the health and welfare of recipients, so long as it does not place them in harm’s way.

Spiritual Facilitating Leaders (Medicine Man/Woman) of Oklevueha Native American Church are known by a variety of sacred callings: Chasta, Clergy, Curandera, Doctor, Elder, Mara’akame, Reverend, Roadman, Sacred Prayer Pipe Carrier, Water Pourer, Shaman, Indigenous Ceremonial Leader, etc. Those who are guided by Great Spirit and who are experienced in some Ancestral American Native Spiritual Empowering and/or Healing practices and who act to facilitate the spiritual practices of others are honored with these titles.

An Oklevueha Native American Church Medicine Person (Spiritual and Indigenous Ceremonial Leader) need not claim exclusive or definitive knowledge of his or her practice, since wisdom and competencies are frequently developed over years of observation and experience but must be approved to do this work either by their branch leadership council or by the leadership of ONAC. Responsibility to assure that those who act as ONAC Medicine people (Spiritual and Indigenous Ceremonial Leaders) are trained, responsible and have the wisdom and integrity to conduct ceremonies and those who choose to work with sacraments rests with the branch leadership. (See special NOTE on those who choose to work with Ayahuasca sacraments above.)

Even though one of Oklevueha Native American Church’s primary purposes is to administer Sacramental Ceremonies, an Oklevueha Native American Church Medicine Person or Indigenous Ceremonial Leader is free to choose not to administer a sacred sacrament during any particular Ancestral Indigenous Earth–Based American Native Ceremony.

The Oklevueha Native American Church (ONAC) respects all empowerment and healing modalities; including: Indigenous Spiritual Ceremonies, allopathic medicines, naturopathic and integrative complementary medicines. ONAC Honors the fundamental Hippocratic principle of “Do No Harm to the Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and/or Physical Being” of any of our Earthly relations. It recognizes that each healing and empowering modality is intended to promote the optimal health and well–being of the participant. It believes that all forms of care can be incorporated into empowerment and/or healing for all of our relations, in a complementary and integrated manner.

Oklevueha Native American Church makes absolutely no claims about being in authority or having the ability to conduct saving ordinances.

Oklevueha Native American Church is part of an indigenous Native Spiritual Earth Based Healing and Empowering International Collective that serves individuals and the wider community whenever and wherever an ONAC member resides. ONAC is authorized to do this sacred work by a special blessing from both Leslie Fool Bull and Richard Swallow of the Lakota Sioux nation. Oklevueha Native American Church is committed to growth by attraction through service rather than proselytizing for membership. All Oklevueha Native American Church Indigenous Ceremonies of North, Central and South America (Birth, Breath, Holy Anointing, Marriage, Passing Over, Prayer Pipe, Sacrament, Spirit Dance, Sun Dance, Sweat Lodge, Earth Connecting Ceremonies and Vision Quests) may include or facilitate extreme mental, emotional and physical transformations. Therefore, when a member chooses to participate in any Ancestral Indigenous Earth–Based American Native Ceremony with the assistance of an Oklevueha Native American Church Medicine Person or Spiritual Leader, both take on special responsibilities and understandings. Both members and facilitating leaders should be aware of their responsibilities and those of the people they are working with.

For ONAC Members

B1) PREPARATION AND SAFETY. Each participant in Oklevueha Native American Church ceremonies must agree to comply with all directions or instructions concerning the safety and well-being of all in attendance..

B2) LIFE CHANGES. Often, the increased awareness gained from Spiritual and Indigenous Ceremonies will catalyze a desire in the participants’ lives for personal and social change. In most cases, these changes should only be made after deep introspection and consideration as to how they will affect the other beings connected to the participant.

B3) EXISTING CONDITIONS. ONAC Members agree to disclose to the ONAC Spiritual Leaders any previous conditions prior to any ceremony that might be affected in any way during a ceremony, including, at a minimum, discussion of any concerns as to how those conditions could be reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological risks. ONAC Members also agree to disclose to the ONAC Spiritual Leaders any previous conditions they are aware of in other participants that might affect a ceremony.

B4) WATCHFULNESS. ONAC Members agree to assist the Medicine People in monitoring the Health and Safety of all participants during the ceremony and the few hours of vulnerability that may follow a ceremony.

B5) CONSENT OF PARTICIPANT. The autonomy and dignity of each Member and/or Authorized Participant are to be respected and preserved by Oklevueha Native American Church Medicine People and Indigenous Ceremonial Leaders. Participation in any Oklevueha Native American Church Ceremony must be voluntary and based on prior disclosure and consent given by each participant while in an ordinary rational state of consciousness.

For ONAC Leaders and Members

C1) RESPECT. Oklevueha Native American Church Leaders and Members agree to conduct themselves in ways that cultivate awareness, empathy, and wisdom for all Members during ceremonies. ONAC Members also agree to respect, empower and continually support the ONAC Medicine People and Indigenous Ceremonial Leaders as they serve the ONAC Community.

C2) LIMITATIONS. Limits on the behaviors between ONAC Members and ONAC Medicine People and Indigenous Ceremonial Leaders are to be made clear and agreed upon in advance of any Ceremony.

C3) MINORS. Those under 18 years old will not be admitted to ceremonies where controlled substances are present unless all of the following requirements are fulfilled. A) The medicine person gives specific permission for their attendance, B) A parent or legal guardian attends with them and takes full responsibility for their care and well-being, C) The minor person is a member of Oklevueha NAC,  and D) A document stating these things is signed by all affected parties.

C4) CONFIDENTIALITY AND CUSTOMS. Cultural / religious customs and confidentiality of all participants are to be accepted and honored by all ONAC members.

C5) ABUSE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Oklevueha Native American Church has zero tolerance for and abhors any manner of physical and/or sexual abuse of any under aged person, and any abuse and/or exploitation of ANY person in any physical and/or sexual form. The violation of this fundamental Ethic by any ONAC member will subject the violator to the full consequences of the Laws of the Land.

C6) SACRAMENTS UNDER DIRECTION OF MEDICINE PEOPLE. Members of Oklevueha Native American Church agree that any substance admitted into the body may be considered to be a sacrament. Some of those substances have the potential to be harmful if inappropriately used. The Oklevueha Native American Church does not approve of the utilization of any sacrament in a manner that would be likely to cause harm to one’s self or to others. Therefore, members agree that “Controlled” substances must be used under the direction of ONAC Medicine People (Sacramental Ceremonial Leaders/Medicine Carriers) to be legally protected. This direction extends to their personal private use when not in ceremony or direct contact with the medicine people. Members agree that sacraments/medicines should always be stored in such a way that they are not available to those who are not members or are not under the direction of medicine people. Personal or recreational use of any controlled substances is not encouraged and may remove some legal protections unless such is indicated by the member’s spiritual advisor or medicine person as being part of their spiritual and healing practice. If the leader does make such indication, they share in the legal responsibility for such use.

C7) INCLUSIVENESS. Oklevueha Native American Church ceremonies are to be conducted in the spirit of service. ONAC Members agree to participate in ceremonies respecting all participants and leaders without regard to race, religious affiliations, gender, cultural background, financial status, and/or political affiliations.

C8) LEGAL STANDING. Members and branch leaders including medicine people do not have legal standing to represent or involve Oklevueha Native American Church (ONAC). NO legal actions (including lawsuits, civil actions, and legal complaints, among others) taken by members and leaders can indicate that the church is part of that action. Any situation where legal actions require the involvement of ONAC must be handled by ONAC and by their legal representatives. Any legal action that includes the word “Oklevueha”, even when the word is part of the name of the branch, must specifically indicate that the action is being taken by the branch and not by the general church or its leaders or members.

Full Release of Legal Liability:

I (student, member, participant, etc.) release the land owners, tenants, and anyone else from any responsibly for my physical, mental, financial, emotional and spiritual well being, now and always. By completing this form, I understand that every time that I visit The Earth Temple, or any location for The Earth Temple activities, or anywhere I work or travel with anyone from The Earth Temple, including but not limited to, Briana Cavion, Frank "BearHeart" Saputo, or any of the people that work with them, it is FULLY MY SOVEREIGN CHOICE (signed name below). I hold no one other than myself, fully responsibility for my life, health, and well-being in every way. Any suggestions they (Briana, BearHeart & associates) make are merely that, suggestions. I understand them as such, and they will not be taken in lieu of the guidance of medical, psychological, financial, or other professional direction. I sign my full name, today's date, email, birth date, and current home address here to release ALL other humans, organizations, churches, or directives from ANY responsibility for my well being during any and all of my work with Briana Cavion, Frank "BearHeart" Saputo and anyone associated with them.

For ANY member of the ONAC of The Earth Temple:

Your membership may be paused or revoked at any time for reckless or unethical behavior, within the scope of the Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics and our VALUES as a church. This will be determined through a conversation between the member and the Spiritual Wisdom Council.

You are NOT permitted to serve plant medicine once you are a member of The ONAC of The Earth Temple, unless you are sitting with one of our facilitators, on your own, or you become a Medicine Carrier through the ONAC. Serving plant medicine without becoming a Medicine Carrier is right for us to revoke your membership and legal protection.

You signature here ABDICATES, (meaning, let’s go) of any and all responsibility on The Earth Temple, and any of our facilitators for your safety, wellbeing, or life decisions.