Native American Indigenous Church Elder Anthony B. James
Prof. Anthony James MSc.(Clinical Herbology), D.N.M. (C), N.D. (T), M.D. (AM), D.O.M. (Acu), D.P.H.C. (h.c.), Ph.D. (I.M.), Ph.D. (Hospitaller Medicine h.c.), D.M.M., R.A.A.P., U.T.T.S., MSGR./CHEV., Ordained Native Bishop Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church of the East in Brazil,
Dean, Professor, Director of Education and Traditional Medicine
Dr. James, N.A.I.C. Chairman, Ordained Native Bishop, and Dean of the American College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center, has apprenticed, practiced, and led Native American Ceremonies since the late 80s. He was initially introduced to Native American Spirituality and traditions by his father, Ronald Bruce James. His father, “Ronny” as he liked to be called, through his Grandmother, Eva Sevier (daughter of John Sevier 1858-1930), and Grandfather Charles White, was a mixed descendant of Shawnee/ Eastern Creek/ Cherokee Band according to family traditions.
Wakadjaxedga/ Big Thunder Chief of Shawnee Big Thunder (Lenni-Lenape), Chief, 10th. Great Grandfather.
Many Friend/ Sevier/ White (James) family members were listed in the Shawnee/ Eastern Creek/ Cherokees Dawes and Census roles beginning in the 1700s. Dr. James is a descendant of a long line of French settlers Delaware-Shawnee and Eastern Cherokee and mixed Cherokee who survived the Trail Of Tears Holocaust of the 1800s. Ronny’s Father, William James (my grandfather), was also a descendant of a mixed Native American heritage. Members of the mixed-blood Sevier, White, and James families, as they were called in the 1700s and 1800s, refused to move west to Oklahoma in the forced marches and migrations, refused to be counted on the census (Dawes roles), desiring to remain free and autonomous and instead moved to the Coal Mining areas of South Illinois and Northern Kentucky.
Great-grandfather William James worked in the coal mines. No one cared too much in the coal mines if you were of indigenous origin! The various family members also married and re-married non-native men and women, and over time, the concept of a Native identity was lost. However, not forgotten.
Reference Links:
The Red Record: The Wallam olum : the oldest native North American history
Native American Genetics, Geneology, and History
Dr. J’s father, Ronny, escaped from the coal mining life by joining the U.S. Army, where he served with distinction as a First Sargent, 1st. Armored Division, Korea. He was 100% disabled during combat operations in Korea, where he was assigned as a Tank Commander.
At seven, Dr. James’ father began teaching him what he knew of Native ways and traditions. Ronny taught him how to hunt, track game, live off the land, shoot guns, pistols, and shotguns, and be an expert at using the bow—a traditional Shawnee skill set. Dr. J learned how to hunt, track, prepare, skin, and cook every wild game, from squirrels to turkey, deer to raccoons! Time in the woods was spent hunting, fishing, hiking, and climbing, especially trees.
At about age 8, Ronny once had him climb a tree with his bow just before sunrise to teach Dr. J how to wait and be still like the earth. He then tied him up into the tree and instructed him to be quiet and not to move until he returned or Dr. J shot a deer, whichever came first!
Dr. J was up in that tree for about 10 hours. Every time he wiggled or made some noise, a voice from the bushes would call out, “Shuush!”, “Be still; You’ll scare the animals”!
Ronny (Dad) had never received formal training in the ceremony as that teaching was lost as the old elders died over time in accidents and by disease. He told “stories” about family history and instilled a love of natural things and pride that deep inside, “Your blood is Shawnee.”
Around 1990, Dr. J and his former wife “Kat” attended the first ever Sevier, surviving Native American Family Union in South Illinois. It was the first joint public gathering of the Sevier, White, and James families in over 100 years! Dr. J and Father Ronny were the impetus behind the gathering after Dr. J shared a vision about the family he had received during a Sacred Sweat Lodge ceremony in Michigan (Bear Medicine Tribe/ Sun Bear). In the vision, all the old family members, grandfathers, and mothers came to him and said you have medicine; it’s time to claim your heritage and return to your relationship with our mother, Mother Earth.
From this time forward, Dr. J has been studying and trying to flesh out the meaning and message of that vision concerning medicine, heritage, and relationship to Mother Earth.
September 5th, 1993. Dr. James was adopted in N.A.C. Ceremony at Medicine Tail Coulee, Little Big Horn River, Real Bird Ranch by Crow (Apsoroka/ Apsalaga) tribal Members of the Whistling Water (Bilagushe) Clan by the late medicine man Floyd Real Bird and by Chuck (Sings In The Timber) and Ramona Real Bird. Witnesses to Anthony BJames’ (Dr. J) adoption were Medicine Chief Floyd Real Bird, Tribal Historian Mickey Old Coyote, Henry Old Coyote, Chief Robert “Bobbie” Little Light, Richard Real Bird, Kinnard Real Bird, Henry Real Bird, Pius Real Bird, Sean Real Bird, Tim Real Bird, Nicolle Real Bird, John Pretty on Top, Harry, Wayne and Maggie Moccasin Top and over 20 other Crow Tribal Elders and members of various clans including the greasy Mouth Clan, relatives of Grandma Shirley Real Bird (Floyd’s wife).
Chuck “Charlie” Realbird, “Sings In The Timber,” Whistling Water Clan Elder, and Crow Medicine Man. Passed December 2020
Dr. James was given the Crow ” Ipche,” Sioux “Chanupa” or pipe ceremony (Crow: iipcheewaaluushéekuua) directly by Chief and N.A.C. Medicine Man Floyd Realbird as well as introduced to the N.A.C. Church sacrament during a ceremony at Medicine Tail Couly. Dr. James was originally introduced to the Sweat Lodge ceremony by the late elder Sun Bear of the Ojibway Bear Medicine Tribe and later trained under Crow medicine men and women in Crow Agency, Montana, for several years and participated in the first Vision Quest on Bear Butte, Montana under supervision and direction of Lakota Medicine Man Chief Doug White. Chief Floyd Real Bird supervised additional vision quests in the private Crow reserve Big Horn Mountains.
Pipestone Sundance 1992: Assisted the head firekeeper at the first three Sun dances (Pipe Carriers Sun Dance 1992, 1993, 1994 held at the Memorial at Pipe Stone National Monument under Sun dance Chiefs Chris Leaf, Clyde Bellecourt, Leonard Crow Dog, and others.
To be clear, Dr. J was an invited guest/ support staff of Chief Chris Leaf and Medicine Chief Clyde Bellecort and was part of the camp’s medical, fire, and logistics support team, building and conducting the Sun Dance, not as a dancer!
Dr. James was given the right and honor to conduct the sacred lodge by his adopted father, Chief Floyd Realbird (Past Road Chief N.A.C.- Crow Native American Church), Robert “Bobby” Little light (Past President Crow N.A.C.) and Richard Realbird (Past President Crow Nation, Gary Owen, Montana). Additional training and respect were received from Acasio Acatecatl Oltehua, Spiritual Leader and healer, born in the Nahuatl Nation of Veracruz, Mexico. The Tehkulle of Kalpulle Olmeca is in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, and the spiritual leader of Kalpulli Tonal Teokalli of El Paso, Texas. Huichole Medicine Chief Candido Torres passed on core teachings and blessings.
Huichole Medicine Chief Candido Torres with N.A.I.C. Medicine Man Dr. Anthony B. James at Dr. J’s home.
Huichole, Tarahumara Medicine Family
Dr. James is also an adopted member of the Jibarro Taino Borekin Tribe and Indigenous Nation of Puerto Rico, recognized as a tribal medicine man and licensed under the Taino Nation as a Traditional Medicine provider in accordance with both Tribal and Puerto Rico Department of Medicine rules.
Dr. Anthony B. James has personally received the blessing and authorization of Seminole Medicine Man and President of the Native American Church of Utah and Rosebud Reservation to conduct all ceremony and sacramental duties as an N.A.I.C. Medicine Man and Elder—native American Church Elder Medicine Person Declaration.
Dr. James and his wife, Julie James, are the co-founders of the Native American Indigenous Church Florida and conduct regular ceremonies and healing work for the church.
Attention, Please Note! Anthony B. James has never charged for a ceremony or a sweat! At N.A.I.C., we follow the “Golden Rule” for ceremonies, never charging or asking for money for a ceremony. There is NO CHARGE at all for participation in the N.A.I.C. Ceremony! We are a Non-Profit organization and will accept any donations toward the maintenance of the land only. A potluck feast will be served after the lodge, and you are invited to bring a dish for sharing. If you cannot afford to bring food or cannot prepare, come anyway, and we will feed you!
NATIVE BISHOP ORDINATION!
Office of the Major Archbishop-Catholicos Sovereign Ecclesiastical Monarchy: Patriarch Mar Basileus Adao Pereira I: Decree of Election of Bishop No. 2020.007 Decree to the Sacred Catholic Church of the East in Brazil, Certify Dr. Anthony B. James Ordained and Blessed with the Order of Native Bishop according to the Native- Chaldean Rite of the Church, confirmed 14, December 2020.
Some ceremonies were conducted by Anthony B. James, N.A.I.C. Medicine Elder (The list is not inclusive as Dr. J leads various ceremonies six or more times a year, including weddings, Branch Elder Blessings, etc.!)
1) N.A.I.C. Minister Seminary March 2021 (Includes Sacred Sweat, Pipe, etc. Ceremony Training)
2) N.A.I.C. August 2019 Sacred Sweat & Healing Ceremony
3) N.A.I.C. Chairman, Dr. Anthony B. James, Adopted into Jibarro Borekin Taino Indigenous Tribe as Full Member and Medicine Man: September 2018
Photo’s from past N.A.I.C. Sacred Sweat Lodge Ceremony
January 2015 N.A.I.C. Purification lodge
For more therapeutic biographical information on Dr. Anthony B. James, Please Click Here!
For general biographical links for Dr. Anthony B. James, Please Click Here!
Reference Links:
The Red Record: The Wallam olum : the oldest native North American history
Native American Genetics, Geneology, and History
