LIVING TREASURES AWARD

TheFoundation for ShamanicStudies(FSS) makes this award to “exceptionally distinguished” indigenous shamans “where their age-old knowledge of shamanism and shamanichealingis in danger of extinction.” “Living treasure” designation includes an annual lifetime stipend enabling these shamans to continue their shamanic work. It has been awarded toTibetanshaman Wangchuk, living in exile inNepal, as well as to shamans in theAmazon, Brazil,Siberia, andTuva. The award also enables the FSS to study these shamans and record their practices for posterity. The benevolent intentions of the foundation notwithstanding, critics have raised questions of the long-term implications of such an award and the position of the FSS as arbiter of who is and who is not a “real” shaman worthy of their fiscal recognition.