Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 22, 2006 16:15:36 GMT -5
UW police investigates counselor who claimed Ph.D. By RUTH TEICHROEB
<http://us.f279.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ruthteichroeb@seattlepi.com\
>
P-I INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/288809_tafoya16.html?source=rss
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/288809_tafoya16.html?source=rss>
University of Washington police have seized the student records of a man
known as a pre-eminent Native American psychologist in what is likely
the first test of a new state law banning the use of false academic
credentials. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/art2/corner.gif]
PREVIOUSLY ... - Masking the Truth: False claims on tribal ties,
degrees tarnish counselor
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/274666_tafoyamain21.html>
- Counselor's credentials investigated
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/275076_tafoya23.html> Detective
Allen Beard said he obtained a search warrant to gain access to Terry
Tafoya's academic records because the counselor had used a federal
privacy law to block the release of his student information by the
university. A search warrant affidavit filed in King County District
Court said Tafoya did not respond to a cease-and-desist letter sent to
him in August by UW registrar Todd Mildon. The letter asked Tafoya to
stop claiming he earned a doctorate in educational psychology in 1985.
"Tafoya has not complied with the demands of the letter and as of this
writing is still advertising via the Tamanawit Web site that he holds a
Ph.D. from the University of Washington," said the affidavit dated
Sept.19. [Terry Tafoya at Albuquerque appearance] [Zoom]
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=93183> Jake
Schoellkopf / Special to the P-I Terry Tafoya wears Indian garb at a
seminar in Albuquerque, N.M., in April. His academic credentials are in
question. As of Friday, the Web site <http://www.tamanawit.com/> for
Tafoya's mental health consulting business, Tamanawit Unlimited, still
listed a doctorate. "This is an active investigation, and we are
consulting with the fraud unit of the prosecutor's office," Beard said.
The new law, which took effect June 7, makes it a gross misdemeanor to
knowingly falsify academic degrees. Issuing false degrees is a felony.
Tafoya did not respond to a request for comment last week. Police
launched the investigation after a Seattle P-I profile of Tafoya in late
June revealed that the nationally known counselor had admitted in a
legal deposition that he did not have a doctorate from the UW as he has
claimed for years. He does have a 1974 master's degree in education and
a 1975 master's degree in communication, according to UW job records.
Since creating Tamanawit in 1989, Tafoya has built a career as a
charismatic speaker who appeared at up to 100 conferences and other
events a year, most of them funded by public dollars. He was on the
board of the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender and Reproduction at
Indiana University in June. Since then, Tafoya's name has been removed
from the list of board members on the institute's Web site. The
institute's director did not respond to a request for comment. In the
wake of questions about his credentials, a high-profile keynote speech
by Tafoya to the 16th International Congress on Care of the Terminally
Ill in Montreal in late September was canceled. The state Board of
Psychology Examiners reviewed whether Tafoya was violating state law by
calling himself a psychologist. Tafoya has never been licensed by the
state to treat clients as a psychologist or mental health counselor.
Department of Health investigator Dave Magby said last week that they
found no evidence that Tafoya has used the title of "clinical
psychologist" or treated patients, either of which would constitute
"unlicensed practice." "If we received any evidence of that we would
reopen our investigation," Magby said. A member of Taos Pueblo contacted
the P-I to complain that Tafoya had listed him on the Tamanawit Web site
as a "contributor." "He never had permission to do that," said Carpio
Bernal, a well-known artist from Taos Pueblo. He said Tafoya hasn't
responded to his request to be removed from the Web site. Tafoya has
claimed to be an enrolled member of Taos Pueblo, something tribal
officials say is not true. Tafoya also said that his paternal
grandfather was a member of the Bernal family -- which Carpio Bernal
disputed. "He's not a relative," Bernal said. A member of the Skokomish
Tribal Nation raised concerns about Tafoya's use of a family song in a
video on the Tamanawit Web site. Michael Pavel said his uncle Bruce
Miller, a Skokomish tribal leader who died in February 2005, did not
give Tafoya permission to record the "Canoe Welcome Song" or use it for
his business. Pavel also objected to Tafoya listing Miller as a
"contributor" on his site and saying he had done workshops with Miller
for 20 years. "I wouldn't say they collaborated to a large extent
professionally," Pavel said. Tafoya also has said his mother is from
the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Central Oregon but doesn't
explain he was "adopted" into her family as a college student.
<http://us.f279.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ruthteichroeb@seattlepi.com\
>
P-I INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/288809_tafoya16.html?source=rss
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/288809_tafoya16.html?source=rss>
University of Washington police have seized the student records of a man
known as a pre-eminent Native American psychologist in what is likely
the first test of a new state law banning the use of false academic
credentials. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/art2/corner.gif]
PREVIOUSLY ... - Masking the Truth: False claims on tribal ties,
degrees tarnish counselor
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/274666_tafoyamain21.html>
- Counselor's credentials investigated
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/275076_tafoya23.html> Detective
Allen Beard said he obtained a search warrant to gain access to Terry
Tafoya's academic records because the counselor had used a federal
privacy law to block the release of his student information by the
university. A search warrant affidavit filed in King County District
Court said Tafoya did not respond to a cease-and-desist letter sent to
him in August by UW registrar Todd Mildon. The letter asked Tafoya to
stop claiming he earned a doctorate in educational psychology in 1985.
"Tafoya has not complied with the demands of the letter and as of this
writing is still advertising via the Tamanawit Web site that he holds a
Ph.D. from the University of Washington," said the affidavit dated
Sept.19. [Terry Tafoya at Albuquerque appearance] [Zoom]
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=93183> Jake
Schoellkopf / Special to the P-I Terry Tafoya wears Indian garb at a
seminar in Albuquerque, N.M., in April. His academic credentials are in
question. As of Friday, the Web site <http://www.tamanawit.com/> for
Tafoya's mental health consulting business, Tamanawit Unlimited, still
listed a doctorate. "This is an active investigation, and we are
consulting with the fraud unit of the prosecutor's office," Beard said.
The new law, which took effect June 7, makes it a gross misdemeanor to
knowingly falsify academic degrees. Issuing false degrees is a felony.
Tafoya did not respond to a request for comment last week. Police
launched the investigation after a Seattle P-I profile of Tafoya in late
June revealed that the nationally known counselor had admitted in a
legal deposition that he did not have a doctorate from the UW as he has
claimed for years. He does have a 1974 master's degree in education and
a 1975 master's degree in communication, according to UW job records.
Since creating Tamanawit in 1989, Tafoya has built a career as a
charismatic speaker who appeared at up to 100 conferences and other
events a year, most of them funded by public dollars. He was on the
board of the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender and Reproduction at
Indiana University in June. Since then, Tafoya's name has been removed
from the list of board members on the institute's Web site. The
institute's director did not respond to a request for comment. In the
wake of questions about his credentials, a high-profile keynote speech
by Tafoya to the 16th International Congress on Care of the Terminally
Ill in Montreal in late September was canceled. The state Board of
Psychology Examiners reviewed whether Tafoya was violating state law by
calling himself a psychologist. Tafoya has never been licensed by the
state to treat clients as a psychologist or mental health counselor.
Department of Health investigator Dave Magby said last week that they
found no evidence that Tafoya has used the title of "clinical
psychologist" or treated patients, either of which would constitute
"unlicensed practice." "If we received any evidence of that we would
reopen our investigation," Magby said. A member of Taos Pueblo contacted
the P-I to complain that Tafoya had listed him on the Tamanawit Web site
as a "contributor." "He never had permission to do that," said Carpio
Bernal, a well-known artist from Taos Pueblo. He said Tafoya hasn't
responded to his request to be removed from the Web site. Tafoya has
claimed to be an enrolled member of Taos Pueblo, something tribal
officials say is not true. Tafoya also said that his paternal
grandfather was a member of the Bernal family -- which Carpio Bernal
disputed. "He's not a relative," Bernal said. A member of the Skokomish
Tribal Nation raised concerns about Tafoya's use of a family song in a
video on the Tamanawit Web site. Michael Pavel said his uncle Bruce
Miller, a Skokomish tribal leader who died in February 2005, did not
give Tafoya permission to record the "Canoe Welcome Song" or use it for
his business. Pavel also objected to Tafoya listing Miller as a
"contributor" on his site and saying he had done workshops with Miller
for 20 years. "I wouldn't say they collaborated to a large extent
professionally," Pavel said. Tafoya also has said his mother is from
the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in Central Oregon but doesn't
explain he was "adopted" into her family as a college student.