The following Elders are just a few of the many who have taught at the Peace Village over the last 25 years. Every year, we host an annual gathering of Native American elders at the end of July. A documentary of the Peace Village Elders has been filmed, and is being edited. Click here to learn more and support this vital project.
Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo
Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo is Principle Chief of the Ani Wiwa Band of the Cherokee. She is founder of Sunray Meditation Society, an International Organization dedicated to world peace and NGO at the United Nations. Venerable is also founder of Sunray Peace Village and the Vajra Dakini Nunnery.
Building bridges between North, South, Central America and the world, guest lecturer at Universities and organizations world wide, and advisor to international peace makers Dhyani rekindles the fire of clear mind and right relationship in these changing times and is a guide to all who walk the Beauty Road.
Patricia Downing DeAsis, Tslagi (Cherokee)
Patricia Downing DeAsis, BS MS, is Tsalagi, and a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. She has worked with The Medicine for many years, working with medicine people of other tribes in response to tribal prophecies that it was now time to share traditional medicine with all people. Patricia is currently working as a private consultant while working to establish a health and healing center which creates a balanced partnership between traditional Indian medicine, Western allopathic medicine, and the patient. She has shared teachings during the Gathering at the Peace Village since the 90s. The Elders that come to this gathering are committed to sharing the medicine with the people to help us individually and therefore be of benefit to the planet.
Bernard DeAsis, Tlinget
Bernard DeAsis is a member of the Tlinget tribe of Southeast Alaska. He has worked with medicine people from the US, Canada, Russia, and Hawaii presenting workshops on traditional Indian medicine responding to tribal prophesies that it was now time to share the Indian medicine teachings that would help the people & mother earth. His education and experience includes intensive and extensive training and practice in Human Relations/Behavior, Organizational Development, and facilitation. Besides operating his own businesses, his career included working for US Public Health Service/Indian Health Service and he holds a degree in Hospital Administration. Outside of his government service he continued to provide consultant services to Indian tribes, groups, and communities.
Grandfather Warren Redwing Ramey, Cherokee
Grandfather Warren Redwing started out as a War Chief. He quickly moved on to become a Band Chief, Lifetime Chief, and also became Principal Chief of the Southern Band of Cherokee. He skillfully makes the links that illustrate how modern science is finally proving what mystics and medicine people have known and taught throughout the ages.
Nanatasis Bluto-Delvental, Abenaki
Turtle Clan Mother and Abenaki Grandmother, Nanatasis sits as an Esteemed Elder on several Councils in Vermont and Nationally. She shares Abenaki Turtle Clan Moontime teachings with Women, and is a Counselor and Healer who works with herbs, massage therapy, Reiki, & Therapeutic Touch, and is active in Native American Ceremonies.
Mike Bastine, Algonquin
Mike is from outside Buffalo New York, but his ancestors are Algonquin from Maniwaki, Quebec. As a child, most of his time was spent observing and relating to the natural world. Then meeting up with Mad Bear, Tuscarora Indian traditional teacher, a great blend of worlds began. He traveled extensively with Mad Bear all over the country meeting with other traditional elders. They even traveled to Daramsala, India to meet with the Dalai Lama. Mike’s Algonquin birthright flavored with the Iroquois wisdom through Mad Bear, has inspired Mike to speak his knowledge.
Mike has shared this knowledge at peace conferences and universities all across the country, traveling also to federal prisons to meet with Native inmates. Mike participated on the prophesy counsel of the “Condors and Eagles” conference. As a friend said “If the wind could talk, it would be Mike’s voice”.
Tata Ricardo Maye & Nana Juana Escobar, Central American
Tata Ricardo Maye, following his father and grandfather as Tata, is Priest and Spiritual Guide for the Indigenous people of Central America and the Caribbean. Nana Juana Escobar is the Priestess of the Nahuat Pipiles of El Salvador, Central America.
In addition to the many spiritual responsibilities, they maintain the ancient ceremonial calendar of the Nahuat Pipiles, encompassing eloquent Wisdom Teachings. Both El Salvadoran Elders work with herbs, healing and traditional medicine practices. Tata provides guidance to troubled youth and gang members while Nana works with young girls and women. One of their dreams is to have a school for education of their community throughout El Salvador in the language, traditions and practices of their ancestors. For the Nahuat Pipiles, who pre-date the arrival of the Mayans, honoring their relationship with the Sacred Fire is central to everything they do. Ancestors speak through the fire. Fire is used to create balance and protection in their lives.
Abuela Magaritta Nunez-Garcia, Mexico
Abuela Margarita comes from Old Mexico to help us remember the teachings of our ancestors. She reminds us of the importance of Mother Earth and Father Sun, which are the basis of humanity, our origin and source of sustenance. “My work is to plant seeds of knowledge so they can grow and give fruits.” “I come to remind you of what is already inside of you. The woman has to take her place as the teacher of humanity and it is through her that change will come.”
Abuela Margarita belongs to the Native Council of Elders of America and has participated in numerous aboriginal gatherings in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, the United States, Canada, and Europe. She takes part in the Sundance, Earthdance, Moondance, and other ceremonies, including sweat lodges and vision quests on a regular basis.
Rev. Queen Mother Sylvia Jordan
A powerhouse preacher that weaves together all the extraordinary spiritual traditions she carries with mind-spiraling eloquence, fierce insight and wild humor that are so infectious. She often has people howling with laughter one moment and moved to tears the next. This ageless wonder truly awakens awe in all who watch her arrive at the Native American Elders Gatherings at the Sunray Peace Village in Vermont.
Grandfather Arnie Neptune, Penobscot
Arnie Neptune is a tribal Elder of the Penobscot Nation from Indian Island Maine, where he is known as a spiritual leader and a pipe carrier for the people. He has appeared in many documentaries about the Wabanaki people, as well as a world wide documentary of Indigenous Elders initialed “In search of the future”, a Cameron/Baxter film. Arnie has attended many gatherings across the US, in Canada and Mexico. He and his wife, Jane, volunteer at the Maine State Prison where they do ceremonies for the American Indian inmates.
Lei'Ohu Ryder, Hawaiian
Lei’ohu is a spiritual leader, visionary, healer, singer/songwriter, and educator on Maui. She is an emissary of aloha and an advocate for the indigenous soul in all people. leiohuAuntie Lei's love and knowledge of Na Mea Hawaii help us connect with our selves, with spirit, and be pono (balanced in right alignment).
Lei'ohu's talents and knowledge are honored and loved in her community and the world. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Peace Corps and the United Nations have recognized her work. Lei’ohu was awarded the Gandhi-King Peace Hero Award in 2002 and in 2003 the Peace Corps Peace Educator Award. She has shared her gifts all around the world including Japan, Israel, India, and most of Europe.
Maydeen Iao, Hawaiian
Maydeen is a Native Hawaiian born and raised in Palolo Valley on the island of O’ahu. Her backbone carries the essence of the first people who navigated across the waters of the Pacific creating a civilization dedicated to the breath of aloha. The breath that helps her to define the practice of aloha in all she does. The breath of aloha that helps her to balance mind, body, and spirit in service to the sacred teachings of the divine. The breath of aloha is the compass that helps her build the rainbow bridge of peace in service to all life.
And so it is with this breath of aloha that she is able to reach out and be who she is as a child of Mother Earth doing the best she can to serve all life, everywhere. As an ambassador of aloha representing her ancestors, she has traveled the world on their breath and wings, planting the seeds of aloha in song, dance, fellowship and spirit.
As Maydeen’s backbone continues its journey of carrying the essence of the first people who navigated across the waters of the Pacific, creating a civilization dedicated to the breath of aloha, she is reminded of her own indigenous voice echoing their spirit.
Danuta Snow Song (Ogaoeno), Poland
Danuta Ogaoeno (Snow Song) from Poland is a teacher of traditional Seneca Wolf Clan wisdom, initiated and empowered to carry these teachings by Grandmother Twylah Nitsch. She brought the Sunray meditation and dance of the four directions to Poland thanks to Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo. She is a certified psychotherapist of White Lodge College of Psychotherapy based in England.
Dr. Dieta Biebel, Germany
Dr. Dieta Biebel is a Grandmother of Bavaria, known for sharing stories and traditions from her Bavarian elders and village. Obstetrician, Psychoanalyst for those 0-99 years, and Star Child Focalizer, she is world renowned for her research on schizophrenia. “I am a midwife for all healing birth processes, using the power of the trees and animals.”
Elena Ixcot, Mayan
Elena is a Mayan Elder who was a refugee living in Vermont for 16 years. She and her husband Felipe have recently returned to Guatemala, and now live and work in their hometown, Conception Chirquirchapa, with a community of midwives. The town is located in the Mam speaking area of the Western Highlands near Quetzaltenango. Conveying energy and hope, the midwives have organized to become more educated, to gain political strength, and to train young midwives to carry on the Maya birth traditions and knowledge of the use of herbs.
Every year Elena brings the beautiful handcrafts made by the women of her community to the Annual Elders’ Gathering at the Sunray Peace Village, which supports the Midwifery School.
Deacon Eddie Ensley, Cherokee
Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo’s cousin Eddie Ensley received sacred Cherokee spiritual traditions from his grandfather, North Carolina Cherokee, Irvin Ensley, when he was little. Those teachings call us to harmony within and harmony in the world and the generation of great compassion for all creation. Eddie is a Roman Catholic clergyman (permanent deacon) with a Master’s degree in Religious studies from Loyola University and is a NCCA licensed clinical pastoral counselor. He travels widely giving spiritual retreats. The author of five nationally published books including the bestseller Prayer that Heals our Emotions, Harper Collins. He has been invited to lead spiritual events in Tahlequah, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation as well as on many Native Reserves in Canada. Healing from past brokenness is a major theme in his teachings. Venerable Dhyani has said of his teachings in her comment on his book, Visions, The Soul’s Path to the Sacred:
“Cousin Eddie’s words and shared experience awaken the reader to the interconnectedness of creation. His works remind the reader of what our elders called ‘original instructions’.”
Janet Windwalker Jones, Texas Tsalagi Grandmother Janet WindWalker Jones, Long Hair Clan Mother of the Texas Cherokee retired after a long career as a change agent, teacher and program manager focused on organizational development, counseling, affirmative employment, family support and drug treatment. She managed drug treatment, race relations and an array of other programs in state and federal prisons, public schools, communities, and taught college programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. She retired from the Dept. of Defense. She now works with non-profit organizations promoting cultural identity development, multiculturalism, social justice, indigenous health and wellness, professional development, spiritual ceremony, and world peace initiatives. She is Vice-President and co-founder of The Center of Health and Whole Healing, a non-profit that supports cross-cultural, spiritual, ceremonial and traditional growth forums. She is a multicultural social justice advocate, and counseling specialist with a Masters degree from the University of New Hampshire, and is both a Nationally Certified and State Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is a published author and has been a leader in The American Counseling Association (ACA) since 1975. She works with and presents in both indigenous and conventional forums
Kodata Britton- Echota Tsalagi of Alabama Member of Echota Tsalagi Tribe of Alabama, (Choctaw and Tsalagi Descent) Kodata is a Native American Veteran Speaker/Teacher. Kodata is an inspirational speaker for over 40 years, teaching various youth adult organizations including: Boy & Girl Scouts of America, Schools, Church groups, Universities, Correctional facilities and Veterans. Kodata teaches; Native American history, Storytelling, Free style dance, Leathers, Beadwork, Pipe craftsmanship, Healing from substance abuse and more.
Sagaligesgw Jeorgia Larocque, Mi'kmaq
Sagaligesgw (Jeorgina Larocque) Plant Woman, is a Mi'kmaq Elder and Grandmother. She is a Medicine Woman, a Storyteller, a Traditional Healer, and a Survivalist (knowing what to eat and how to live in the wild). She speaks of respect, forgiveness, acceptance, and walking in balance with all around us. She is a Visionary and a Wisdom Keeper.
She was taught by her Grandmother, who helped heal her, and has dedicated her life to helping others. She works with the healing powers of plants and gathers her own medicines, and also incorporates many other healing techniques. She states, “Like our fingerprints, we are all different, with different needs. It is important to correlate the needs with the plants and healing. Like the flowers of the field that come in many varieties, with delicate needs, so do we. It is not our place to judge but to reach out with unconditional love and help where we can.”
The greatest gift Sagaligesgw wants to leave behind her when her work is done on this plane is the knowledge that RAVEN'S WING (her Grandmother) has given to her. Too much of our knowledge, our ways, and our connection with Creator and Mother Earth has been lost and slipped into obscurity and we must listen hard to find it.
Hears Crow, Narragansett
N∞tauau Kaukontuoh, “She hears the crow” is a woman of the Eastern Woodlands. While working within the dominant culture, she lives her life in the tradition of the Nanhigganêuck, the people known today as the Narragansett. Known to all as Hears Crow, she and her husband live quietly in the woods keeping alive the ceremonies, tales and songs of the 'old ones' as well as working to reclaim the traditional language. In the way of the storytellers, Hears Crow has published a book of poetry and is working on a children's novel.
Dr. Barry Roth
Dr. Roth is a 62 year-old married father, Jewish descendent of Abraham, faith based peace activist and physician. He has lifetime of experience in ecumenical witness, civil resistance to promote justice, decades of Buddhist study and practice, including Thich Nhat Hahn (Ordained Dharmacharya, 1994); and Tibetan lineages, primarily Drikung Kagyu. He is a Sunray Gadugi member, studies the Bible, and also works with Catholic peace activists. He is a clinical Adult Psychiatrist with sub-specialties of Addiction, Geriatric and Forensic Psychiatry.
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