Woableza Grand Chief of ICSAW • Minnesota, United States Grand Chief Woableza (Wo-a-blay-za) is a Holyman and Wisdom Keeper of indigenous peoples. A Lakota/Dakota elder, whose spiritual name “Woableza” identifies him as “One who seeks the Knowledge of Life” or “One looking for Understanding.” He has traveled throughout the Americas for the past 37 years, acquiring and sharing indigenous stories and wisdom regarding care for the land and people. He has produced films, TV programs,…

Cristobal Cojtí García Day Keeper of the Mayan Calendar and Cosmology • Guatemala The prophecy of the Eagle, Quetzal and Condor was brought forth through the Mayan people. Ixmucané Oxlajuj Ei Guadalupe Cojtí Socop, is a young Mayan woman who inherits the struggles and knowledge of the Mayan people. She carries the wisdom in building new leadership, which is needed in liberating the ancestral colonial people. She is a Mayan priestess since birth and completing…

Juan Gabriel Apaza Lonasco Spiritual Elder • Peru Juan Gabriel Apaza Lonasco is a respected wisdom-keeper of the Q’ero Nation of Peru. Known as the last living descendants of the Inka bloodline, and the keepers of the coca wisdom, the Q’ero still follow the ancient traditions of their ancestors by paying hommage to the Mother Earth (Pachamama) and the Apus (mountain guardians) through traditional “saminchay” fire ceremonies. Juan Gabriel dedicates his life to sharing ancestral…

Laura Espinoza Cuadras Mexico Laura Espinoza Cuadras was born in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico on May 14th, 1953. She’s 61 years old; a mother and a grandmother. She likes to read and travel, but above all she loves meeting people. Since she was 16 years old she has looked for answers about life and spirituality. She has practiced Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, Yogi Path, Native American Tradition, connecting with Nature, Esoteric Schools and she is…

Dave Swallow, Jr. Lakota Elder, South Dakota, United States My name is Dave Swallow Jr. That’s a Christian name. And my Lakota name is Wowitan Uha Mani, Walks With Pride. I’m a Lakota. And althrough the Bureau of Indian Affairs and to all the way to Washington, the War Department into the White House, I’m known as U22981. That’s me. And I live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation [South Dakota]. I was born and…

Nyla Helper Mato Wiyan, Lakota Spiritual Woman • South Dakota, United States My first and only spiritual Lakota name is Mato Wiyan, (Bearwoman). I am full blood, 4/4, BIA # U-28841, from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I am the daughter of Noah Helper and Mary Afraid of Hawk-Mexican, known as Mary Johnson. On my mother’s side I am the granddaughter of the late Charlie Mexican and Dorothy Afraid of Hawk (she is still living).…

Uqualla Spiritual Elder & Cultural Ambassador • Arizona, United States James Uqualla is a member of the Havasupi Tribe (people of the blue-green waters). He brings the voice of the Havisupi Spiritual tribe. He is an Ambassador and Cultural Guardian. Elder and Workshop Presenter: Prayershop, Playshop, Workshop From the Heart of the Grand Canyon, the Havasupai Tribe live in the most beautiful and remote areas of the western Grand Canyon. Supai village is located in…

Patricio O. Dominguez Spiritual Guide • Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Patricio was born in a small traditional community and was cultured by the contact of not only his parents and grandparents that lived in the community but he was fortunate enough to have a great-grandmother’s influence until he was thirteen. His great-grandmother’s specialty was herbs and his grandmother healed by the power of touch now called Reiki, Joray etc. At the age of five…

Pedro Pablo Chuc Pech Mexico Date of birth: June 29, 1941 Counsellor Yucatan Mayan ethnicity 72 years old, and is a member of the Continental Council of Indigenous Elders and Spiritual Guides since 1995. Retired Teachers and passing through the Secretary of Public Education of Mexico not only worked as a classroom teacher but also as a Co-author of Mayan- Spanish bilingual books for students of elementary school where he worked for 35 years. He…

Ruben Monroe Saufkie SR Arizona, United States Ruben Monroe Saufkie SR. is from the Water Clan of the Hopi People of Arizona, USA. I am doing my best to share our Hopi teachings of finding balance, harmony and unity which leads to peace. I have experienced this to my own recovery of sobriety from alcoholism of over 16 years. It is this personal experience that I have come to help others to empower themselves to…

Chief Phil Lane, JR Canada Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. is an enrolled member of the Yankton Dakota and Chickasaw Nations and is an internationally recognized leader in human and community development. He was born at the Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kansas in 1944, where his mother and father met and attended school. During the past 45 years, he has worked with Indigenous peoples from North, Central and South America, Micronesia, South East Asia,…

Gabriela Gato ICSAW Spokeswoman • Ecuador & United States I came to Sedona in 2000 with the Buddhist Community with which I stayed for 18 years, 10 of which I was a nun. After I left my ordination I felt the need to be of service empowering people like my teachers did with me. Many doors opened… In 2001, I started as a volunteer counseling battered women at the Verde Valley Shelter, I continued studying…

Calixto Suarez Villafañe İ was born in a very high part of the mountain, at 3000 meters over sea level. At the moment of my birth İ was not physically well, İ had problems and illnesses, for this reason my mother thought ‘this one has no future’ and left me to my grandmothers care. My grandmother who was a sobandera masseuse solved my physical problem. After four years my mothers brother married and İ went…

SHAYNA TOVAH GRAND MOTHER ELDER –– ARIZONA Blessing of Beauty and Good Shayna Tovah is the Grand Mother of International Center of Spiritual and Ancestral Wisdom and has been a member since it’s conception. Her role is to give support in whatever area is needed at the time, and she stands strong as the center of the Sacred Feminine core energy for ONAC of ICSAW. Shayna Tovah was born in Baltimore Maryland in 1952. As a…