Musicians and Fine Artists for World Peace
Indigenous Board Members

Suraj Holzwarth
Whirling Rainbow Center/GrandMother Drum Project Director
1620 Shore Dr. Anchorage A 99515
(907) 336-7439 Fax (907) 336-7439
rainbowdream@chugach.net
http://www.whirlingrainbow.org
Spiritual Healer, Ritual Artist and Drum Keeper

Chenoa, thank you for the honored invitation for us to join the board and be a part of a larger network of those dancing awake this great dream. We welcome the opportunity to stand together with such a creative group of hearts and minds. I feel whenever there is such a group vibe pulsing, the heartbeat, the music of creation, the uni-verse, the one song grows stronger and stronger until each and everyone of us is swept in the ecstatic, orgasmic dance of oneness. Its great to know you are all out there doing your bliss and seducing the masses to also. Yahoo! My deep gratitude for the work you are all doing. Bless your hearts."

Bio: Suraj Holzwarth (White Eagle Woman) is a natural and trained shamanic healer, counselor, educator, ritual artist and drummer. Suraj offers a holistic healing approach developed from over twenty years of exploring, practicing and sharing paths of healing with thousands around the world. She is an international known leader, teacher, and writer of wilderness spiritual journeys, rites of passage, traditional healing, sacred ceremony, and the women's mysteries. She has lead hundreds of workshops throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Her work bridges ancient and contemporary healing arts through creative, expressive, and ritual arts, vibrational healing, shamanic healing practices, energybodywork and meditation. Her charisma and passion inspires others to break out of patterns of behavior that inhibit their life and relationships and to remember that life is a stage; a song to be sung, a dance to be danced, a story to be told, and a magical mystery to co-create. Her work reveals how the ancient wisdom of indigenous peoples is relevant to our families, our professional lives and our relationship with Mother Earth.

She was born into the knowledge of her Seneca tradition, as well as a trained priestess of the Strega Wiccan mysteries. As a child growing up in New York, Suraj spent most of her time alone in the wilderness. Her mother and father nurtured her love of Mother Earth and gave her countless wilderness experiences throughout the northeast. She developed a deep love for climbing the highest mountains and spend her early teens and twenties as a wilderness guide, leading mountaineering expeditions throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. In 1979, at the age of nineteen, she was drawn to Alaska to climb Denali, North America's highest peak and became the youngest woman to do so. She led three more expeditions to the summit before settling on a homestead in Chugiak, Alaska.

About Her Work

Suraj then founded and directed the Alaska Women of the Wilderness Foundation, a year round wilderness and spiritual empowerment program which has served over eight thousand girls and women in its seventeen year history. Suraj's articles are included in over fifty publications and she has spoken to tens of thousands internationally on the empowerment of women. During this time, she was also initiated into the second rites of the women's mysteries, and became the mother of two amazing children (Ryan, currently 15 and Sierra 13 years). These years were filled with numerous opportunites to apprentice with many traditional medicine people and indigenous Elders throughout North and South America. She was adopted into the Alaska Native tribes of the Athabascan, Yupik, and Aleut. She apprenticed with the Eastern mystic, Osho and created a meditation center for Alaska. She became a messenger for the teachings of the Sacred Sisterhood of the GrandMothers shared with her in dreams and visions by indigenous GrandMothers from many nations.

By 1995, the GrandMothers began to impart to Suraj the vision of the GrandMother Drum Project (http://www.whirlingrainbow.org/Drum-idx.html). After 1995, Suraj began doing less public work to undergo the personal spiritual preparation the GrandMother were requiring for her next level of work. In 1999, she was guided to leave her homestead of fifteen years to prepare for and spend the next year and a half in ceremony in a tipi in Chickaloon, Alaska building the GrandMother Drum.While the drum was being built, thousands joined in prayer ceremonies around the world.

On June 5, 2001, after 13 months of prayer, ceremony and physical labor, the seven foot diameter, kettle shaped GrandMother Drum for Unity, Peace and Life was born. The GrandMother Drum is part of a vision of healing the separation within and between all Mother Earth's children and to celebrate that we are truly one family, one earth. According to the GrandMothers, we are in conflict outside because we are in conflict inside. Healing, they say, must happen within ourselves first. World peace can happen only through inner peace, becoming that which we are seeking outside ourselves. The GrandMother Drum is the first inter-tribal, international "world drum" traveling the world with the message of Unity, Peace and Life with the theme, "The Heartbeat of One Family, One Earth." The GrandMother Drum is the centerpiece, the very heartbeat of creating multicultural, multimedia performances, workshops, ceremonies and celebrations that cultivate a deeper understanding of the connection of personal and community wellness with environmental stewardship.

In January 2001, while the building ceremony was still underway, Peace Troubadour James Twyman came to Alaska and joined Suraj and others in a sacred ceremony wrapping the famous Cloth of Many Colors Peace Quilt (www.emissaryoflight.com) around the GrandMother Drum. These two living prayers and peace projects were joined in Spirit. Suraj then performed with James in his Anchorage concert. It was at this concert that the vision of the Million Steps for Peace Project was born.

One June 5, 2001 the GrandMother Drum was presented at the One Family, One Earth Gathering, www.onefamilyoneearth.org, a four day round the clock drumming ceremony in Palmer, Alaska to coincide with the Million Steps for Peace March. Thousands of rainbow dream flag (peace flags) were created by children throughout Alaska and flew over the drum as the march continued.

In August 2001, eight weeks after her birth, the GrandMother Drum had the honor of opening for Alaska's largest human rights march ever, the Katie John, We the People Native Subsistence March. Shortly after, the GrandMother Drum performed the opening ceremonies for Alaska's first Inner Light Conference.

About Her Music and Art

Since childhood, Suraj fell in love with drums of all kinds and began later to work with sound and vibrational healing, studying with chant masters and healers. To Suraj, the "hills were always alive with the sound of music" and music became an integral part of all her work.

"The ancestors that speak through me are spiritual, they are the ancient and eternal voices of Mother Earth and all creation. Every part of creation has a voice, a song, creating the divine melody we call the Uni-verse or one song.

My music and art give voice not just to the ancestors of my own cultural heritage (Seneca, Strega Italian, Irish and German) but are a weaving, a fusion of sound and color, that speaks more directly to being part of the greater family of humanity. In giving voice, I simply empty out, becoming a channel, a vessel, possessed by the divine. For me this is an ecstatic experience. It is my prayer, my ceremony, my meditation, my spiritual path, my temple and my home. It is the source of infinite inner peace and divine inspiration to which I feel we are all heirs."

Her ritual art workshops include drum making, rattles, masks, shields, healing pouches and amulets, ceremonial dress and dream art.

Whats Happening Now

As the GrandMother Drum launches her first international trip to the Unity of Tribes Gathering in Australia in March 2002, there are several other projects in the wings. These projects are part of The Whirling Rainbow Center, www.whirlingrainbow.org, a healing multiversity for the self, family, community and Mother Earth celebrating the gifts and teachings of the four directions. Other organizations of the center include:

Seven Generations Council -Teaching the application of traditional knowledge and wisdom in mediation, conflict resolution, and leadership, cross cultural communications and relations and for personal, community and environmental wellness.- Larry Merculieff Founder and Director

The Bering Sea Coalition and Bering Sea Council of Elders- Uniting individuals and organizations focused on the healing and stewardship of the Bering Sea ecosystem and the coastal cultures dependent on it.- Larry Merculieff Founder and Director

The Osho Meditation Center- A center that offers therapy and meditation as tools for transformation.

New Projects

The Women's Temple - Suraj has received guidance from the GrandMothers to create an international women's mystery school bringing the teachings of the GrandMothers for the healing of Mother Earth and her children at this critical crossroads the GrandMothers refer to as the "Ring of Fire". The GrandMother teachings represent the most beautiful aspects of woman's nature and the universal feminine principle. Women need to know the spiritual legacy that has been given to them in order to heal themselves first and to reclaim their role as original healers and nurturers.

Rainbow Dreamers- Our Elders teach that children coming in at this time are really our ancestors coming to guide us into the new world. We need to support them and listen to them. Rainbow Dreamers is a project working with urban and rural native youth to restore traditional knowledge and wisdom through contemporary multi-media performances pieces that weave personal healing with community wellness and environmental stewardship. These spiritual "raves" will be a platform to teach Elders knowledge and wisdom of being a real human being to youth of contemporary times.

GrandMother Drum Project

One goal of the project is to gather Elders and Wisdomkeepers from many spiritual traditions around the world for the first United Peace Council of Elders and Wisdomkeepers in March 2003. The United Peace Council of Elders and Wisdomkeepers will be a platform for these Wisdomkeepers to share their traditional knowledge and wisdom in dealing with contemporary social and environmental issues. This new leadership council will bring ancient knowledge and wisdom to contemporary society to carry a vision of a future on earth based on the wisdom of the heart rather than from the politics of greed and control.

Katherine Cheshire
Touch the Earth Foundation/Founder/Executive Director - Hopi Representative
P.O. Box 257 Solana Beach CA 92075
(760) 635-1003
Kc4behopi@aol.com
http://www.timesoft.com/hopi
http://www.timesoft.com/ttef
http://www.timesoft.com/news

Katherine Is a teacher and servant to the peoples, Known to the Hopi People as Dep Se Mana. TTEF, is the Original Publisher, Editor and funding of "Hotevilla, Microcosm of the World."

She considers herself as a simple teacher and student in service to the Holy Ancestors that have keep the knowledge for those to follow. TTEF works with children and at risk youth teaching training peace in conjunction with Northeastern University, training teachers to use "Circles of Peace "As Peacemaker she is also a worldwide speaker for the prophessies "Of all our relations to regain Balance as the Human Family, As One."

Advisory Board and Committees:
Katherine Cheshire
Founder Executive Director and Founder of the Touch the Earth Foundation
P.O. Box 257, Solana Beach, Ca 92075

Southern California Council, Gary Yellowhorse, of Elders 35 Nations Honory position

International Advisory Broad of Directors of "Radio for Peace International"

Board of Advisors of "Yat Kitischee Native American Center "Wolf Mt. Raido Production"

Advisory Board of "Healing Among Nations" and the World Peace and Prayer Society

International Steering committee with Arun and Sunanda Gandhi, "A Season of Nonviolence:

Speaker and presenter at the Hague Appeal for peace, Den Hague

Advisory - Board of IndigineousCouncils of the Americas

Editor of "Belonging to Mother Earth a world Anthology of Indigenous wisdom and Healing" in concert with "Belonging to Mother Earth" Radio for Peace International Earth Charter and Peace councils located at the University for Peace, In Costa Rica.

Board of Advisors, Patch Adams Peace & Justice Committee.

Advisor for Shundahi Net work, Corbin Harney Elder and Mala Spotted Eagle

Educator and Indiginous Advisor for T.E.A.M. Teachers of Experience and Adventure Methodology, Northeastern College of Education.

Advisor and contribution to "Turtle Tracks" a childrens Web Page and the Honorary Elder to the Western Band of the Cherokee.

Cultural Bridge sand Advisor to "Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen, Founder of Thubten Dahargye Ling, Center for Tibetan Buddist Studies and Culture in L. A.
"Dakine Shari Tara Ma" Whom have meet with the Hopi Elders over the last 25 years, we are grateful and humbled, by prayers and support.

Special appreciation to our Hindu Brothers, Guru Deva and Staff
"Satguru Siva Subamuiniyayswami, for meeting with elders at Hopiland and assisting with our original Web Page. Helping realize the prophecy
"Send our messages over the Cob Webs in the Sky, So Peoples of Understanding will come and help".

Asquali,
Thank you for coming to be our friend, and in honor of all your work for the peoples of the world. I am not to sure if this is a personal invatation (for Spirit Aid) ? However I have met some of your speakers and presenters over the years. It would be an honor to be there and hopefuly join in prayers and teachings of the Triditional Hopi and Lakota or even bring our Sacred Fire over with the Keepers of the Seventh Fire of Peace. We had the honor to do this for the Hauge Appeal for Peace and also the ""World Peace, Inner Peace"" Confrence. As experienced Butterfly Spirits, we always are at the begining of time and experriences, although sometimes we have a story or something we can Share.
It was wonderful being with you all in Den Hauge,
Yes,we want to be involved very much in your work. So keep us informed, and in touch. Lets see how and if it is possible for our efforts to help and support your vision.
Blessings and Balance,
From Balance, All Blessings Flow
In service to the Holy Ancestors,
Dee See Mana, Hopi Representive
Katherine Cheshire, founder touch the earth foundation

Brooke Medicine Eagle
PMB C401, One 2nd Ave. East
Polson MT 59860
(406) 883-4686
bme@MedicineEagle.com, office@MedicineEagle.com
http://www.medicineeagle.com

Dear Alan, YES, of course, I am happy to join the other imaginals in the creation of this new butterfly of love, joy, peace, and fulfillment. For what else was I, were we, created? What more wonderful thing to do with this one precious life than to consciously join the Great Creator in this uplifting evolution. I would be glad to be on your honorary or indigenous boards. Many thanks. For All My Relations, Brooke Medicine Eagle, Chalise

Bio: " . . .the bridge into a new time must be a bridge of light; and thus all colors, all races, All Our Relations must be included in that bridge for the rainbow to form an arch across the chasm." *

Brooke Medicine Eagle is a Native American metis - an Earth wisdom teacher and catalyst for wholeness, ceremonial leader, sacred ecologist, Feng Shui practitioner, singer/songwriter, and author of a spiritual autobiography, Buffalo Woman Comes Singing. . Her beauty way awakens physical and spiritual health, offers Native American music and chants, promotes ritual honoring of Earth cycles, provides women's mystery teachings, and creates a sustainable, holy path for two-leggeds to walk. Her dedication is to bringing forward the ancient truths concerning how to live a fully human life in harmony with All Our Relations as we approach the crossroads into a golden age.

Brooke's new book, The Last Ghost Dance, which focuses on the practices of Earth magic and ascending into our greater humanity is now available. . Her new Wakantia training will awaken and challenge you to the next level of being human -- as an Earth Mage living in harmony and grace upon a renewed Earth.

At home in the beautiful Flathead Valley of Montana and in the White Mountains of Arizona, Brooke is the creator of Eagle Song, a series of spiritually-oriented wilderness camps; and is the founder of the FlowerSong Project, which promotes a sustainable, ecologically-sound path upon Mother Earth for seven generations of children.

Brooke's primary interest is in the renewal of ancient ritual forms for creating a beautiful path upon Mother Earth, today and for the future. To this end she is creating an in-depth training, Wakantia , to offer the opportunity for a deepening of Spirit which awakes us to an ascended level of humanity through committed practice and community.

Although of mixed heritage, her tribal enrollment is through the Crow Indian tribe in Montana. She has native blood from the Lakota and Nez Perce peoples, as well as ancestors from Europe. She teaches from her primary identification as a global family Earthkeeper -- a sacred path dedicated to nurturing and renewing the Circle of Life through the growth and healing of our two-legged family upon Mother Earth. She walks this beauty path in a way which combines non-traditional Earth Wisdom with a strong dedication to learning from the ancient voices which speak through Mother Earth and Father Spirit.

Recently she has been learning more about her Celtic roots through Scot and Irish ancestry, and has begun Song of the Nations - a series of learning opportunities, gatherings, councils, and Confluences sponsored by Feathered Pipe Foundation. Though these she creates unity and service with teachers and participants from many traditions around the world.

For the past several years, Brooke has been doing less public work and more personal spiritual work to clear herself and open to the next level of understanding for sharing with others. White Buffalo Woman, one of her guides, is sending through information about creating new kinds of gatherings which go much beyond our current form of workshops and conferences (Wakantia and Confluences and are two of these new and transformative kinds of gatherings). Brooke's current focus is on ancient information concerning the great and positive changes possible for our two-legged family to create as we move through the millennium to the prophetic turning of the Ages sometime around 2010-2012.

Brooke spends part of her year helping to ready Rainbow Hearth sanctuary in Texas as a place help others find transformative time for themselves. Through her own retreat time, Brooke has developed a great appreciation for the power of this kind of quieting. She says, "As we move into this new time, it is not about figuring out anything or even doing something different; the most important thing is to release old and unworkable patterns at the baseline of our consciousness, and to align with the heart of our truest and deepest Self. This will mean, then, that the great energies coming to Earth in the next decade can energize what we really want - what is positive and magical - rather than magnifying the past programs of limitation, stress and disharmony that we have been playing out."

Through all her work, Brooke invites you to heal yourself by taking spiritual action in service of All Our Relations.

*from Buffalo Woman Comes Singing