JOURNEY the LEGACY
Circle Legacy Center - Advisors
Circle Legacy Center uses Indigenous advisors for guidance and support for its projects and cultural events. We also share their messages, give voice to their concerns and support their needs.
International
Advisors
David
Courchene - (Neeghani Aki Innini - Leading Earth Man)
Anishnabe Nation, Eagle Clan (Manitoba,
Canada)
A leader descended
from a long line of Indigenous chiefs of Turtle Island (America),
Neeghani Aki Innini has taken on the ancient Indigenous role
as a Messenger of Peace. His greatest focus has been to inspire
young people of all nations to find their own visions, holding
many Youth Gatherings throughout Canada and the USA. Neeghani
Aki Innini has been an invited speaker on wide ranging issues
related to the Indigenous communities, including education; Indigenous
traditions; the environment; health and Indigenous medicine;
peace; spirituality, governance and decision-making. He has been
invited to serve as an Indigenous and spiritual advisor in television
and film documentaries. He has been invited to speak at
world gatherings in Brazil, Japan, Israel, the Philippines, the
US and Canada. In August 2000, he was an invited speaker at the
2000 Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual
Leaders, hosted by the United Nations in New York, USA. David
recently spoke at Cambridge University, England.
National
Advisors
(These advisors
would be tied to a particular region of the country.)
Marvin Clifford - Oglala Lakota (Sioux)
Marvin Clifford is
the founder and executive director of DEER CHASER (established
in 1997), a very successful "Native American-Lakota Dance
Troupe” stage production comprised of Native children educating
through song and dance. Marvin has dedicated his life to improve
the quality of life for Native Peoples and the preservation and
perpetuation of Native culture. DEER CHASER has performed in
over 100 educational institutes and public venues throughout
the United States. In addition, Marvin has over 35 years of experience
in the building trade industry and over 15 years working in the
capacity of construction supervisor in the building of office
complexes, school, and church projects. Other talents include
16 years in feature, television and documentary films as well
as theater, stage productions and concerts as an executive producer,
producer, director, consultant, actor and extra on productions
relating to Native Americans and youth. In addition he is a lecturer
and consultant on Native American history and culture to educational
and civic institutions and has developed curriculum on Native-American
Lakota studies. Through his commitment to cross-cultural understanding
and to the Lakota children, Marvin continues to honor the legacy
of his ancestors into the 21st century.
Carolyn Cook-Rittenhouse
Lakota name: Ho Wasté Winyan - Lakota Sioux
Member of Cheyenne River Sioux of South Dakota
Resides in Lancaster, PA. Works at Millersville University in the Educational Foundations Department. Married with 3 children and enjoys spending time with family. Has worked for 20 years promoting Native American awareness particularly that of the Lakota Sioux through dance and cultural presentations. Has presented at state and local organizations, churches, schools, and college/universities. Has sat on various planning committees for local native American cultural events and initiated fundraisers for Lakota on both Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge Sioux reservations as well as for other native tribes/nations. Acts as a cultural liaison for local students and organizations desiring to study or work on reservations in South Dakota. Co-presented on the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (1876-1918) at the Museum of the American Indians Smithsonian Institute of New York in November 2000. Developed and coordinated a Lakota Immersion Program at Millersville University and took faculty, staff and students to study/travel on Cheyenne River in South Dakota during the summers (1999-2002). In 2001, West Chester University students participated in the immersion program. Since the close of the immersion program, she has been a student double majoring in Anthropology and Nursing and will graduate in 2011 continually doing liaison and fund raising work for native people. Her biggest achievements have been able to raise along with her husband, Thad, strong, healthy & happy children, teaching them to appreciate their cultural heritage and to seek balance and harmony.
Jeffrey Worley
Aassociate attorney with the law firm Gibbel Kraybill & Hess LLP. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of law. He has lectured on the doctrine of discovery. He works with the Return to the Earth Project. He serves as general counsel for the Circle Legacy Center.
Paul Crane Tohlakia,
Dine’, Navajo Nation
Executive Director
of Sacred Mountains Foundation and owner of Navajo Trails LLC,
Pinon, AZ and Tohlakai Drums. Paul is a Sundance Chief, gifted
storyteller, Dine’ cultural historian, drum maker, and
well-versed in Navajo Star knowledge. In addition, through the
Sun Dance, Paul has been instrumental in strengthening the connections
between the Dine’ and their Athabascan, direct relatives
from Canada. Paul has traveled extensively to share the Dine’
Beauty-Way with international travels to Europe and Japan. Through
the development of Navajo Trails, eco-cultural tours, within
the four-corner region and the four cardinal points of the Dine’
cosmology, Paul has helped make positive, socially responsible
contributions to local Native American economies and cultures.
He has opened a door to the global community to promote Unity
and Peace, cultural diversity, and exchange of knowledge.
Jesse Soto is of Kanako
Maoli, Honaunau, Kona, Hawai’i
He has served humanity as a Spiritual Guide
for the well-being of the lands and people of the Pacific at
the new millennium ~ a time of crucial change. Part of his work
has been centered around O’Paliuli, spiritual/teaching
sanctuary of the Temple of Lono, a traditional religion of the
Kanako Maoli, Honaunau, Kona, Hawai’i. Jesse is a skilled
healer in Hawaiian Lomi
Lomi Massage as well as acupressure, Swedish Massage, Shiatsu,
Structural Bodywork, Deep Tissue Massage Techniques, Reflexology,
Cranial Sacral Therapy, Hydrotherapy and Spa Preparation. Licensing
and Certifications include: Hawaii State Licensed Massage
Therapist, Certified Rolfing Bodyworker, and Arizona State Licensed
Massage Therapist.
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