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Bio:
REV. KACHINAS KUTENAI,
Apache Medicine Woman, R.N.
Kutenai was
born on Gila River Reservation in Arizona in January 1935. Though
she began life as a traditional Native American, learning natural
ways at the foot of her blind grandmother, a series of events led
to acculturation into "mainstream" society. She became
a Registered Nurse, served in the Army Nurse Corps, married, and
had two children. She was involved in the 1960's Civil Rights movement
and worked with troubled youth and drug and alcohol abusers.
After a heart
attack and other illnesses brough her near death, she began to walk
a spiritual path, and returned to the reservation for healing and
study of the traditional healing arts. She became a Sacred Pipe
Holder, healer, teacher, and Medicine Woman. Because of the contradictions
between the medical profession and the natural way, Kutenai gave
up nursing to devote more time to the Sacred Rainbow Circle. Through
her teaching and spiritual activities, she is making her contribution
to the spiritual evolution of humankind. She is the author of: American
Indian Healing, Medicine Woman Speaks, and Treatment for AIDS &
HIV; and is one of the featured authors in Red Moon Passage.
WORK HISTORY:
Herbal Therapist
& Counselor - 1970 - present
- Specializes
in spiritual approaches to mental, physical, and spiritual healing
for individuals and couples.
- Effectively
motivates people to stop abuse of drugs and alcohol by providing
herbal, mineral and vitamin supplements, sweat lodges and prayer,
in addition to private counseling.
- Also teaches
meditation and visualization to assist in healing and personal
growth. Clients come and call from all over the world.
Teacher and
Lecturer - 1965 - present
- Multicultural
- Environmental Speaker: Many groups including San Diego State
University.
- American
Indian Healing: International and through various colleges and
organizations, including the Learning Annex, Whole Life Expos,
etc. Includes natural and Native American approaches to healing,
use of herbs, minerals, vitamins, reflexology, prayer, visualization
and meditation.
- Native American
Concepts: Grades K-12. Nevada and California schools. Includes
storytelling, inter-connectedness of all things and respect for
Mother Earth and creatures.
- Race Awareness,
Sensivity, and Minority History: University of California, Berkeley.
Course designed to dispel racism and sexism and share Native American
philosophy. Elective course, 300 students enrolled (largest at
that time for U.C. Berkeley).
- Multicultural
Teacher: Berkeley, California and Nevada elementary schools.
Human Relations
Counselor/Consultant - August 1994 - March 1995.
National Civilian Community Corps
- Counseled
adult staff and young corps members (ages 18-24) to achieve greater
harmony and decrease racism, sexism and speciesism.
- Identified
racist and sexist practices among staff and Corps members, and
assisted in conflict resolution.
- Provided
crisis intervention with regard to suicide, rape and gang mentality
of problematic youth of all races.
- Traveled
to Maryland and Colorado to provide harmony seminars for 1,000
Corps members.
Registered
Nurse - 1957 - 1983.
- Worked full
time in several hospitals (Kaiser Hospitals in California, Merrit
Hospital in Oakland, other hospitals in Philadelphia, Denver,
Los Angeles, Berkeley, and Reno).
- Duties covered
every department including obstetrics and teaching seminars in
Death and Dying.
- Offered sensivity
and harmony seminars for nursing staff in most Kaiser Hospitals
in California.
- Also worked
in home health nursing.
Youth Organized and United (YOU) - 1965 - 1972.
- Wrote grants,
received $300,000 grant for High Intention Potential project for
delinquent youth.
- Articles
about this successful project appeared several times in San Francisco
newspapers.
- Personal
invovement included speaking to students in an effective way to
stop riots, intervening in a way which saved the life of a high
school principal.
- Duties included:
*Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
*Job Procurement Officer
*Manager of Halfway House for 30 teenagers
*National Educational Coordinator
NATIVE AMERICAN
INVOLVEMENT:
Human Relations
Counselor/Consultant, Medicine Woman - 1970 - present.
As a Medicine
Woman, I have administered to members of the Paiute, Shoshone, Apache,
Navajo, Hopi, Algonquin, Washo, Wailakie, Pomo and Sioux Nations.
Medicine Woman/R.N. Provider - 1987 - 1989 and 1991-1993.
- Consolidated
Tribal Health Project, Ukiah, California. Provided traditional
Medicine, treating members of the Pomo tribe with herbs, healings,
and prayers. Participated in ceremonies and sweat lodges.
- Participated
and lectured: consolidated Tribal Health Day of Healing, Blessing
and Recovery for Indian People.
- Youth Camp.
Led herb walk, medicine wheel ceremony. Taugh how to make walking
sticks. Spoke to young women regarding sex education. Provided
blessing for Consolidated Tribal Health rededication.
- Received
Grandmother Time Honoring Ceremony from appreciative Pomo women.
Protester
-
Protested building
of nuclear dump site on Shoshone land (with Shoshone leaders). Also
protested toxic or environmentally unsound facilities proposed on
Native American Land.
Board of
Directors - Nevada Urban Indians - 1989 - 1990. Reno, Nevada.
Keynote Speaker
- 1989. Sacramento Indian Health Conference.
Prison Spiritual
Advisor
- 1971 - 1989.
- Spiritual
advisor and Medicine Woman to male and female inmates of all races
in California and Nevada prisons.
- Built and
consecrated many sweat lodges.
- Spoke and
wrote to many authorities in support of the rights of Native American
inmates.
- Taught classes:
supplied necessary herbs, minerals and vitamins for improved health
of many inmates.
Earth Games
- 1989. Irvine, California
- Led closing
ceremony and prayer for international children's Olympics.
- Event included
children from USSR, Japan, Mexico, and Sweden.
- United States
was represented by 21 Native American children from Markleeville,
California, who danced in closing ceremony.
- Received
pennant from Russian participants in appreciation.
Wa-Pai-Shone
Indian Art Show
- Gardnerville, Nevada. Three years. - Invocations
and ceremonies.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
Sacred Rainbow
Circle Foundation - nonprofit corporation. 1987 - present.
- Founder.
- Goal is to
build a Center of Light (an environmental learning center) which
denies racism and sexism, and provides Native American philosophy.
- Native Americans
will be encouraged to learn their native languages and better
know their proud heritage, so lacking in current United States
education.
- Red, black,
white, yellow, and brown multicultural pyramid-shaped museums
will contain the best contributions from all races to restore
pride not based on prejudice.
National
Conference of Christians and Jews - Board of Directors. 1990
- 1991.
KEYNOTE SPEAKING
ENGAGEMENTS:
Conferences
- 1980 - present.
- International
Conferences. 1994 - present.
- Learning
Annex, 1987 - present.
- Whole Life
Expos, 1986 - present.
- W.I.S.E.
( Women Involved in Sports Evolution) 100 Strong Conference,1997.
- Ventura College,
1997.
- Star Nations
Gathering, 1997.
- Third World
Counselors' Association Conference, 1995.
- Women's
Conference on HIV, 1991.
Panel Speaker
- CNN News
Network, "Your Health," November 1996.
- Learning
Annex, "Native American Prophecies Fulfilled," 1995.
ACCOLADES:
Testimonial
Letters - available upon request.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Medicine
Woman - Changed patient's blood from HIV-positive to HIV-negative
(the only woman known to have accomplished this).
Speaker
- U.S. House of Representatives Sub-Committee on Health and Environment.
July 1993. Defended rights of individuals to purchase herbs and
other nutritional supplements without interference from the FDA.
Journalistic
Subjects -
- Inside
Journal, August 1997
- The Share
Guide, June 1997
- San Francisco
Chronicle (and affiliates), May 1997
- Psychic
Reader, May 1997
- New Visions
Journal, February 1991
- Better
World Magazine, December 1992
- Elle
Magazine, May 1991
- Bestways
Magazine
- San Diego
Union-Tribune
- Los Angeles
Times
- Nevada
Gazette-Journal
- Incline
(Nevada) Daily News
AWARDS RECEIVED:
Local Author
of the Year - San Diego Library. 1991.
Lover of
Nature Award - Nevada Parks System. 1987. For annual herb walks
led. Over 200 people participated in one herb walk.
Teacher Appreciation
Award - Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, Nevada, 1983.
Grove of pine trees planted by grateful students.
REFERENCES:
Tribal
-
- Barbara
Grummann, Pomo. San Francisco, California
- Alyce Williams,
Paiute-Shoshone. Reno, Nevada
- Glenn Wasson,
Paiute-Shoshone. Susanville, California
- Amelia Brezanovich,
Paiute. Sparks, Nevada
Professional
-
- Susan Ramos,
M.D., Reno, Nevada
- Nanette
Hancock, Ph.D., Richmond, California
- Kathy M.
Chandler, Woodstock, California
- Ellen Gabel,
M.D., San Diego, California
- George Hutchinson,
NCCC Project Director, San Diego, California
Books Authored
-
Buffalo Spirits
Rising - in progress
Where's My Pony? - in progress
Red Moon Passage - Bonnie Horrigan anthology
Medicine Woman Speaks - Available here
American Indian Healing - Available here
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