Red Wind Councils
P.O. Box 15
Maynard, MA 01754-0015
Board of Directors
Honorary Board of Directors
Honorary Council
Ohki Siminé Forest
W. Brian Arthur
John Woods
Nancy Aleo
Council of Co-Directors
Patricia Worth
Mary Jo Fernandez
Wendy Rose Jenner
Deborah Fernandez
Honorary Council
Of Canadian Mohawk descent, Ohki Siminé Forest is a vision-holder and spiritual teacher who has lived in Chiapas, Mexico since 1986 collaborating with the indigenous Maya people in their resistance to poverty & extermination. Trained and initiated by Maya, Canadian and Mongolian shamans, Ohki has taught a unified practice of ancient Native Medicine Wheel ways to students in North America and Mexico for more than 25 years. She is author of DREAMING THE COUNCIL WAYS: True Native Teachings from the Red Lodge and a contributor to ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS: Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future, recently released by Inner Traditions.
Ohki's vision is the return of the ancient laws of the Earth through which all peoples can reclaim and renew the natural dignity, balance and justice that is the true dreaming of the planet. Her work is dedicated to healing the wounds of the conquest that continue to affect us all. The medicine she offers for this is a return to Native Council ways, which are enduring Earth ways. For more than 25 years Ohki has taught the necessity of women's leadership for planetary balance.
In recent years Ohki has presented at the Esalen Institute, Bioneers 2005 as a plenary speaker, the first Indigenous Seed Sovereignty conference at Tesuque Pueblo in New Mexico in 2006, the Vedanta Centre in Massachusetts, and at Beaming Bioneers in 2007 in Santa Fe, NM where her humility, practical wisdom and deep knowledge of these sacred Earth Ways has brought inspiration to thousands.
CLICK HERE for information about Ohki's Upcoming Events.
"Red Wind Councils offers an amazing vision of Unity. Through the funding that it has provided us in Chiapas, we have been able to bring true seeds of hope to entire communities living on the verge of utter despair with self-sustainable projects for women, kids and entire families. I see first hand every day how much people can do with so little funding and how their hearts are so touched in knowing that people who do not know them care for them. Red Wind Councils has also helped fund many projects at my medicine centers with the purpose of teaching many Mayas in search of their true spiritual & cultural roots. I am deeply grateful to all the donors and the heartfelt support we have received over the years in order for us to create a true oasis of sanity, materially for decent living, emotionally so they feel no longer abandoned and spiritually so they can learn and reclaim their ancient ways. Muchas gracias on behalf of the Mayas."
W. Brian Arthur is an economist and leading thinker on issues to do with technology and the global economy. He is also one of the pioneers of the new science of complexity-the science of how patterns and structures self-organize. Arthur was formerly Morrison Professor of Economics and Population Studies at Stanford, and more recently was Citibank Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. He is a frequent keynote speaker at business and scientific meetings. Arthur has received the International Schumpeter Prize in Economics, the Lagrange Prize in Complexity Science, and an hononary doctorate from the National University of Ireland. He is a Fellow of the World Economic Forum..
"I have known Ohki Simine Forest for over 20 years, and the Red Wind teachings have made a huge difference in my life. I greatly admire the work that the Red Wind Councils is doing with the Maya people. Its efforts are helping bring full dignity and honor to the people of Chiapas."
John Woods is a financial advisor in Colorado, who works both with investing client's money and helping them with their relationship to money. John has expressed his support of Red Wind Councils through significant personal and family foundation support (through the James H. Woods Foundation), assisting with both operating expenses and helping to begin an endowment. He also manages some of Red Wind Councils’ resources. In addition to his financial work, he has a great passion for helping others rediscover their breath and the life force that flows with it, as a facilitator for the Transformational Breath technique. John lives in Breckenridge, Colorado and Los Cabos, Mexico, where he loves the outdoor activities of the mountains and beach.
"I was introduced to the Red Wind teachings nearly nine years ago while traveling in Chiapas. I have always felt a strong calling in my heart to these Red Wind ways. I am honored by my part to help support the spread of Red Wind knowledge and light.”
Nancy is an award winning artist and Associate Professor at one of the leading art colleges in New England. She volunteers as President of the Board of Trustees of an arts museum in southeastern Massachusetts and is involved with local Boston area arts councils. Passionate about art and dedicated to education in the arts, Nancy truly believes the arts are an essential component of a healthy society and have the power to heal. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from Cranbrook Academy of Art and for the past 25 years she has focused her art making on mixed media painting and drawing. Nancy exhibits her art work nationally and internationally and maintains a studio in the Boston, MA area. Nancy has been traveling and studying in various parts of Mexico for two decades including co-leading student groups to Oaxaca and Puebla. Nancy is keenly aware of the systemic poverty and lack of dignity suffered by all the indigenous groups of Mexico.
"Living in Boston, a world renowned center for healthcare and education, I am accustomed to access to both top quality education and healthcare. In contrast, it is an injustice that even basic healthcare and education needs are simply not available to the indigenous Maya of Chiapas. In my view, Red Wind Council's varied programs and support offer real, practical solutions for creating change, transforming lives and balancing situations that are clearly out of balance. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of Red Wind Council's vision and work towards a dignified, healthy existence for the Maya of Chiapas."
Patricia has been a registered nurse in the forefront of maternal-child healthcare and human rights work for over 30 years. Based on her extensive clinical experience, she writes and teaches on combining ancient, alternative, and allopathic approaches to well-being to foster improved world health. A Founding Member and the staff writer for Nurses for the Rights of the Child, Patricia received NOCIRC's Human Rights Award in 1998. Since 1997 Patricia has supported the social justice efforts of the indigenous Maya. She travels annually to Chiapas, Mexico to consult and work directly with the indigenous people served by Red Wind Councils. Patricia oversees Red Wind Councils' education and fundraising efforts in the U.S., and the distribution of funds in Chiapas.
"The dream of Red Wind Councils is to educate people in the US about the non-violent struggle of the Maya indigenous to sustain their simple, dignified way of life. Red Wind gives those who are more privileged real, strategic pathways to join in rebalancing some of the grave injustices the Maya suffer daily. Forming Red Wind Councils with our U.S. Board Members provides an opportunity to learn from and directly support the Maya people in their wisdom ways. The work of Red Wind Councils offers us all tremendous hope for healing one of the great wounds of the Americas."
Mary Jo has more than 25 years experience in providing administrative support to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in a variety of industries. She holds a Master's degree in Socially Responsible Business & Sustainable Communities from Goddard College and has been a small business consultant (www.wildgeeseconsulting.com) for the past ten years. Mary Jo has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations and has been a member of the corporation of the Vedanta Centre and Ananda Ashram for 12 years. In 1998, Mary Jo was introduced to the profound ancient Maya cultural and spiritual traditions. She has traveled to Chiapas where she was privileged to meet with the people that Red Wind Councils serves.
"The Maya people are the poorest of the poor in Mexico where they have been marginalized and persecuted for centuries. Through my work with Red Wind Councils, I have seen the effects of extreme poverty and globalization on these beautiful people. And I have also seen the amazing things that the people accomplish to create positive change with just a little steady financial support from us. For example, I saw a school being built by one community where children of all ages would be the first members of their families to become literate. Monthly pledges from Red Wind donors helped support the basic needs of the teacher at that school while he received his training. And there are many more ways that Red Wind Councils is supporting the Maya in reclaiming their culture, their dignity, and their very lives. The people there receive Red Wind funds with so much gratitude; actually making our names a prayer in their Hearts. I pray that many more of you will join with us and bring the gift of Hope to more Maya families in Chiapas ."
Wendy has been a nurse for 35 years in both clinical and administrative roles, generally practicing in underserved communities. She has worked in hospice for 25 years as a nurse and educator. Wendy has broad experience with non-profits, especially in creating and maintaining community-generating projects, like food coops, cooperative housing and free clinics. She has done extensive work recruiting and managing volunteers. She spent three years as a volunteer administrator at her interfaith community and five years on the Board of Directors. Wendy has previous experience with education and healthcare in a third world country. Since 2001, Wendy has been spending 2-3 months each year living in Chiapas, assisting with micro clinics and other health related projects and learning from the indigenous people there. Her time with the Maya people inspired her to work with the other board members to create Red Wind Councils.
"The spirituality and healing practices of the Maya people drew me to Chiapas. Having seen first hand the profound effects that Western culture and economic globalization have had on the indigenous people there, I feel privileged to be one of the circle of midwives, birthing Red Wind Councils, so it can help bring a different kind of "globalization"- that of respect, cooperation and deep humanity. As others on the Board have noted, the Maya people do remarkable things with very little, uplifting their communities. Their gift to us is their challenge to the isolation and individualism of American life. It offers us an opening to return to profound connection with each other and the Earth."
Deborah works professionally as a chef and has organized conferences, retreats, and workshops over the years for a number of non-profit educational and inter-religious organizations. She served for two decades in various capacities at the Vedanta Centre, Inc., an inter-faith peace retreat in Cohasset , MA , as public speaker, special event coordinator, librarian, administrative assistant, and finally served on the board of directors. Her work there encouraged her to begin her study of Council Ways in 2000 at which time she was introduced to the struggles of the Maya people of Chiapas. These teachings provide the framework for her belief in the deep, underlying brotherhood and sisterhood of the human race, a belief that the work of Red Wind Councils helps her to manifest. She helps to organize Red Wind speaker's visits to the U.S., fund-raising efforts and events, and also assists in administrative duties.
"It is so rewarding, a real joy, to provide support and encouragement for the Maya people of Chiapas. In truth I have received more than I have given, both in insight into how all our lives on this beautiful blue planet are truly interconnected, even on the most basic, practical, material levels, and in inspiration to work for the dignity and survival of those who are less fortunate materially but are rich in culture, tradition and spirituality."
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Red Wind Councils
PO Box 15
Maynard, MA 01754
pathways@redwindcouncils.org
Tax ID#: 20-3633955
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