Secretary: Gillian Ehrlich



After being raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Gillian Ehrlich left home seeking experiences of the natural environment. After sailing, skiing and rock climbing her way across the western states, she graduated from The Evergreen State College in 1996 with a BA focusing on life sciences, ecological agriculture and alternative health. She has spent her career since then at non-profit organizations at a direct-service level: first as an instructor at wilderness programs like Pacific Crest Outward Bound, then on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in Lake Andes, South Dakota as an after-school program teacher and domestic violence counselor. Her experiences with at-risk youth and women in situations of domestic violence inspired a devotion to human health. She returned to school, spending 2000-2001 with Dr. Vasant Lad in Albuquerque, New Mexico, studying Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India. Gillian followed this with a BSN (Bachelor¹s of Science in Nursing) from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She chose to deepen her nursing expertise at Harborview Medical Center, the non-profit county hospital targeting the marginalized, homeless, and immigrant population in Seattle, Washington. Her work in these positions reflect her belief that our health and ability to heal stem from, and actually depend on, who we are in our environments. Ayurveda states, "Treatment can't be standardized just as consciousness can't be standardized." Indigenous medical systems embody profound understandings concerning the deep relationship between people & place. Gillian feels honored to assist in the mission to preserve the right of every individual to meet healing as one meets living: specific to land, time and tradition. Gillian currently lives in Port Townsend, Washington, works as an RN in a small rural hospital and is developing a personal Ayurvedic consultation practice. In her spare time, she continues to hike, surf and, as always, love the sea.

In 1998, he moved to Los Angeles as one of five Ralph J. Bunche Fellowes for Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), where he worked with individuals applying for political asylum held in immigration detention and other human rights issues in the U.S. Mario served as the Membership Program coordinator for AIUSA's Western Region from 1999-2002, where he engaged in grassroots organizing efforts, and oversaw student activists and groups in the thirteen Western states. During that time, he served as the Vice Chair of the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Task Force.

In 2002, He then helped create the Artists for Amnesty program directed by Bonnie Abaunza. From 2002-2005, Mario worked extensively with the artistic and entertainment community, working to raise awareness about Amnesty International's initiatives and programs by working with artists, filmmakers, and other entertainment industry professionals. In the summer of 2005, he was selected as a delegate to represent AIUSA at Amnesty International's International Council Meeting, consisting of over 500 delegates from over 40 countries.

In 2005, Mario co-founded AIM Entertainment Group, a development and production company dedicated to the creation of feature films, documentaries, television and broadband programming with human rights themes. AIM works in a formal strategic alliance with Amnesty International to accomplish this goal. He also is a co-founder of Magic Lantern Entertainment, an entertainment company that produces kids and family entertainment.

He is also currently working with the Independent Television Service (ITVS) as the Regional Outreach Coordinator for Los Angeles. ITVS produces the Emmy award-winning series "Independent Lens", and funds over 60 documentaries a year.

Mario lives in Whittier, California with his wife and daughter, and continues to be active in the human rights movement.

Director: Jean Mbok

Jean is a native of Cameroon who moved to the US in the early 1970s. He is a business practitioner specializing in organizational planning and development. He has over twenty-four years experience in project, human resource, and financial management with interest in finance and project management. Jean is has been a math teacher at Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, CA since 2004. He is currently Chief Executive Director of Hope for Africa (HFA), a California-based 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to solicit donors from the United States for sustainable development projects in Africa. He developed HFA programs including: Alternative Livelihoods Initiatives, Pygmies Community Development Project, HIV/AIDS prevention Education at School and Low Income Housing for eventual funding and implementation in Cameroon. He also initiated and coordinated the production of a "Christian Community and AIDS" Pamphlet, providing AIDS awareness education that targets social discrimination and stigmatization. Jean established Hope For Africa-Cameroon, and built its local technical capacity with collaborative partners. He previously worked as Assistant Executive Secretary, Finance and Administration for the African Petroleum Producers Association in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo. He was a Senior Project Analyst for the Société Nationale d’Investissement (National Investment Corporation) (SNI) Yaoundé, Cameroon. He graduated from University of Denver. Denver, Colorado. MBA/Finance, June 1984.

Director: Raymond McGlamery


Raymond McGlamery has spent a life in music, working in the music industry, in one form or another, since the age of 13. His current position as Vice President of Rock Promotion/Reprise Records allows him to work with such musical icons as Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, and Green Day. In 2005 he was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, which set him on a new life path where healing is the central theme and purpose. Shortly after his diagnosis, he attended The Gathering and the path became more clear and a mission emerged to heal not only himself, but to also contribute to the healing of our future's most precious resource, our children. Raymond's goal is to bring his sense of business, love of music and vision for children together to create a business model that Journey to the Heart can work with and through to raise monies for the children of the indigenous cultures that we work with.

Professional Advisory Council

President: Jonathan Ellerby



Jonathan's work draws on personal experiences of a wide range of indigenous spiritual and healing traditions, over the last 16 years. Through his travels around the world, Jonathan has learned from indigenous spiritual leaders and healers from more than 35 different indigenous cultures and has participated in the ceremonial life of most of the world's major religious traditions. He has published in the fields of holistic health, indigenous healing, spirituality and health, and organized wellness. Jonathan has trained and worked closely with Medicine Wheel Incorporated, a Native American run cross-cultural and healing approach in South Dakota; and works as an international organizational development consultant and cross-cultural educator. He has a BA Honors in Comparative Religion and Interdisciplinary MA that focused on holistic healing approaches. He has just completed a PhD with the University of South Africa, addressing the incorporation of indigenous worldview into Western research and learning models. Jonathan is the author of "Working with Aboriginal Elders," a handbook for western professionals working in collaboration with Indigenous healers and spiritual leaders. Jonathan has become an adopted member of the Wase Wakpa Sioux community in Vermillion, South Dakota.

John Ketarkus, MSW - Advisory Board of Director
John has served as adjunct faculty at Portland State University, taught high school, and been advisor/psychotherapist to Community Corrections. Now retired, John continues a strong interest in the interrelatedness of individuals with their spiritual environment. He now has a healing/retreat center in West Virginia.

Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, Ph.D (Lakota/Cherokee)
Coordinator for Integrative Psychiatry and System Medicine. Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Physician, healer and author of COYOTE HEALING. www.healing-arts.org/mehl-madrona

Larry Dossey, M.D.
Physician of internal medicine, formerly with the Dallas Diagnostic Association. Author of 9 books, including the New York Times bestseller HEALING WORDS: THE POWER OF PRAYER AND THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. Dr. Dossey is the former co-chairman of the Panel on Mind/Body Interventions, Office of Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health. He is the former executive editor of the peer-reviewed journal ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE. www.dosseydossey.com

Carole Angermeir
President, Cross Cultural Journeys. As well as providing journeys for individual travelers, Cross Cultural Journeys co-sponsors trips in response to the needs and desires of various organizations. Over the years these have included the Institute of Noetic Sciences, the Commonwealth Club, the World Affairs Council of Northern California, Tibet House, The Chopra Center, State of the World Forum, Global Citizens Circle, and college study groups. www.crossculturaljourneys.com

Christine Marie Bullock, (Maori)
Christine Marie Bullock has worked for years in the areas of Ceremonial Initiation and Coordination of Cross Cultural exchange programs/workshops amongst indigenous peoples of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USA, Pacific Islands, as well as in the areas of Traditional & Holistic ceremonies / Medicines and Healing practices. She is a Diploma Matauranga Maori, (NZ) for Te Kopere Traditional Maori Medicines/Rongoa/Romiromi, (NZ) and Aboriginal Indigenous Health Studies(Yoorang Goorang, NSW). Born in Taranaki, Whanganui, New Zealand, Christine is Nga Rauru, Nga Ruahinerangi, Ati haunui r paparangi. Currently Christine works as a consultant involved as a cross cultural coordination/ liaison person for indigenous programs and workshops within NZ, Australia, and Canada; she is also involved with fund raising for community programs and workshops such as Te Kopere, and is the Chairperson and a Health worker at a Traditional Maori Medicines / Healing school and clinic. Christine is the Director of Papatuanuku (Earth Walk) Charitable Trust organization set up 14 years ago in Australia, to facilitate / fund raise for Cross Cultural exchange programs and sharing.

Michael Anthony Hart (CREE)
He is presently completing a PhD with the University of Manitoba. In his training and practice as a Social Worker he has focused on indigenous ways of helping, anti-colonial and anti-oppressive practices and de-colonization. Michael is currently doing private consulting and counseling through the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work, and community based First Nations healthcare agencies where he integrates his own Nehiyaw (Cree) traditional ways of helping. He wrote his thesis on an ethnographic study of sharing circles as a culturally appropriate practice approach with Aboriginal people.

JoEllen Koerner RN, PhD
Works with the National Nursing Leadership Institute as a healthcare consultant and integrative medicine specialist.

Jean-Philippe Soule
He is the President of Native Planet, a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to the empowerment of indigenous peoples and preservation of world ethnic cultures. www.nativeplanet.org

James D. Pappas, PhD
Graduated from Saybrook Graduate School where he received two distinguished awards for his research: The Sidney Jourard Award that was awarded by the APA and the William James Award that was awarded by the Council on Spiritual Practices. He teaches courses in psychology and conduct research. Emphasis is in the area of measuring spirituality for the purposes of utilizing reliable and valid measures in regards to psychological and physical health from a personality and cultural perspective. He is involved in 5 more empirical studies investigating the relationship between spirituality and health in a broad range of samples such as First Nations People, Alternative Medical Practices, Meditation, Martial Arts, Yoga, as well as student and policing populations.

Craig W. Hofford, PhD
He is the Director of Health Promotion Programs at the University of Oklahoma OUTREACH. They provide a vehicle (i.e., conferences and trainings) for dissemination of information, skills, and resources available to indigenous peoples. hpp.ou.edu

Chad Nielsen MA
Founder, Director, Winter Camp Native American Youth Programs, specializing in cultural based approaches to counseling, and rehabilitation. He has lived and worked in Native American communities for 20 years.

Denise M. Casillas, MA, (Dakota, Cheyenne River Lakota)
Clinical Psychology Trainee at the University of South Dakota Department of Psychology

Duane Mackey, Ed.D (Lakota, Santee Dakota)
Director of Indian Education at Operation Success. He is the Coordinator of Native American Program for Diabetes and Health Education.

Mark Nasec
Instructor of Yoga, Chi qong, Namassage, meditation, live-foods nutritional consulting, whole food chef, and past manager of healing center in Puerto Rico and Patagonia, AZ. www.namasteman.com

Louis Sorin (Metis)
Regional Aboriginal Patient Advocate for the Aboriginal Health Services at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Dr. Evan Kligman, MD
Family Medicine, Interfaith Minister, Integrative Practice

Steve Sugarman M.A.
International Humanities Center co-founder and executive director. He is a Research Psychology. He is a former Executive Director of the Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE); Co-Founder, Bolsa Chica Stewardship Group; author of The Blueprint for Planetary Evolution, as well as an avid creator of conceptual statistical models that are translated into games of strategy and probability. www.ihcenter.org

Patty Webster RN
Co -Founder and President of the Amazon Promise, an NGO that delivers western and traditional healthcare to remote communities in the Amazon. She is in charge of organizing, logistics of medical clinics in remote indigenous and Mestizo villages of the Peruvian Amazon, and organizing medical student internships. Patty is also a jungle guide and EMT. www.ihcenter.org/groups/amazonpromise.html

"Amazon John" Easterling
Founder and President Amazon Herb Company whose mission is to offer the world life-changing remedies while respecting indigenous cultures and the planet. www.theamazonherbco.com

Chris Rainier
He is considered one of the leading documentary photographers working today. His life mission is to document the disappearing cultures and tribes remaining on the planet. His photographs have appeared in: Life, Time, National Geographic Publications, Smithsonian magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Outside magazine, The New Yorker, German, French and Russian GEO magazines, Men's Journal, The New York Times, and publications of the United Nations, The International Red Cross and Amnesty International. He has published three photographic books: "Ancient Marks", "Keepers of the Spirit" and "Where Masks Still Dance". He is co-director of the team producing the Cultures Program at National Geographic and is a contributing editor at their Traveler magazine. He was a photographic assistant to the late Ansel Adams from 1980 to 1985. www.chrisrainier.com

Stephanie Graham, Ed.D, MA, BA
Stephanie has been a consultant for the Los Angeles County Office of Education Diversity, Multicultural Education, Equity and Achievement Curriculum and Instructional Services, for the L.A. County Office of Education - Educational Leadership and Systemic Reform. An Associate Professor at Loyala Marymount University and Claremont Graduate School as well as an Adjunct Professor at Chapman College.

John Welch
John is an entrepreneur, businessman, healer and therapist. He has executive level leadership experience in industries such as telecommunications, mental health and hospitality. John's inner path has included 20 years of training in psychology, spirituality and shamanism from teachers in Peru and the United States. www.refugioaltiplano.org

Ted Alemayhu - Founder of U.S. Doctors for Africa

Ted was born in Addis Ababa, the capitol of Ethiopia. His parents had 13 children and Ted was right in the middle. When Teddy was growing up, there was famine, starvation, disease, war, and devastation all around him. In Ethiopia as in many regions of Africa, there is no middle class. Few are very rich, most are deathly poor, and there is little or no communication between classes. As a 13 year old, Ted was walking down the street one day and he took a good look at his community. His friends and family were dying, and he thought to himself, “People shouldn’t have to live like this”. This 13 year old boy thought to himself, “Well, what AM, I going to do?”. He decided take a risk.

He knew that the wealthy kids in town do not get educated in the poor schools of Ethiopia, they get sent to America and “become smart” through US schooling. He walked right up to a rich kid and asked him if he could see his book of American schools. Without delay the boy handed him the book. Teddy quickly opened it and traced an address of a school that stood out to him in this weird looking foreign language. He thanked the boy, “Amaseganalo”, and headed home. Ted knew that his oldest brother’s best friend spoke English, so he pleaded with him to translate his dictation in the form of a letter. Ted spoke about the horrifying state of Ethiopia and pleaded the reader to help him help his community. He knew that he could become very smart with the right education, smart enough to figure out how to help everyone around him.

When the letter was complete, he went on a mission to find money to send it. He found out that it would cost 42 cents. He first went to his father and was told that there was no way that the family could come up with that, as food was so scarce. They did not know when the family would eat their next meal. Teddy finally found an uncle who did not have children, and decided to sponsor him with the money after witnessing Ted’s conviction. As he sent the letter at the post office, he realized that it was like putting a rescue note in a bottle and tossing it into the ocean, but the young visionary completed the task.

Cut to: Two weeks later, in sunny Santa Barbara, California, a letter was placed on the desk of the Headmaster of a prestigious boarding school. He opened the letter, and was moved by the story, but ”Well, whatta ya gonna do!?!”, he thought. Then he thought twice…”What am I going to do?”, so he hung the letter up to show the boys at the school how good they have it. One day, Kuon Hunt, a consultant at the school noticed the letter and stopped to read it. She thought, “What am I going to do?” She took the letter down and asked if she could take it home. Kuon brought the letter home, let her husband read it and asked him, “Dale, what are we going to do?” They wrote a letter and sent it back stating that they would like to help. They weren’t sure how, as they were not wealthy, but they wanted to help.

Months of communication between the families ensued and any little money that the Hunt’s sent would equate to a small fortune in the impoverished town. The Hunt’s held fundraisers and spoke with people in Washington DC until one day, they had the capital and the permission to adopt the boy. As the package arrived with Teddy’s plane ticket and instructions on obtaining the visa that was waiting for him at the American Embassy in Ethiopia, the Alemayhu family was shocked and frightened. Ted assured them that this was his destiny and they needed to believe in him in order for things to change.

The Hunt’s negotiated full tuition for Ted at a well known boarding school, and he quickly learned English. He worked very hard in school and unbeknownst to anyone, would send home four of his five dollar allowance to his family every week. Ted graduated second in his class after four years.

Ted has spent his entire life since he was 13 researching needs, recruiting medical staff, and building the strategy for US Doctors for Africa. He founded the organization in 1999, and has been inspiring people to become aware of what is happening, and to collaborate efforts to not only help his community, but the entire continent of Africa. www.usdfa.org

INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL

Dr. David Cumes ­ South Africa
David has been mining ancient African wisdom for contemporary ideas on healing for some time. He has been initiated as an African shaman (sangoma or inyanga). An accomplished writer, he has written, "The Spirit of Healing", "Inner Passages, Outer Journeys" and "Africa in My Bones". www.davidcumes.com

Kykosa Kjangu - Congo
A wisdom teacher and poet from the Bashi people. He is the director and founder of Ma Africa, a center of wisdom whose distinctive mission is to provide authentic African wisdom teachings. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In addition, he is a visiting assistant professor at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX.

Pauline Tangiora - Maori
From Aotearoa, New Zealand. For over 40 years she has worked extensively with both Maori and Pakeha, on issues of peace, justice and women. As a tribal elder she has taken a leading role in Maori issues concerning the environment, health and education, land rights and foreign affairs. She has published papers and spoken on Maori perspectives, conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation and environment.

Mrs Olive Bullock ­ Maori
Founder of Te Kopere o Raehina (traditional Maori school of Maori medicine), Board Member, Elder, Cultural Advisor Papatuanuku, earth walk, Member / Elder, of the Rongoa collective Traditional Medicine group (part of 6 traditional medicine clinics in the Whanaganui area)

Kathy Bird, RN ­ CREE
From Norway House, Manitoba. Kathy is a registered nurse and has specialized in community health for 20 years. Spent the last seven years teaching about medicines by traditional healers. Drawing on her years of study, practice, teaching and ongoing learning, Kathy works as a Community Health Nurse and runs the Peguis Traditional Healing Program, the Health Sciences Indigenous Wellness Clinic and is the director of the Peguis Health Services Aki Mashkiki Na Na Da Wii Ii Way Wiin (Earth Medicine Healing) an education program to share with indigenous people the sacred teachings of indigenous medicines and healing.

Zachariah Ramaliba ­South Africa.
Zachariah is a Venda who works with both plant and spiritual medicines (prayer, divination, trance, water, stones.) Also has completed university level studies. He received the gift of healing through his grandfather and his ancestors. Zachariah has had special success treating cancer, AIDS and eczema.

Mandaza Kandemwa - Zimbabwe

He is a renowned medicine man in Africa who is restoring the old ways so profoundly diminished by colonalization. A Shona man, he is widely recognized in Southern Africa as a Nganga (traditional healer). Originally trained as a teacher, Mandaza was known for his exceptional skill at organizing schools and ultimately became a school administrator. He was recruited against his will into the police force, as a consultant. During his tenure in the police force, Mandaza was severely afflicted with 'water spirit disease', understood to be the call of the ancestors to practice as a Nganga. At that time he was a staunch Christian and did not heed the call; for years he suffered. Eventually he dreamed he was to be initiated by an Ndebele Nganga - the Ndebele and Shona people being historical enemies. His job transferred him to the predominantly Ndebele part of Zimbabwe, where he was approached by an Ndebele Nganga. This stranger ultimately initiated Mandaza through the ngoma of the water spirits, the central African tradition of healing and peacemaking. He left his job to be a full-time Nganga and peacemaker, charging no fee for his work. Mr. Kandemwa is known internationally for his work as a peacemaker, healer and teacher of African wisdom. He has traveled extensively throughout Southern Africa, the United States and Canada lecturing and providing spiritual counsel. He has co-authored with Michael Ortiz Hill “Gathering in the Names”, one of few books that discuss Shona cosmology and traditional healing practices.

TOM LMAKIYA LESARGE - Kenya

Born some time between 1969 and 1970, I was the only one of my fathers 4 sons and 4 daughters to be formally sent to school. I, however, got to attend school by some sheer luck, after Kenya’s first president issued a directive to his officers in all the pastoral districts to encourage the pastoral nomads to send at least one child per family to school. My father was caught unexpectedly and ordered to give one of his children to attend formal schooling. He picked me because I happened to be at home when the officers called on him. I therefore became one of the first 24 children to attend school in my village. After 8 years of elementary schooling, I was one of the 7 students out of the 24 who started the school to sit for a national exam to qualify for high school admission. I was the only one who managed to pass the exam and get admission to high school. After 4 years of schooling there, I was among the 12 students who passed another national exam to qualify for university admission. I studied Political Science in Moi University, one of the then 5 national public universities. I have since worked for Heritage Hotels, a Kenyan owned hotel chain. My responsibilities have been to educate people (tourists) on the culture of the Samburu people and their relationship with nature. I have also been overseeing projects done by the company for its host communities all over the country. I have written a book on the culture of the Samburu as a guide to the people who visit Samburu and are interested in the people’s culture. It is entitled “The Samburu: A Brief Cultural Guide”. As cultures change (and no culture is static), many cultural aspects are bound to get lost forever. My main vision is to see the Samburu culture documented fully, so that generations that may not find the culture surviving can have a reference point to their past. At the same I am working on introducing lessons in the local schools on the culture, in order to impart cultural knowledge in the young people and build a sense of pride in them about their culture.