"This path is for those who see the importance of preserving and passing on traditional worldviews ... who long to recover and reestablish the life-ways of their indigenous ancestors, life-ways that teach responsibility for reversing the destruction of the planet."
-Apela Colorado, Ph.D., Indigenous Mind Founder
Atava and ancient bear monolith at Mt. Sleza, Poland
Indigenous Mind recovery is a process for individuals to recover and remember the ancient earth-based knowledge and spiritual wisdom of their ancestors. This ground-breaking work was created by Dr. Apela Colorado, a woman of Oneida and Frank descent. Dr. Colorado has devoted herself to creating a process in which both indigenous and westernized people could recover their earth-based indigenous ways of knowing. In her career, Dr. Colorado has designed and implemented both an accredited PhD and a Master's degree program in Indigenous Mind. Students in Indigenous Mind (IM for short) are mentored by traditional indigenous elders. The elders help support students to remember the earth-based traditions of their own ancestors. IM students have explored their own indigenous roots of Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Slavic, Pilipino, African, Chinese, Slavic, Teutonic, Cherokee, Mexica, Basque and Hebrew cultures.
In 2003, Atava Garcia Swiecicki was among the first group of students to graduate from Naropa University in the Indigenous Mind Concentration. Subsequently, Atava has been teaching in the IM program as an adjunct faculty member.
For more information on current academic programs in Indigenous Mind, visit: traditionalknowledge.org or wisdomuniversity.org.
We hold that indigenous consciousness can be recovered, even after many generations.
-Apela Colorado, Ph.D.
Indigenous Science
The Indigenous Mind recovery path is rooted in the tenets of Indigenous Science. For tens of thousands of years, indigenous people have had a strong relationship to the natural world.
To understand and observe this natural world, indigenous people developed their own science, their own way of coming to knowledge. Unlike western science, indigenous science takes a holistic approach. Like a tree, native science has many branches and is a synthesis of information from many realms, including the psychic and spiritual. One of the key elements of indigenous science is relationship. Each indigenous scientist seeks to create balance and harmony with respect to "All My Relations."
Journey to the Polish Indigenous Mind
As a student in the Indigenous Mind Master's program, Atava focused her research on her Polish Slavic ancestors. She traveled to Poland twice to build relationships with the Polish people and to commune with the spirits of the Polish land. Her research included an in-depth exploration of Slavic stories, mythologies, folklore, sacred sites and healing practices.
The culmination of her work was a written thesis entitled "Journey to My Polish Indigenous Mind," and two short films, " Thank You Mother Poland," and "Mary Magdalene's Forgotten Chapel." If you are interested in purchasing any of these works, please contact Atava at atava@ancestralapothecary.com.
The Polish Ancestral Healing Project
Atava and Maura at Warsaw Airport
Atava met her good friend and colleague, Maura Singer Williams, in a dream group when they were both Master's students at Naropa University. In 2004 Atava and Maura founded the Polish Ancestral Healing Project when they embarked together upon a journey to their ancestral land of Poland. As two women of Polish descent, one Jewish and the other raised Catholic, their collaboration centered on exploring their common Polish heritage and looking deeply at the shadow side of Polish history. In their journey, they drew upon their own indigenous Jewish and Slavic traditions, using earth-based ritual and ceremony to face and heal their ancestral wounds. Maura and Atava are completing their film TIKKUN ADAMAH W POLSCE: Healing the Mother Earth in Poland that documents their transformative and healing experiences in Poland. They also lead workshops on Polish Ancestral Healing in both Poland and in the US.
Circle of Ancestors
Krakus, 7th century ceremonial mound outside of Krakow, Poland
Circle of Ancestors is an inter-cultural community that connects people with their own ancestral traditions through educational programs, experiential learning, ceremonies and other activities. This reconnection heals and balances, encourages respect for differences and recognition of similarities, deepens community and environmental bonds and promotes peace.
Today, with blessing and permission from Dr. Colorado, her students continue to carry her work into the world. Graduates of the Indigenous Mind Program have created a new non-profit called Circle of Ancestors. Circle of Ancestors offers workshops and presentations on the Indigenous Mind recovery process. Their educational sessions will begin with a series of presentations on ancestral remembrance by graduates of the Indigenous Mind Master's Concentration. For more information, visit their website: www.circleofancestors.org.
Deep Genealogy Coaching
Deep Genealogy goes beyond statistical research and reconnects you to the spirit of your ancestors. The ancestors are an integral part of the research; their spirits are guiding and informing the process.
Deep Genealogy is based on the principles of indigenous science. Research methods are holistic and include information from the spiritual, natural and dream worlds.
As in the world's most ancient traditions, Deep Genealogy honors the ancestors. It resacralizes the research process; transforming it from the dry & statistical into a spiritual journey.
Deep Genealogy Coaching is offered to all people of all ancestry who wish to connect more deeply with the indigenous spiritual traditions of their ancestors.
In a Deep Genealogy Coaching process, you will work one-on-one with Atava to navigate your personal ancestral remembrance process. Deep Genealogy coaching consists of individual sessions (in person, on internet, or by phone) that include dream work, ritual, genealogical & academic research, and spiritual support. Between sessions, you will be given assignments to support your process. Sessions come in packages of four, six or twelve, depending on the depth of work you would like to cover. Sessions are held weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Single sessions are also offered.
Interested? Contact Atava and receive a FREE 20 minute introductory session.
All the wisdom that has been collected in our cultures, since time immemorial, is being kept for us, waiting for us, to awaken in our spirits. We will awaken our spirits again. When that happens things will be revealed of the old wisdoms. Things that have been forgotten for a long time are going to be brought back; Art- Music- Song- Dance- Storytelling- Spiritual- Wisdom- knowledge, and the wisdom of how to work with Mother Earth, will all be restored."
-Illarion Merculieff, Aleut tribal leader and IM Elder
IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE ELDERS AND FRIENDS WHO GUIDED ME ON MY PATH OF REMEMBRANCE:
Your dreams are your doorways to encounter what your past has been like."
-Auntie Mahelani Poe Poe
"Love all you see, including yourself."
-Mr. Hale Makua
"We are the ancestors of the future."
-Barbara Dean
"Every morning I sing and pray to the rising sun."
Bronislawa, Polish Highlander elder
They, our ancestors, are still with us. Undefeated by time In every breath They're still with us.
Traditional Polish folk song