The Healing Drum »

As a respected Ojibwa Elder, insightful author, and sought after licensed psychotherapist, Blackwolf (Robert Jones M.S.), brings an electrifying healing presence to workshops, seminars, and gatherings. Blackwolf has blended ancient tribal healing remedies with contemporary approaches to profoundly redirect societal inequities and defuse cultural abuse. These effective teachings promote healthy balance through unique humor, storytelling, and candid observations. Consequently, participants are moved to review and redefine their present value system responses towards self and others. This presenter is a necessary guest because his native spiritual wisdom speaks clearly on both individual and collective levels. These age old understandings enhance and expand former awarenesses hidden within current societal programming. Participants, thereby, find a strong sense of belonging and feel newfound connections to both the spiritual and physical laws of the universe. Blackwolf has taught Ojibwa culture at the University of Wisconsin and has co-authored three books currently distributed in ten countries. The Healing Drum, Listen to the Drum, and Earth Dance Drum can be obtained through most bookstores in North America. Blackwolf is an elder of Ojibwa tribal heritage. He grew up on the Lac Corte Oreilles reservation in Northwestern Wisconsin and learned from his elders, ancient tribal ways and wisdom. After serving in the Korean conflict, and attending pre-law school at Marquette University, Blackwolf fell victim to alcoholism for twenty years. Since 1977 he has enjoyed continuous sobriety and went on to become a licensed psychotherapist specializing in addictionology. What he has brought to the clinical arena is old age tribal healing remedies coupled with contemporary approaches. Blackwolf is an international speaker and workshop presenter. He has also taught Ojibwa culture at the University of Wisconsin. Blackwolf now resides in Greenbay, Wisconsin.

Gina Jones, co-author of Sacred Self, Sacred Relationships is a grandmother, mother, wife, teacher, writer, and artist. Gina currently teaches middle school language arts and social studies in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She holds a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree focusing on the Creative Arts in Learning. Gina is of mixed heritage, including European and Mohawk ancestry. Beginning in 1996, Gina has facilitated gatherings for women focusing on personal development and celebration. Connecting with her Indian ancestry, Gina is an annual presenter at Abinooji-aki's Celebration of Women on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Reservation in northwestern Wisconsin, and has presented at The American Club in Koller, Wisconsin and Cambridge University in England. Co-author of The Healing Blanket, Listen to the Drum, The Healing Drum, and Earth Dance Drum, Gina has joined respected Ojibwa teachers, including her husband, Blackwolf, to communicate traditional healing and hope to a world in need. Gina loves to teach. She has received the 1998 Wisconsin Kohl Fellowship Award for Educators, nominated for Whose Who Among America's Teachers, developed an extensive curriculum unit for CESA 6, and presented Writing Workshops for educators in the state of Wisconsin. Future plans include publication of young adult literature and additional resources for educators. As an artist, Gina enjoys drawing, music, drama, storytelling, and writing. Her poetry has been featured in the anthology, Unsilenced: The Spirit of Women, and her writing includes both fiction and non-fiction. She continues to sing at occasional weddings and plays guitar. She has directed middle school musicals and integrates all the arts into her teaching and writing. Gina's hope is to leave a legacy of love, both through her creative endeavors and in her personal relationships with family and friends.

Poetic thoughts are beautifully expressed in this gift book. Within the pages of The Healing Drum, we will find inspiration in powerful, healing words expressed in simple, Native American tradition--words that will return us to the wisdom of the "Old Age" that gives us messages of self-help one beat at a time.