The Four Sacred Gifts Podcast with Dr. Anita Sanchez

Indigenous scholar Apela Colorado, Ph.D., joins Anita Sanchez to explore the power of dreamwork and practical ways to reconnect our inner and outer polarities.

Grab yourself a Ram Dass inspired dream journal and start on your own heart-centered dreamwork journey.

This week on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Dr. Apela Colorado discuss:

• A loving prayer for all of those who are suffering around the world
• Inner connection between the self and larger reality 
• Dr. Apela’s experience growing up embedded into nature 
• Facing the shadowy parts of ourselves and the world
• How Dr. Apela moved through the traumatic parts of her childhood
• Re-indigenizing reality and looking for ways that our inner polarities can be brought together
• Dreamworkers, dream ceremonies, and Dr. Apela’s prayer to her ancestors  
• How dreams can do so much for us, and are actually very influential to our waking reality

“Before you go to bed at night, just ask your ancestors to allow you to have a dream—to sense whatever it is, and just leave it at that. Open your heart. Say it truly not just from your head, but from your heart.” –Anita Sanchez

About Apela Colorado, Ph.D.  

Founder of the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network, Apela Colorado, Ph.D.(Oneida-Gaul) is a pioneering scholar, educator, and cultural bridge-builder whose work spans Indigenous knowledge systems, social policy, and spiritual ecology. A Ford Foundation Fellow, she earned her Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University in 1982, with additional studies in Federal Indian Law and Child Welfare at Harvard University. She has served as a representative to the United Nations Earth Summit, a delegate to the Conference on Religion and Environment hosted by the President of Indonesia, and an advisory board member for the South African Research Chair in Development Education. Her scholarly publications explore the intersections of Indigenous wisdom, spirituality, and science. She is the author of Woman Between the Worlds: A Call to Your Ancestral and Indigenous Wisdom (Hay House, 2021), and co-author of numerous academic works on cultural revitalization and sacred ecology. Learn more HERE.

“I found out if you want to do revolutionary work, for me it means work that sustains life, it means the sacred feminine, it means the connection of feminine and masculine, the polarities and bringing them together through love.” –Apela Colorado, Ph.D.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Holding gratitude for the ways Mother Earth supports all beings, Spiritual Healer Taita Pacha Kanchay describes the indigenous mission to be a voice for the land. 

This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Taita Pacha Kanchay chat about :

• The profound indigenous connection to Mother Earth and the wisdom of listening to her deeply
• Healing the planet by embracing unity and recognizing all beings as brothers and sisters
• How to transform the world through indigenous systems of knowledge 
• The sacred power of indigenous ceremonies and honoring our ancestors with reverence
• Opening your heart and mind in order to spread goodness in the world
• The practice of forgiveness—releasing resentment and anger to free ourselves from negative energy
• Living in harmony with the Earth and understanding why indigenous wisdom endures through generations
• Gratitude for Mother Earth’s gifts and the importance of living in reciprocity
• Listening to nature as a way to remember our deep interconnectedness with all life

About Taita Pacha Kanchay: 

Taita Pacha Kanchay is a healer whose ancestral name means "the sun-glint that penetrates the earth." As a Yanakuna Yachak, also known as a "spiritual authority," Pacha has devoted his life to studying and practicing the spiritual traditions passed down by his ancestors and elders.Today, he serves as a speaker and the Coordinator of the Great National Council of Indigenous Elders in Colombia (ONIC), representing a remarkable alliance of 115 tribes. He is also a representative of the Worldwide Indigenous Science Network, a United Nations Delegate, and an activist for Indigenous Sovereignty and environmental justice. A carrier of the sacred medicine of Yagé (Ayahuasca), Pacha's driving purpose is to exemplify and share the knowledge of coexistence in harmony with Mother Earth's spirit and wisdom. Affectionately known as “the healer of the healers” in Colombia, he offers healing on every level—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Pacha's transformative work inspires individuals worldwide to embrace the interconnectedness of all beings and rediscover their innate connection to nature and tap into the endless wellspring of wisdom that resides within. You can reach him at [email protected].

“This is the time when indigenous tribes need to guide and share the wisdom of our Mother Earth because us as indigenous tribes, we have the mission to be the voices of the lands.” –Taita Pacha Kanchay

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lawyer and activist, Pooven Moodley, reveals how individual transformation can help guide the entire planet toward a new frequency and energetic direction.

This week on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Pooven discuss :

• A brief grounding practice to meet each other in the present moment 
• Pooven’s journey into activism, joining the anti-apartheid struggle as a youth leader in South Africa
• Pooven’s initial experience receiving messages from the beyond: planetary energy points, his life’s path, and ways to transform the earth
• How the planet is urging us to embark on our own transformational healing journeys
• Kundalini awakening of the earth and the shift in frequency of our planet 
• Piercing through the veil of our identities and deconstructing what we think we know about ourselves
• Taking a deeper look at who we are, where we come from, and why we are here
• How each of us has a specific mission and purpose in this lifetime 
• Opening ourselves through ceremony and releasing the patterns of the past 
• Transforming ourselves individually to co-create a transformed world
• Putting one foot into the dance of creation as we end the dance of destruction
• Seeing ourselves as sacred beings and tapping into our full potential 

About Pooven Moodley:

Pooven Moodley is an international human rights and environmental lawyer from South Africa and a social justice activist. Pooven co-founded the Earthrise Collective which weaves ancient wisdom, activism and alternatives.He was previously the Executive Director of Natural Justice, a human rights and environmental justice non-profit law firm, representing indigenous and local communities across Africa in their struggles to stop the violation of rights and the destruction of their territories of life. He has contributed to a range of struggles across the globe starting with the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa when he was 14.

Pooven is a Council member of the ICCA Consortium (a global movement of indigenous and local communities protecting their territories) and the Chair of the Defending the Territories of Life stream working with environmental and land defenders. He is on the Board of Awana Digital which backs up indigenous communities and their territories combining ancient knowledge with other technologies.

Keep up with Pooven on Instagram.

 “What we do need to focus on is our own inner transformation in order for the world to be transformed.” –Pooven Moodley

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharing stories from his life on St. Paul Island, Indigenous elder Ilarion ‘Kuuyux’ Merculieff reflects on freedom, community, and the resilience of Mother Earth.

This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Ilarion chat about:

• Learning how to be present as a core feature of Ilarion’s island upbringing 
• Taking in the power of nature and silently  integrating all deep experiences before discussing them aloud
• Being raised by a village, spiritual mentorship, and learning how to revere nature, wildlife, and all things
• Trusting the innate wisdom we are all born with—especially the natural intuition of children
• How Ilarion learned from sea birds and developed a deep relationship with the natural world 
• The importance of feminine energy and the gift of feeling deeply
• Ilarion’s experience of being treated as a slave by the United States government
• Reclaiming freedom, moving to traditional teachings and a consensus-based way of governance
• The illusion of individualism and how we can exist fully in community 
• The resilience of Mother Earth and our responsibility to purify ourselves and the world around us

“When you have something that hits you so wonderfully in your heart, you don’t voice it out. You integrate it in yourself. Voicing it out will lose its power. The power of nature is to be taken in first and you use few words. Words are considered superfluous or even dangerous by my people.” – Ilarion ‘Kuuyux’ Merculieff

About Kuuyux (Ilarion) Merkelieff:

Kuuyux (Ilarion) Merkelieff was raised in a traditional Unangan (Aleut) way on St. Paul Island.  At age 18, he started his career in modern western society, both as an advocate for his tribe, and representing Native-American students at the University of Washington. Then, went on to head up many boards, councils, and organizations and visited and shared with many Indigenous cultures world-wide. Kuuyux is the founder of GCILL: Global Center for Indigenous Leadership. He dropped out of his establishment roles and ever since then he has been living the legacy of his traditional name and role—Kuuyux, which is given to one person in each lifetime, meaning: a carrier of ancient knowledge into modern times, a messenger. His present work revolves much around the council of Elders he co-founded, called the Wisdom Weavers of the World, to bring the messages of Elders from throughout the world to global attention. Kuuyux can be reached by email at [email protected]

“The thing that saved us was we went back to traditional teachings and discarded all the western ways which includes one man one vote. We went to consensus and respecting each other. We understood that process is more important than goal.” – Ilarion ‘Kuuyux’ Merculieff

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Highlighting The Great Peace Law, Indigenous grassroots organizer, Serena Mendizabal, discusses preserving and protecting indigenous wisdom and land rights.

This week on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Serena delve into:

• Serena’s experience growing up on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and its deep cultural significance
• The story of The Great Law of Peace and Serena’s family title: It Touches the Sky
• Indigenous land defense and sovereignty conflicts with the Canadian government 
• Supporting Indigenous people across the globe through understanding their protection of land and rivers
• The power of intergenerational storytelling and preserving ancestral indigenous wisdom
• Residential school survivors and maintaining peace through maintaining families and ceremonies
• Uplifting youth voices and Serena’s grassroots, community-driven change
• Finding collective hope in cultural restoration, environmental protection, and access to ceremony 
• Renewable energy sources as a path to healthiness in indigenous communities 
• Sacred Earth: Serena’s work with getting solar power supplied to First Nations people 

“We’ve always been on these lands. We hold relationship to these lands. The lands govern us, we govern them, and that relationship surpasses settlers arriving here.” – Serena Mendizabal

About Serena Mendizabal, Cayuga Wolf Clan-Panamanian from Six Nations:

Serena Medizabal (she/her) is a Cayuga Wolf Clan-Panamanian woman from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Serena is a community-based researcher, grassroots organizer, and environmental advocate. Serena began her journey in climate justice and clean energy when she was 18 finding gaps in community consent for renewable energy projects and further explored what climate justice and a just transition can look like in a community of over 28,000 members. From then on, Serena has dedicated her life toIndigenous self-determination, climate justice, environmental health impacts, and clean energy transitions through studies, work, and extracurriculars. Serena is passionate about self-determined community development, action, and futures led by sovereign,healthy nations. Serena is the Director Manager at Sacred Earth Solar, Co-Chair at SevenGen National Indigenous Youth Energy Council, Climate Action Strategy Co-Lead at Protect the Tract, and Course Collaborator for Connecting for Climate Change Action, as well as Board of Director at Student Energy. Learn more HERE or on Instagram.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yoruba Elder Iya Tahirah Abubakr offers wisdom on the profound medicine of suffering and how we can transform personal and ancestral pain into a beautiful expression of creation. 

This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Iya discuss:

• Iya’s upbringing as the daughter of a sharecropper and how indigenous ways of living offered wisdom beyond suffering
• The beauty of village life in rural Mississippi—growing up connected to the land, nature, and community
• The loss of outdoor play and imagination in today’s children, and how this disconnects them from nature and spirit
• Iya’s transformative encounter with Native American culture and how it deepened her understanding of ancestral wisdom
• Redefining suffering as a sacred teacher and a gateway to spiritual growth and resilience
• Processing trauma and emotional pain so that we are not trapped in the wounds of the past
• They ley lines of truth in the world and remembering that truth doesn’t lie 
• Remembering our ‘indigenality’ as individual and collective beings on this earth
• Honoring the bloodline of our ancestors and stepping into our full expression as sacred beings
• Dissolving the illusion of separation by becoming a compassionate, unified world community
• Asking why our souls chose to incarnate now—and discovering what sacred gifts we’re here to offer
• The vital importance of initiating youth into indigenous wisdom and holding a new vision for the next generation

About Iya Tahirah Abubakr:

Iya Tahirah Abubakr is a Black American with Yoruba ancestry, born River Lee Adams in Pocahontas, Mississippi. Iya was initiated by Ifa Priestess Yamaya in the ancestral traditions of the Yoruba people of western Africa and studied and trained with Malidoma Some' in shamanism. She is a medicine woman, diviner, shamanic practitioner, She provides initiatory guidance and trainings for those who seek greater wisdom in the mystery, she is founder & co-founder for the St. Croix Council of Elders. Iya’s life purpose and dedication are to the service of humanity as a whole and to leave the earth in a greater place than she found it. You can reach Iya at [email protected]. 

There's a richness to the fact that I grew up as a daughter of a sharecropper. I realize that underneath that was a deep love and protection. Had I not had that, I would not be the person I am today, because beyond the suffering was the indigenous way that we lived in life. That's why I like to bring African people back to understand that closeness to land and living, no matter what we're going through, when we have that connection to land, to nature, that is your friend, mother, that is what carries you." – Iya Tahirah Abubakr

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cultural astronomer and ethnoecologist, Geraldine Patrick Encina, offers a rediscovery of Mesoamerican cosmic calendars and discusses how we can realign with the cosmos and the earth. 

In this episode, Anita and Geraldine explore:

• Geraldine’s past life memories and receiving sacred spirit names from ceremonies and elders
• Mesoamerican use of sacred songs and alchemy to invoke rain and connect with natural elements
• The role and personification of the planet Venus for Mesoamerican people
• Recovering the original ancestral calendars to reconnect with cosmic time cycles
• The impact of modern mechanistic society in creating fear, scarcity, hyper-competitiveness, and a perpetual sense of being rushed
• The transformative practice of letting go and detaching from habits, beliefs, and energies that no longer serve us
• Reconnecting with the nurturing embrace of Mother Earth and the expansive wisdom of Father Sky to savor the present moment
• Embracing our interconnection and interdependence with others, nature, and the planet as a whole
• Cultivating personal and collective responsibility for our role within the greater natural ecosystem
• Sacred sites in Mexico and how holding ceremonies there reconnects us with the moment of creation
• Looking to the sky, namely Venus and the moon, for environmental answers and cosmic alignment 

About Geraldine Patrick Encina, PhD:

Geraldine lives in the Highlands of Mexico in the sacred landscape of the Otomi Peoples, originally called Zanbatha, the Valley of the Moon. As an Ethnoecologist and a Cultural Astronomer, Geraldine has generated extensive knowledge about the astronomical, ecological, agricultural and spiritual underpinnings of ancient Mesoamerican cosmos and timekeeping systems in the form of calendars and monuments within urban layouts that are aligned to Sun, Moon and Venus appearing in the horizon on dates that are highlighted in the original calendars that she has recovered. Her Mesoamerican timekeeping theory and practices are helping indigenous peoples revitalize long-forgotten calendars and astronomical almanacs. It is also helping people from traditional communities to re-signify the holistic approach to life of their elders by way of honoring and understanding their ancestors’ scientific legacy. Read more about Geraldine on Oneearth.org or check out her blog HERE. You learn more about Geraldin's work and get in touch with her at Earthtimekeepers.org

“We're breathing in oxygen that (among other elements) is coming right from that tree and the plants I am looking at. I can start connecting on a deeper level and be thankful that it exists, that it is thriving, and that it is able to give us this oxygen. Not just me, but also the birds that are enjoying the presence of the tree and all the little insects.” – Geraldine Patrick Encina

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anita Sanchez and Indigenous social entrepreneur, Hasina Kharbhih, explore matrilineal leadership, climate justice, and the prevention of human trafficking through culturally rooted, community-based innovations.

In this episode, Anita and Hasina explore:

• Growing up as an Indigenous woman in a matrilineal society
• The loss of land and how vulnerability gets created
• The 12 pillars of Hasina’s Impulse Model
• Combating human trafficking effectively across South and Southeast Asia
• The connection between climate change, migration, and human trafficking
• The Journey with Purpose Initiative and showcasing Indigenous resilience
• Reviving Indigenous Wisdom Through Land and Art
• Shared farming on reclaimed Indigenous land, seed banking, and traditional textile production as migration-prevention and cultural preservation
• The rise of female voices and matrilineal leadership
• How ancient Indigenous wisdom offers real-world solutions to global crises

Join Buddhist Teacher David Nichtern and Duncan Trussell for a conversation about finding our own voice, our own expression, and our own way of connecting with people. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - AUTHENTIC PRESENCE: FINDING YOUR OWN VOICE

About Hasina Kharbhih:

For 36 years now, Hasina has been working to provide sustainable livelihoods in a safe environment for women and children. What started out as a mission in her home state of Meghalaya has today evolved into a global program that aims to put an end to human trafficking and exploitation worldwide. Hasina’s work stands on two pillars: the first is Impulse NGO Network which was conceptualised in 1987 and is a significant force against human trafficking today; the second pillar is Impulse Social Enterprises which aims to promote local artisans and create sustainable livelihood through its artisan brand Impulse Empower, that helps prevent unsafe migration, which often leads to human trafficking.

You can read more about Hasina’s work by visiting the websites linked above, or read about some of the incredible people and ideas that have enriched her life over the years by exploring her blog here.

“The economy of movement is the vital importance of giving choices to women who are the custodians of taking care of the land, the property, nature, and the family, where we capitalize on the traditional skills of these women, where they have a choice to be entrepreneurial from their home. Everywhere in the world, you’ll find indigenous people rich in craft, textiles, and all kinds of beautiful art. What we try to do is revive, restore.” – Hasina Kharbhih

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cherokee activist Abraham Bearpaw encourages listeners to take back their power and live a life of balance through gratitude, intention, and more.

Grab a copy of Abraham Bearpaw’s book, Walking in Balance, to learn more about living a fulfilled life of balance.

This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Abraham discuss:

• Abraham’s parents and Cherokee lineage
• The low life expectancy within the Pine Ridge Reservation
• The tough times of Native activist Willa Mankiller
• What it means to return to the center and live in balance
• The demands and pressures of society
• Substance abuse and suicide prevention through Cherokee lessons in well-being
• Gratitude as a central tenant of ceremony
• Aspiring to be spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially well
• Using positivity for motivation instead of self-criticism
• Considering why the creator made us the way we are
• Setting an intention for our day, every day, and taking back our power
• Showing ourselves and others grace

About Abraham Bearpaw:

Abraham Bearpaw is an author, motivational speaker and creator of the Walking In Balance wellness program. Mr. Bearpaw is also a cultural activist and shares traditional teachings so that others can live fulfilled lives of wellness. In recovery for over 10 years, Abraham Bearpaw is a living example of the effectiveness of the Walking In Balance program. Through the Walking In Balance program, he has helped many individuals and families in their recovery and wellness journeys.  

“How do we live a life where we can feel fulfilled when we’re bombarded every day, adults and children alike, by social media, by all of these things? The world has gotten a lot noisier. I say, return to center. For Cherokee people, we believe in 7 directions. Center, for me, is where I am and where my heart is. My center is love. That is where I return to.” – Abraham Bearpaw

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Taking wisdom from her Cherokee ancestors, leadership expert Cynthia Ruiz explains how values like harmony and balance make conscious leaders.

This time on The Four Sacred Gifts, Anita and Cynthia explore:

• Honoring the first peoples of the land we are on
• Having wisdom from all sides of our ancestry
• Gratitude for all the experiences we are given
• How we are all called to leadership
• Leadership as the power to influence others, for better or worse
• Being conscious of how we are influencing others
• The Cherokee value of the 7 generations of the past and future
• Striving for balance within the realm of gender
• Serving people and having integrity as core values of leadership
• Individual and collective methods of healing
• The duty to help our community
• Being confident while maintaining humility
• The importance of ceremony for staying grounded
• Other dimensions within dream-states and dreams as messengers

Curious about the land you are on? Go to Native Land Digital to find out who the first people are of your destination.

About Cynthia Ruiz:

Cynthia Ruiz Lion Mother (Cherokee Name) is an award winning professor, best selling author, commissioner, leadership expert, executive coach and personal development speaker. Receiving over 78 accolades and awards for her leadership and service to the community, she spent seven years as the president of the LA City multibillion-dollar pension fund. Cynthia holds a Masters of Science Degree in Counseling and has completed a Leadership Course at Harvard University, John F Kennedy School of Government. Coming from blended cultures (Latina and Native American), she enjoys a passion for life and an appreciation of the gifts of Mother Nature. Her passion is teaching others to rise to their power. Her Cherokee values have inspired her to share lessons she has learned from her ancestors. ynthia has authored or co-authored a total of eight books. She is the author of “Finding Sane Relationships in a Crazy World” (English & Spanish) a personal development book and “Cherokee Wisdom- 12 Lessons for becoming a Powerful Leader”. She appeared in Discover the Gift (movie/book) with such notables, as is Holiness the Dala Lama, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Jack Canfield and many more. Read more about her books on her website.

“For me, it’s really important as a leader to be aware and to be conscious of how I am influencing others. I always go back to my core values. In Cherokee, our core values are living in harmony and balance. We believe that we’re not only connected to each other, but to everything that’s ever been and to everything that ever will be.” – Cynthia Ruiz

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.