Education and Outreach Program

Ringing Rocks Foundation has long had the vision of exploring and preserving indigenous cultures threatened throughout many parts of the world. Since its founding in 1995, the Foundation has made this information available to the public through its books. We are now broadening the accessibility of this information through a new Education Outreach Program.

Our first initiative is to develop in-classroom workshops that offer, at little or no cost to schools throughout Arizona and the United States, opportunities for students to meet and learn from cultural healers and elders. Our initial offering in this program features Diné sandpainter, Walking Thunder. The program enables K-12 students to observe and hear stories about sandpaintings, become acquainted with Walking Thunder's path to becoming a healer, and to have a hands-on experience with sandpainting. 2007 was the fourth year that Ringing Rocks Foundation provided the opportunity for school children to experience the art of traditional sandpainting. This year we attended 8 schools and did programs for approximately 500 students.

Our goal is to provide other sessions with global healers and educators, as well as develop opportunities for adults to experience demonstrations, lectures, and workshops at our new Sedona facility. In addition to Walking Thunder's efforts we have added programs for students by Gary Holy Bull, telling of his life's journey to becoming a Lakota Medicine Man and Fred Wahpepah showing students some of the many sacred ceremonial objects used by his people, the Kickapoo-Sac tribe.

Further, we have developed a very strong monthly events series designed to bring indigenous healers and elders to Sedona where they share their wisdom and their stories with members of the community. For details on this program please visit our Events and Exhibits section.

Finally under the Education program we offer a unique museum experience in the Healing Nautilus. The gallery is intended to serve as a blessing from the many healers with whom the foundation has worked, gently guiding you from the Diné to the Lakota, through the jungles of the Guarani and into the deserts of Southern Africa. To learn more please visit our Events and Exhibits section.

Our educational initiatives aim to help develop awareness of other global wisdom traditions.