Ike West
nederlandse versie [ klik hier ]
In 1971, Eileen E. West graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor's of Arts from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and a year later, received a Master's of Arts in Communications from Central Michigan University. In 1972, Ms. West was hired by Huron College, Huron, South Dakota, to teach and coordinate a program that provided support services to Native American students. She remained at the College for two years and then was invited to work among the Hunkpati Band of the Dakota Tribe on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in central South Dakota. In the Tribal Planning Office Ms. West assisted in the development of human service programs. She married into a Dakota family and in 1975 gave birth to a son who is a Tribal member. Three years later, she was asked to develop a Tribal Child Protection Team and serve as administrator of Red Horse Lodge, a youth and family service center.
In the mid 1980's, Ike West moved to Austin, Texas. She began writing non-fiction magazine and journal articles. The articles have been published in both the United States and Europe. In 1989, West resumed teaching, this time at the University of Texas, Austin. Through the Community Education Department, she was hired to teach writing classes--business, technical, newsletter, journal and grant writing. At her suggestion, "New Dimensions" courses were added to the department’s offerings. For the first time in a formal setting, West taught consciousness-raising to others.
Currently, Ike West's spiritual expansion workshops are offered both in and outside of Texas. West conducts workshops in old and New Mexico, South Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Four or five months out of every year, West teaches and leads spiritual ceremonies throughout Europe in Belgium, Holland, England, France, Italy, Switzerland and Greece. With proceeds from workshops and funds from European and American supporters, West and her son administer a trust for tribal families in order to regularly assist with emergency funds, clothing, food and household goods.
In addition to teaching classes, Ike West offers ceremonial retreats around the world. An interview with Ike West is included in the book, Sexual Radiance, by Dr. Susan Taylor. Also, a chapter long interview of Ike West is shared in Susan Smit's book, Wijze vrouwen (Wise women) that also features Queen Noor of Jordan, Isabelle Allende, Jane Goodall, Xaviera Hollander, Isabella Rosselline, and others.
Lecture 'An Appeal for Sensitivity of Mind -a view on Peace from the Hunkpati Dakota Nation' [ klik hier ]