We are looking to raise the funds needed to assist Hochunk / Lakota elder & spiritual leader John Funmaker to receive medical treatment in Colombia for Parkinson’s Disease. All donations will go directly toward supporting John and his wife, Kim, to travel to the Yanakuna indigenous Territory in Colombia to receive medical attention from Indigenous Elder and Spiritual Authority Pacha K’anchay. This unique opportunity is not only a means for Northern and Southern tribal leaders to connect, but for us to support a pillar of the Indigenous community in his pursuit of profound healing.

About John Funmaker:

John Funmaker is an enrolled member of the HoChunk Nation. He was born on the HoChunk reservation in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. His grandmother raised him the majority of his life and taught him the language and traditional ways. When John was still a child he was sent to boarding school under the directions of the US government. Although he was wrongfully separated from his family he was still brought up in the traditional ways. John is adopted Miniconjou Lakota and Rosebud Lakota through Hunka ceremony from his Uncle John Fire Lame Deer and son Archie Fire Lame Deer and Edna Little Thunder. John Fire Lame Deer and Archie further educated John in the traditional medicine and spiritual ceremonial ways. Johns Education earned him the unique ability and opportunity to find employment with the California Correctional Institutions as a spiritual advisor for the incarcerated. After more than 45 years John still continues to work for the state of California correctional institutions where he provides counsel and guidance and traditional ceremony for the Native American inmate community in prison. John is also a certified substance abuse counselor and has worked with several Native American rehabilitation centers and social services outreach organizations to assist and support the Native American community heal and establish sobriety. John is a Sun Dance Chief and first generation member of the American Indian Movement (AIM). John has helped thousands of Native American people off the streets and out of prison by helping them to find long term sobriety and turn their lives around to reestablish and maintain a relationship to their traditional cultures and spirituality. He has helped thousands more peoples of all ancestral lineages and cultures find peace and healing and understanding in their lives through the traditional ceremonies and medicines of his indigenous nation that he freely shares with all people of all nations.

About Pacha K’anchay:

Pacha K’anchay is a Yachak (“Spiritual Authority”) living in Colombia within his community and family on the lands of their sovereign nation. Pacha is affectionately known in his community as “the healer of healers” after many years of training with his elders in the Amazonian jungles. Pacha 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.

Where your donation goes:

John Funmaker has the unique opportunity to travel to Colombia to work with Pacha K’anchay to undergo a 10-day treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. We are raising money to pay for John and Kim’s travel and associated expenses to and from Southern California to Colombia. Once in Colombia, John will travel to the Yanakuna indigenous territory in the jungles of Colombia, where John will receive medical treatment for Parkinson’s disease. This is a rare opportunity to give back to help a great man that has spent his entire life helping others.