Robert has been engaged in the healing arts since 1973, when his hands were opened to perform

healing work. He began to work publicly in the early 1980s and has held a private practice since

that time. While following his First Nation (Ojibway/Huron) roots, he was trained by the elders in

the Yukon Territories and Northern Alberta. He earned the rights to the ceremonies through the

late Cree/Dakota elder Pey-a-sis.

Robert’s penchant for healing goes back to his early years in the woodlands of Michigan and

Ontario. Elders, during his childhood, trained him in the use of plants, animal medicine and a

variety of woodland skills. Living close to the land gave him a deep connection and relationship to

the natural world. Many of the teachers were locally recognized Elders, whose specific knowledge

was passed on in a traditional manner.

Transplanted at the age of eleven to Los Angeles, Cailfornia, his multi-cultural education took the

form of deep connection to the Hispanic community where he was involved in music in many youth

programs.  He played a variety of music from classical compositions to jazz improvisation.  Music

became the vehicle allowing him to play in the Rose Bowl, Hollywood Bowl and  travel to Montreal

as the host wind ensemble for the United States at the opening of Expo67. This cultural bent 

further opened into the Black community in Los Angeles, where he taught music for many years.

Upon graduating from the University of California/Irvine with a degree in Comparative Literature,

he moved with his young family to the Pacific Northwest, seeking a new home and exploring

opportunities to write.  He worked in a variety of capacities:  research, creative and eventually

account executive - Weyerheauser Corp.,  Communication Consultant - Boeing Co.,

Communication Director - Genie Industries, and eventually he started his own publishing firm in

Seattle.

Relationships, initially developed in an esoteric community of Los Angeles, led to a profound

experience with an Australian healer, where, due to an initiatory experience, his hands were

opened to perform healing work. He  followed his natural inclination to  continue writing for  a

living, until an internal epiphany directed him to  begin to  do healing work publicly.

During this period of development, a variety of Taoist  teachers worked with him. He learned

deeper healing techniques, energetic skills and studied QiGong, TaiChi and other forms of moving

meditations.  He was initiated as Reiki Master.  Deepening his connection to spiritual legacies and 

answering the request by many for ways to deepen their own spiritual connection, Robert began to

teach.

His  private practice and teaching  schedule burgeoned to such a degree that he eventually

founded the Northwest Center for Complementary Medicine,  surrounding himself with other

practitioners  of alternative medicines.

Following his First Nations roots, he was invited  to study the old ways of the northern medicine.

He was instructed in the same traditional manner  of his forefathers and earned the rights, over

many years, to the ceremonies and teachings.  He began to incorporate the old teachings into his

practice of healing and began to teach in a traditional way.

Robert, seeing the need to connect cultures, develop understanding and respect the divergent

nature of other peoples, has recently founded One People Foundation. He will continue to teach

from the purity of the cultures that have entrusted themselves to him, but will begin to reach out

to other people, finding similarities and respecting the differences. The  term, min-at-si-win , in

Cree, translates to civility or spiritual civility and respect.  This path of universal civility is the

cornerstone of the One People Foundation.  Robert will continue to bring forth the old teachings

and ways of ancient civility, supporting the times of harmony and peace among all people.