Joseph Rael
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rael (b. 1935) is a Native American
ceremonial dance
r, shaman, writer, and artist. He is also known as the founder of a global network of Sound Peace Chambers. Rael has spoken before the United Nations
and at the Pentagon
on the role of the warrior in the modern world.
. His father, Alfred Rael (Red Fish), was a Tiwa
-speaking native of Picuris Pueblo
; his mother, Beatrice Head, was a granddaughter of the Ute chief. The family moved to the Picuris Pueblo near Taos, New Mexico
when Joseph was about seven. Here he received the name Tslew-teh-koyeh (Beautiful Painted Arrow). By his teens, he was assisting the village shaman in healing rituals. He was educated at the Santa Fe Indian School
, and holds a B.A. in political science from the University of New Mexico
and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
-like structure, which he called a Sound Peace Chamber, "where people of all races might gather to chant and sing for world peace and to purify the earth and oceans". He built the first in Bernalillo, New Mexico
. His work inspired others to build a network of Sound Peace Chambers around the world, and there are now such chambers in Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Puerto Rico, Scotland and Wales, as well as in the U.S. states of Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
s, which he has taught to people of all nationalities. He wrote that he created three dances: the "Long Dance", the "Sun-Moon Dance", and the "Drum Dance". He retired from active leadership of these dances in 1999.
in Colorado, where he continues to paint visionary art. His art has been shown in galleries in North Carolina, Texas, and Norway.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
ceremonial dance
Ceremonial dance
Ceremonial dance is a major category or classification of dance forms or dance styles, where the purpose is ceremonial or ritualistic.This compares to other major dance categories based on purpose:* Celebration dance** Festival dance...
r, shaman, writer, and artist. He is also known as the founder of a global network of Sound Peace Chambers. Rael has spoken before the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and at the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
on the role of the warrior in the modern world.
Early life and education
Rael was born in 1935 on the Southern Ute Indian ReservationSouthern Ute Indian Reservation
The Southern Ute Indian Reservation lies in southwestern Colorado, USA, along the northern border of New Mexico. Its territory consists of land from three counties; in descending order of surface area they are La Plata, Archuleta, and Montezuma Counties. The reservation has a land area of 1,058.785...
. His father, Alfred Rael (Red Fish), was a Tiwa
Tiwa languages
Tiwa is a group of two, possibly three, related Tanoan languages spoken by the Tiwa Pueblo, and possibly Piro Pueblo, groups in the U.S...
-speaking native of Picuris Pueblo
Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico
Picuris Pueblo is a census-designated place in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 86 at the 2000 census. The Pueblo people are from the Tiwa ethnic group of Native Americans. Picurís Pueblo is a member of the Eight Northern Pueblos.Picuris village has occupied its present...
; his mother, Beatrice Head, was a granddaughter of the Ute chief. The family moved to the Picuris Pueblo near Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
when Joseph was about seven. Here he received the name Tslew-teh-koyeh (Beautiful Painted Arrow). By his teens, he was assisting the village shaman in healing rituals. He was educated at the Santa Fe Indian School
Santa Fe Indian School
The Santa Fe Indian School is a secondary school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It was founded in 1890 as a boarding school for Native American children from the state's Indian pueblos. But in the course of its history, the school has also served as a major cultural catalyst for the...
, and holds a B.A. in political science from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
Sound Peace Chambers
In 1983, Rael conceived the idea of building a kivaKiva
A kiva is a room used by modern Puebloans for religious rituals, many of them associated with the kachina belief system. Among the modern Hopi and most other Pueblo peoples, kivas are square-walled and underground, and are used for spiritual ceremonies....
-like structure, which he called a Sound Peace Chamber, "where people of all races might gather to chant and sing for world peace and to purify the earth and oceans". He built the first in Bernalillo, New Mexico
Bernalillo, New Mexico
Bernalillo is a town in Sandoval County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 6,611. It is the county seat of Sandoval County.Bernalillo is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. His work inspired others to build a network of Sound Peace Chambers around the world, and there are now such chambers in Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Puerto Rico, Scotland and Wales, as well as in the U.S. states of Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Ceremonial dances
Rael also began creating and leading ceremonial danceCeremonial dance
Ceremonial dance is a major category or classification of dance forms or dance styles, where the purpose is ceremonial or ritualistic.This compares to other major dance categories based on purpose:* Celebration dance** Festival dance...
s, which he has taught to people of all nationalities. He wrote that he created three dances: the "Long Dance", the "Sun-Moon Dance", and the "Drum Dance". He retired from active leadership of these dances in 1999.
Semi-retirement
Rael is currently semi-retired and resides on the Southern Ute Indian ReservationSouthern Ute Indian Reservation
The Southern Ute Indian Reservation lies in southwestern Colorado, USA, along the northern border of New Mexico. Its territory consists of land from three counties; in descending order of surface area they are La Plata, Archuleta, and Montezuma Counties. The reservation has a land area of 1,058.785...
in Colorado, where he continues to paint visionary art. His art has been shown in galleries in North Carolina, Texas, and Norway.
External links
- 1992 photo of Rael by R. Henley
- PeaceChamber.com (U.S.A.)
- PeaceChamber.co.uk (U.K.)