Excecutive Director and Board Members.

Excecutive Director Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin

Carol, of Lakota and Yakima heritage, has been working to develop Native American community projects in the Central IL area since 1989. She was the founding director of Return to Pimiteoui Pow Wow, Seven Circles Heritage Center , and serves as the Pastor of the Native American Fellowship-Dayspring United Methodist Church , a newly chartered congregation with a multi-cultural mission. Her background in counseling psychology, and her personal history with grief and loss, are a part of her journey which contribute to the Seven Circles Healing Circle and other group activities. Carol holds a Masters of Divinity, Masters of Christian Education, and a Masters in Counseling Psychology. Mostly, she appreciates the lessons she has learned from her parents and family who wove a beautiful blanket of Christian faith, Native Spirituality, and deep respect for the Earth.

Treasurer Linda Lane

Linda Lane, Treasurer of Seven Circles Heritage Foundation. Linda is an accomplished beader and teaches classes at the Center. She operates a small business that travels to Pow Wows, the Bead Lady.

At Seven Circles Linda has taught classes in beadwork. She is a gifted organizer and accountant.
She is currently employed by the Native American Fellowship as administrative assistant.

Rebecca Gearhart, Phd.,
Secretary, Seven Circles Heritage Foundation
Academic Outreach Committee Chair

Rebecca is an associate professor of anthropology at Illinois Wesleyan University . The Academic Outreach Committee is made up of academics of a variety of backgrounds, who are engaged in developing the educational workshops and presentations that Seven Circles offers. Rebecca continues to bring students to Seven Circles to participate in the overnight workshops and is committed to helping to create cross-cultural connections between Seven Circles and other communities in the greater Peoria area.

J.R. Lane - Building & Grounds

J.R. has been involved with Native American activities for fifteen years. He is a Vietnam veteran and assists all veterans with their healing. He is very involved with the building and grounds maintenance at Seven Circles.

Randy Starnes

Randy specializes in making a wide range of handcrafted Native American style flutes, which he plays himself and sells to some of the country's most renowned flutists. Randy directs the River Spirit Flute Circle, a member of the International Native American Flute Association, which meets regularly at Seven Circles. Randy's flutes have been used in workshops in the U.S. and Canada.

Patti Erwin - Media communications

Telling stories is one of the oldest professions. Patti is honored to share stories of different cultures. At the first Return to Pimiteoui PowWow, she met the Peoria chief and received his permission to tell their stories. Other tribes have also given their permission. If you want to know a culture, listen to their stories. Ho!

Fred Shelabarger - Newsletter & Website editor

Fred is leader of the Sacred Seven Group that is building a 'medicine wheel' at Seven Circles. He has previous experience with personal computers including publishing of newsletters and website management. He is also a Vietnam veteran and assists J.R. Lane in building & grounds maintenance as well as veteran healing.

Nancy Venzon, RN - Grant writer

The granddaughter of an herbalist, Nancy has been exposed to plant medicines all of her life. Nancy has studied plant medicines under a number of traditional and indigenous healers, and has been certified in herbal medicine by Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, one of the country's leading experts on botanical medicine and integrative health care. Nancy is the founder of Wolf Song Seminars, in which she conducts classes, lectures and workshops for Health Care Professionals and the lay public on Plant Medicine, Energetic Healing, Shamanic Practices and Dowsing. Nancy is a member of the Seven Circles Board of Directors.

Waylon McCamy - Spirituality diversity

Waylon is the director of Spirit of the Rainbow Singers, a northern style Native American Drum that has officiated as head drum at many pow wows throughout the country. Waylon teaches northern style singing, drumming, and dancing in classes at Seven Circles. He is also a sundancer and spiritual helper. Waylon is a member of the Seven Circles Board of Directors.

Leonid Koznitsev

Leonid graduated from a technical art school in his homeland of Russia, where he has worked on a range of artistic projects: the restoration and creation of stucco moldings, and architectural monuments and churches in the Crimea. In college, Leonid received a degree in Art Education, acted as an altar person in a Russian Orthodox Church, and has worked as an administrator, actor, and artist for a puppet theatre. At Seven Circles, Leonid is responsible for the beautiful mural on the north side of the Long House and performs the important role of firekeeper at the monthly spirit fire circle and at inipi ceremonies.

Munib Abdulrehman CNP, RN

After years of work as an RN in the neurology specialty care unit at BroMenn Hospital in Bloomington, Illinois, Munib is currently on staff as a CNP in a neurology practice. Munib runs a summer clinic in his hometown of Lamu, Kenya, an island community with limited medical resources. He plans to continue the summer clinic until adequate resources allow him to open a permanent facility with laboratory research capabilities. Among the gifts Munib brings to the Center is his Islamic spirituality and his knowledge of Swahili woodcarving and furniture-making, a family business he has been engaged in since childhood.