Deanna Graham, BS, BCM

Guest Faculty

My tribe is Première Nation Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk. This translates to People of the Wahsipekuk (St. Lawrence River). Born into a military family, my early childhood was spent living outside the US in areas abundant with forests and streams. Here I learned to listen and understand nature. I intuitively knew that everything was alive and had a spirit.

One day, other military families with shared Indigenous heritage decided to celebrate together in a powwow gathering. A large hide drum was brought out. The drumbeat was strong and steady, filling the air and infusing into the trees, rocks, and the waters. It seeped into my bones, becoming a part of me. Our gathering was not on our traditional land, yet I understood that all of Earth was connected. That night I fell asleep to the drumbeat, knowing it was the earth’s heartbeat, my heartbeat.

This was my first experience with connectedness and spiritual power. It had such a profound impact on me that when my family returned to the States, I yearned for that type of sacred connection. The religion I was raised with and those I studied later in life could not offer that connection. Thus, I had convinced myself that I would not be able to find it again.

Then, in 2019, I took The Way of the Shaman® workshop. I knew nothing about shamanism. My spouse found the Foundation’s Website, and I thought the class would be an interesting adventure. What I discovered was the missing puzzle piece. In that first journey, I heard the drumbeat and the distant memory of sacred connectedness filled my soul once again. I was home. Through my training with the Foundation, I learned how to continually strengthen my relationship with Helping Spirits. I know that others can do this as well. As an FSS faculty member, I am fortunate to help those seekers on the shamanic path.

Deanna has a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology with a minor in global religious studies, a Bachelor of Culinary Management (BCM), and an Associate of Baking and Pastry (AsBP). She has a podcast, Spirit Stories, where she shares accounts received from compassionate Helping Spirits.