Hwiemtun (Fred Roland) Born and raised in Khowutzun (the ‘Warm Land’) by a Coast Salish mother and Hawaiian lineage father, Hwiemtun (Fred Roland) received many teachings of his Coast Salish culture. Through spending many years with elders of his territory, Hwiemtun learned the cultural and spiritual traditions of his ancestors. During the last 30 years, he has journeyed around the world to explore and share ways of being with elders and healers of many indigenous tribes. Visiting tribes such as the Makushi, Wapashani, Shipibo, and Yanamamo of South America; the Kajikhastani and Hungarian tribes of eastern Europe; and the Humung, Tai Muang, (Thailand) Ainu (Japan) ,Jinibara of Australia just to name a few, Hwiemtun also visited the elder monks of India, Nepal and Lhasa, Tibet. His journeys were also spent travelling within North America connecting with the Lakota, Cree, Blackfoot, and many tribes within British Columbia. The journeys to date continue to the Mayan in Belize for the opening of the new Mayan Calendar 2012, and continues to travel to visit many tribes globally and teach about Indigenous culture in Europe.
Hwiemtun’s connection to the spirit world, passion for story-telling and love of sharing diverse traditions of indigenous knowledge, has made it possible for him to bridge many worlds. Through sharing the gifts of oral history, music and ceremony, Hwiemtun has become an intercultural teacher and guide, nurturing transformation among many. Spiritually, Hwiemtun is a sweat lodge keeper, following the Lakota teachings, and a follower of Buddhism and spent two years working with the Maitreya Project throughout North America and Asia. He believes that we are all related in one way or another and this helps in achieving knowledge once we learn this clearly. Cowichan Tribes chief has acknowledged him as the cultural ambassador for the Cowichan people.
Hwiemtun has devoted his life to creating partnerships internationally, nationally and locally with organizations, youth programs, treatment centers, spiritual groups and tribes. He conducts presentations, workshops and ceremonies on a regular basis to promote understanding of indigenous ways of knowing. He has built sweat lodges in Germany, Hungary, South America, West Indies, Caribbean, Asia, and through out Canada. There are many other things that could be said about Hwiemtun, however, they can only be expressed in person.