Joseph Rael is known as the founder of a global network of Sound Peace Chambers.
10 Facts About Joseph Rael
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Joseph Rael's father, Alfred Rael, was a Tiwa-speaking native of Picuris Pueblo; his mother, Beatrice Head, was a granddaughter of the Ute chief.
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The family moved to the Picuris Pueblo near Taos, New Mexico when Joseph Rael was about seven.
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In 1983, Joseph Rael conceived the idea of building a kiva-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".
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Joseph Rael's 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 US states of Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
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Joseph Rael began creating and leading ceremonial dances, which he has taught to people of all nationalities.
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Joseph Rael retired from active leadership of these dances in 1999.
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Joseph Rael is currently semi-retired and resides on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in Colorado, where he continues to paint visionary art.
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Joseph Rael's art has been shown in galleries in North Carolina, Texas, and Norway.
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Joseph Rael has written a number of books which are based primarily on the Tiwa world view.