Elizabeth Winker

I was born and raised in the very rural town of Howard, South Dakota. After high school (in 1986), I went to college at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota, where I studied Computer Science. After graduating from college (1991), I found my way to Europe, where I settled at Karlsruhe, Germany, and have been living there ever since.

I have worked in the computer industry throughout my stay in Germany.

I started practicing yoga and mediation to keep up with the stress of everyday life. This led me through numerous seminars, workshops, retreats, courses, and meetings with extraordinary people. I am very thankful, and all of it has helped me become the person who I am today.

I have recently connected with a few Lakota Native Americans from my home state of South Dakota, which has inspired me to learn more about the Lakota culture and spirituality.

It was during all of this spirital searching that I discovered the Native American Flute. I heard in on CDs from various artists and became fascinated with it. My search for finding one of my own led me to Rüti, Switzerland, to the Eagle Feather Trading shop, where the owner, Andy Schumacher, builds his own flutes. I bought one, then another, and then another…. I became hooked.

I have been playing now for several years and am now at the point where I would like to contribute what I have learned and experienced so that others can also appreciate what its music has to offer.