Nico Secunda has been steeped in the indigenous Huichol tradition and shamanic practices since birth. He completed an intensive shamanic apprenticeship with his father (Brant Secunda) at twenty-one years of age and underwent the rare transmission of power ceremony to become a Mara-Akame (Huichol Shaman) in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico.
He is the Managing Director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation – Center for Shamanic Studies. Nico is also the Co-Founder of the Huichol Foundation, which provides economic and cultural support to the indigenous Huichol people of Mexico.
As of member of the Provost Advisory Council at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Nico utilized his unique perspectives to help guide the long-term vision of the college with an aim of supporting a balance of environmental sustainability, modern technology, and community diversity.
Nico holds a 4th Dan (degree) black belt in Aikido and is a regular instructor at Aikido of Santa Cruz. As a close student of Motomichi Anno Shihan (8th Dan), Nico has journeyed to Japan many times to deepen his practice and connection with the roots of Aikido. He is also a member of the Aikido for Tomorrow initiative, striving to support future generations of Aikido practitioners around the globe.
As a child of both the modern world and the ancient Huichol culture, Nico has walked a unique path, bridging the new and old worlds. Because of this, he offers a very relatable approach for people striving to integrate spiritual practices into their daily lives and unify various aspects of the self.
