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About

My name is Samantha MacKenzie.

As the founder of NIASZIIHwest, I have been dedicated to the art of healing for over 15 years. My journey into this work was shaped by a deep connection to nature, a passion for supporting others, and training rooted in the lineage of Tom Brown Jr. and The Tracker School. Guided by these transformative teachings, I’ve cultivated an approach that combines NIASZIIH healing, bodywork, dynamic meditation, and nature connection practices to help clients find balance, clarity, and a renewed sense of self.

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Reviving the Wisdom Within You.

My Mission

At NIASZIIHwest, my mission is to provide a space where you can reconnect—with yourself, with the natural world, and with the vibrant life you’re meant to lead. Every session and class is designed to empower you to embrace your journey, unlock your potential, and experience healing in it's most simple form.

Through 1:1 sessions, immersive education and online courses, I teach the art of questioning, heighten self awareness and tools for healing. These skills promote resilience, self-awareness and empowerment. My commitment is to provide transformative experiences that also equip clients with practical skills.

Education & Experience

2017 - 2023

wildernessFusion

Asheville, North Carolina

Certified NIASZIIH healer

primalPsychology classes

2023

Worldwide Trackers  

Reno, Nevada

Search and Rescue Tracking Certificate

2014 - 2024

Tom Brown Jr's Tracker School 

Pine Barrens, New Jersey

Internship

Tracking, Nature and Wilderness Survival

Philosophy

Vision Quests

2020

Breathing Room Yoga & Movement Studio

South Portland, Maine

Certified Yoga Instructor

250 hr 

2016 - Present

Cape Neddick, Maine

Stowe, Vermont

Park City, Utah

Napa Valley, California

Licensed Massage Therapist

at Forbes 5 Star & Michelin 3 Key Spa Resorts

2011

California

Napa Valley School of Massage

Hands On Medical Massage School

775 hr combined Certified Massage Therapist

2010

Wild Med  

Haines, Alaska

EMT - 1, Wilderness First Responder

Welcome to the Lineage

NIASZIIHwest is grounded in a rich lineage of ancient practices, blending timeless wisdom with a living philosophy. 

Stalking Wolf

"Grandfather"

Stalking Wolf, a Lipan Apache shaman and scout, was born in the 1870s during a time of great upheaval for his people. Raised in the mountains of northern Mexico among a band of Apache who refused to surrender to reservation life, he grew up immersed in traditional teachings and a way of life deeply connected to the natural world. Guided by a profound vision at the age of twenty, Stalking Wolf dedicated his life to preserving and mastering the sacred knowledge of living in harmony with the earth, passing this wisdom on to future generations. For sixty-three years, Stalking Wolf journeyed across the Americas, seeking out native peoples and others who embodied the old ways. His quest was not bound by tribe or culture but by a spiritual calling to follow the Creator’s path. Through his travels, he mastered the traditions and practices of many different cultures, weaving together a vast repository of sacred knowledge. Living entirely outside of modern society, Stalking Wolf never held a conventional job, drove a car, or paid taxes. He devoted himself fully to his vision, walking a path of simplicity and profound connection to the natural world. In his later years, Stalking Wolf encountered a young boy named Tom Brown, Jr., who was searching for fossils in a stream bed. Recognizing Tom as the one to carry forward his teachings, Stalking Wolf spent the remainder of his life mentoring him, passing down a lifetime of wisdom that would later form the foundation of Tom Brown Jr.'s Tracker School. Through his teachings, Stalking Wolf's legacy endures, inspiring countless individuals to reconnect with the earth and explore the ancient ways of living in harmony with the natural world.

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Tom Brown Jr.

"The Tracker"

Tom Brown, Jr., America’s most renowned tracker, teacher, and outdoorsman, dedicated his life to preserving and sharing the ancient skills of wilderness survival, awareness, and tracking. His extraordinary journey began at the age of seven when Stalking Wolf, an Apache elder and shaman, recognized Tom as the one to carry forth his teachings. Over the next decade, Stalking Wolf mentored Tom in the ways of the scout, fostering a deep connection to the natural world and its profound wisdom. After Stalking Wolf’s passing, Tom embarked on a decade-long odyssey, living in the wilderness across the Americas without modern tools, mastering the teachings of his mentor. Returning to civilization, he initially struggled to find others interested in his knowledge. That changed when a local sheriff called on him to track a missing person. Successfully completing the search, Tom not only found the individual but also discovered his life’s Vision: to teach these skills to others. Over the years, Tom earned a reputation as “The Tracker,” assisting law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally in locating abducted children, lost hikers, and fugitives. His extraordinary experiences inspired his first book, The Tracker, published in 1978, which quickly gained widespread acclaim. Building on its success, he authored 16 additional books on topics including tracking, survival, nature observation, and awareness, collectively selling over a million copies. Tom founded the Tracker School, which became the largest institution of its kind, drawing students from around the globe to learn the ancient skills and philosophies passed down by Stalking Wolf. His teachings have inspired generations to reconnect with nature and themselves, blending timeless wisdom with modern lives. In August 2024, Tom Brown, Jr. passed away, leaving a profound legacy that continues to shape the world of wilderness skills, nature awareness, and personal empowerment. At NIASZIIHwest, we honor Tom’s life and teachings, carrying forward his vision of a world more deeply connected to the earth and the wisdom it holds.

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karl Direske

founder of wildernessFusion

Karl Direske is the visionary founder of Wilderness Fusion, offering several series of classes including the NIASZIIH healing program—a transformative seven-year journey designed to guide individuals in becoming the place of healing.  wildernessFusion got its start 15 years ago while Karl was serving as the business manager at Tom Brown Jr.'s renowned Tracker School. Tom placed a healing class on the schedule but informed Karl at the last moment that he would be teaching it. Despite initial resistance, Karl stepped into this role, leading the first "Healing 1" class. That pivotal moment planted the seeds for wildernessFusion, which has since grown into a comprehensive healing school that has graduated seven classes and taught hundreds of students. Prior to beginning wildernessFusion, Karl was an engineer, constructing high-rise buildings in New York City. He later followed a deeper calling to explore the world of healing where he trained at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing in Florida, gaining a foundation in energy work that would later inform the NIASZIIH program. Following his vision, Karl teaches healers to embrace their unique gifts and make meaningful contact with others. The program incorporates physical, energetic, spiritual, and primal dimensions of healing, helping students navigate the realms of mystery, vulnerability, and personal transformation. As Karl often shares, becoming a NIASZIIH healer is about standing in your truth, embracing your wounds, and choosing to lead mystery rather than merely follow it. Today, Karl and his wife, Pat, reside in Asheville, North Carolina, where they run Wilderness Fusion’s year-round programs. Together, they continue to inspire a community of healers committed to creating miracles and transforming lives.

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Image by Bruno van der Kraan
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