Basil graduated from Southern State Teachers' College in South Dakota and has a Master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Minnesota and also a Master's Degree in Psychology and Counseling from St. Mary's University. He has been a teacher and school administrator in tribal schools in several western states. Among the Lakota people, he is a highly respected spiritual leader. For the past 20 years, he and his wife Charlotte have been counselor trainers for the Hazelden renewal center. Basil has started several programs in western states based on the "Minnesota Model." He has worked with hundreds of veterans from all over the United States who suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and others with alcohol and drug problems.