
Local Time
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Date: Apr 23 2021 - Apr 30 2021
- Time: 06:00 - 16:00
YAWANAWA APRIL 2021
APR 23rd Friday
- Morning gathering in Rio de Janeiro and 2 hour road trip to the mountains of Itaipava – Akasha Retreat Center.
- Evening purification – sweatlodge in the Lakota tradition.
APR 24rd Saturday
- Morning introductions and integration circle.
- Evening Traditional Yawanawa Uni Ceremony, chants, dances and prayers. Medicines of Uni (ayahuasca), Hapé (tobacco snuff) and Sananga (eye drops).
APR 25rd Sunday
- Cultural/spiritual activities in the afternoon.
APR 26rd Monday
- Evening Traditional Yawanawa Uni Ceremony, chants, dances and prayers.
Medicines of Uni (ayahuasca), Hapé (tobacco snuff) and Sananga (eye drops.)
APR 27rd Tuesday
- Cultural/spiritual activities in the afternoon.
APR 28rd Wednesday
- Traditional Yawanawa Uni Ceremony, chants, dances and prayers.
- Medicines of Uni (ayahuasca), Hapé (tobacco snuff) and Sananga (eye drops).
APR 29rd Thursday
- Afternoon integration circle.
- Evening purification – sweatlodge in the
Lakota tradition.
APR 30rd Friday
- Afternoon 2 hour road trip to Rio de Janeiro and Galeão International Airport;
- Evening purification – sweatlodge in the Lakota tradition for those staying for the
next retreat.
In addition to the main ceremonies the program shall also organicly include:
– Rumê (Rapé) circles,
– Story telling circles
– Face and body paintings,
– Herbal sauna,
– exhibition of selected movies/documentaries.
– Daily organic breakfast, lunch and supper.
INDIGENOUS CHIEF

BIRACI JR ISKU KUA
For many years Isku Kua has been supporting his father chief Nixiwaka in the administration of tribal affairs. Today, together with his brothers and sisters, he is responsible for their main village, Nova Esperança (“New Hope”), with a population of 400 people. Isku Kua represents the young generation and has already been through the higher spiritual initiations of the tradition. He is also a talented musician and guitar player who has been conducting ceremonies in Europe and the United States in past years.

TUIN KURU
Tuin Kuru is also one of the few men from the younger generation of the Yawanawa who committed to the sacred Samakai (diet), their highest spiritual initiation. He is a nephew of chief Nixiwaka and brother of Pe˚, being one of the most talented musicians and guitar players of the Yawanawa people. After almost ten years, Tuin Kuru returns to Rio de Janeiro to take part in this very special retreat.

VIMI YUVE
Vimi Yuve is daughter of chief Nixiwaka and wife of Tuin Kuru, having from young age being influenced by the deep commitment of her father to the Yawanawa spiritual path. Following the path opened by Putanny to the Yawanawa women, Vimi Yuve became a great musician and singer of the new generation of Nova Esperança Village.

VARI TXANU
Vari Txanú is the one responsible, along with Isku Kua, for the preparation of the medicine (Ayahuasca – Uní) at the main Yawanawa village, Nova Esperança. Vari Txanu has completed the highest initiations and diets of the Yawanawa people, such as the Muká diet, has deep knowledge of the medicine plants and provides great support for Isku’s leadership at Nova Esperança. Vari Txanu is ex-husband of Hushahu and was trained and recognized by the great medicine man (pajé) Tatá.

KEYÁNÎ YAWANAWA
Keyánî is Txanu’s wife and a great singer of the Yawanawa’s traditional songs. Keyaní is a recognized craftswoman and painter. Keyánî is part of the movement of the younger generation the Yawanawa but chose to study only the traditional songs and not the ones with the guitar, having learned with her father who has also completed the diet of Muká.

SHANE YUVE
Shane Yuve is also part of the young generation of Yawanawa spiritual representatives who are studying their tradition in a profound way and thus guaranteeing their protection in the strongest way possible, which is by means of their culture and spirituality. Shane Yuve is a great musician and among the main individuals of Nova Esperança Village Isku Kua can count on when he conducts their ceremonies.

TSÂTSÂRUA YAWANAWA
Son of Naynawa, the master of the frog vaccine Kambo and of the traditional plants, Tsâtsârua Yawanawa is a very talented musician and part of the strong new generation of Yawanawa who make the elders proud for their dedication in the studies of the traditional songs and Yawanawa spirituality. He also works with the kenes, the sacred designs, expressing Yawanawa spirituality in beautiful paintings.

WAKIA UN MANEE
Wakia Un Manee is a full blooded Klamath/Modoc native of North America, medicine man, sundancer and leader of the Vision Quest and Inipi (Sweat Lodge) ceremony. From a young age he was brought up with the Lakota and Ojibway, so his work has been largely influenced by the traditions and culture of these two nations. Wakia graduated in psychology and political sciences and also studied theology. He founded and developed non-profit charitable organizations within various communities. As an activist, Wakia stood on the front lines, fought and defended the rights of native peoples, as well as environmental and ecological issues. His work is focused on empowering people to recognize and understand their own capabilities.

ADRIANA OCELOT
Adriana Ocelot is a medicine woman, sweat lodge leader, sun dancer in Tamoanchan ñ Mexico and Crow Dog’s Paradise – USA, leader of Vision Quest,moon dancer at Ollintlahuimeztli in Teotihuacan – México. Guardian of a RedMoon Temple for women’s retreats, healer in traditional native technique and in the use of medicinal plants.