YAWANAWA SEPTEMBER RETREAT 2 – PROGRAM

For many years, Isku Kua has been supporting his father chief Nixiwaka in the administration of tribal affairs. Today he is chief of Nova Esperança (“New Hope”) village, with a population of 300 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 adapted many traditional songs to the guitar, and travels frequently to Europe and the United States to share his people’s culture and spirituality. Isku’s knowledge of his culture gets deeper every day as a result of his commitment to the studies and his conduction of the Uní ceremony impresses even Yawanawa elders.

Nawashahu is niece of the chief Nixiwaka, daughter of PakaYuva and Isku Kua’s wife. She carries the ancestral voice of her mother PakaYuva and is recognized craftswoman and painter of the sacred designs of the Yawanawa, the kenes. Nawashahu has also an important role in the leadership of Nova Esperança Village with Isku Kua.

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 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.

Yawakanah is Isku Kua’s daughter and a very dedicated student of Yawanawa tradition. At early age is already accomplished in percussion and the guitar and is expected by the elders of the Yawanawa nation to be among the main spiritual representatives of the Yawanawa of the new generation.

Tapi is part of the new generation of spiritual representatives of the Yawanawá tradition who learns from his father, the Yawanawá professor Tika Matxuru who has extensive knowledge of the Yawanawá language, stories and is a teacher in the Yawanawa school at Nova Esperança Village, in addition to a guardian of the highest initiation of the Yawanawá spirituality, the Muká. Tapi also studies, accompanies and supports Isku Kua in the spiritual works and in the daily works of the village.

Saná is part of the new generation of spiritual representatives of the Yawanawá tradition who learns from his father, the Yawanawá professor Tika Matxuru who has extensive knowledge of the Yawanawá language, stories and is a teacher in the Yawanawa school at Nova Esperança Village, in addition to a guardian of the highest initiation of the Yawanawá spirituality, the Muká. Sanái also studies, accompanies and supports Isku Kua in the spiritual works and in the daily works of the village. Saná is alo part of Yawakaná’s (Isku’s daughter) group of young Yawawnawá that represent their spiritual tradition.

Api is son of KateYuvê (Nani) is a young Yawanawá musician who studies the stories and chants. Api lives in in the Nova Esperança Village, accompanies and supports Isku Kua in the spiritual works and in the daily works of the village.

Ayá is Api’s wife and Isku Kua’s sister in law, daughter of  Yuvá and Chief Nixiwaká’s niece. Ayá along with Nahawshahu in the Nova Esperança Village is one of the Yawanwá women who focuses in the traditional chants.