YAWANAWA – SEPTEMBER 2nd WEEK RETREAT

Rasu is grandson of the great medicine man and xinaya Tata Txanu Natasheini, who was one of the greatest wise men of the people. Rasu was raised and chosen by Tata to be his successor and he currently has a very important role in the Mutum village, leading the ceremonies and its organization alongside Chief Matsini. Rasu has a powerful voice and is a very talented musician and representative of the Yawanawá people, who fluently speaks the Yawanawá language and completed the highest initiation of the Muká diet.

Tsatsa Wanu Yawanaw· is the daughter of the great shaman and xinaya Tata Txanu Natasheini, who was one of the greatest wise men of the people. Tata dedicated his whole life to spirituality and was a great teacher of Yawanawa prayers, chants and shenipahu (traditional stories). TsatsaWanu took care of her father and accompanied him all his life, and is a great guardian of his knowledge with her family and children, such as the young Rasu, grandson whom Tata chose to care for deep teachings. Tsatsa is also one of the greatest artists of the people. She has a powerful and incredible voice, is a great connoisseur and performer of the songs, as well as a very talented painter of the Yawanaw· kenes (sacred drawings).

Yuata is Rasu’s brother and has also learnedfrom the great medicine men Tatá, who along with his peer Yawarani were responsible for keeping Yawanawa
spirituality during the domination of the protestants. Tuata is among the young Yawanawa who are the future of the nation’s spirituality, who dedicate themselves in following the footsteps of their ancestors and thus the preservation and flourishment of their people. Tuata is a singer of the
traditional songs and also the ones adapted to the instruments, assisting Rasu in the conduction of the ceremonies.

Payrãni is a young Yawanawa that represents the spirituality of her people
through the songs, instruments and the guitar. She is a member of New Hope
Village and active member of Iskukua’s project Isku Vakehu, which trains the young Yawanawa in the language and spiritual tradition of the nation.

Natashãini is son of Rasu and Turuyumê and among the Yawanawa children being
raised in their tradition since they were born, a privilege the generation
of their grandparents did not have due to the domination of the protestants.
The raining of their children in the tradition is the hope of the continuity
of the Yawanawá legacy.

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.