YAWANAWA OCTOBER RETREAT 1 – PROGRAM

Biraci Nixiwaka is one of the most relevant indigenous leaders of our time. He has dedicated his life to reclaiming his people’s ancient culture and spirituality. After reconquering the rights over their ancestral territory, Nixiwaka, alongside his family, led the opening of their culture to the outside world. It’s main element is the Yawa Festival, which is held annually since 2002 in the village of Nova Esperança (“New Hope”). In the past years he has spent most of his time in the Sacred Village, dedicated to spirituality and healing, receiving teachings from the elders, in order to carry on the Yawanawa legacy. In his few journeys out of his village to represent his people, he’s also visited other spiritual leaders around the world and has partaken in the sharing of many cultural traditions.

Daughter of the legendary Yawanawa leader Tuin Kuru, Putanny and her sister Hushahu were the first women of the Yawanawa nation to receive the highest spiritual initiation from the elders. They earned their communities’ respect as spiritual leaders, opening the way into this sacred path for other Yawanawá women. It was a break in tradition that united the male and female universe, and brought the magic of feminine spirituality to strengthen the Yawanawá culture. For this achievement, they received a commendation from the Brazilian senate as recognition of their important role in Brazilian women’s empowerment.

Putanny has an incredible voice and presence, representing her people’s ancestry. She spent a good portion of the past years in the Sacred Village, where she organizes spiritual retreats.

Peû is one of the most devoted spiritual leaders from the younger generation of the Yawanawa people. He committed to the sacred samakei (diet), the Yawanawa’s highest spiritual initiation, for five consecutive years. In this period he received direct teachings from the elders Tata and Yawa, who have recently passed away.

His studies with the elders brought exceptional strength to his work with the sacred healing prayers of his ancestry. Today Peû is responsible for preparing and serving the medicines in the Sacred Village. He is also a talented musician, and has traveled to Europe, North America and Asia sharing Yawanawa spirituality.

Nawashahu is the eldest daughter of Putanny and Biraci Nixiwaka. She has been brought up to become a leader. Nawa and her sister Ykashahu have been very dedicated to their studies of Yawanawa spirituality, dieting with the elders and always seeking to learn more from the leaders of the tribe. Nawashahu is a guardian of this knowledge and a very talented singer, who has accompanied her parents in their work and travels outside the villages since early ages.

Tawahw is an important spiritual representative of the Yawanawa people. He is son, apprentice, and heir of the legendary medicine man Yawarani, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 106. Tawahw carries much of the energy of his father with whom he traveled throughout Brazil bringing the Yawanawa magic. He was one of the first young leaders of the Yawanawa people to go through the higher initiation of their spiritual traditions, always accompanied by and learning from Yawarani. Today, besides being one important leader in his village, Nova Esperança (New Hope) and making medicine journeys to capitals of Brazil, Tawahw also plays an important role in documenting their day to day life in an international film project.

Makeushu is granddaughter of the legendary leader of the Yawanawa people Tuin Kuru, who very distinctively occupied the position of main chief before Biraci Nixiwaka, and is Putanny and Matsini’s father. Makeushu was also a pioneer in taking part of the group led by Yawarani, Biraci Nixiwaka and Putanny which conducted the very first Uní (Ayahuasca) open ceremonies outside the villages in 2009 in southeast states of Brazil. Said ceremonies opened the doors to the sharing of Yawanawa culture and spirituality to Brazil and the world and now after a period of 11 years without traveling, Makeushu is once again coming to Itaipava to represent her people, and will also be bringing her daughter. Makeushu has a very powerful voice, is one of the first women to acquire profound knowledge of Yawanawa’s spiritual chants and teacher of her daughters Ninunihu and Yaka. Makeushu is thus one of the leaders among the Yawanawa women in terms of Yawanawa culture and spirituality.

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 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.