VISION
PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2024
A’I Community in the Amazon
The A'i Council of Elders / Jungle in Resistance
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One of the starting points of this important moment was when the collective vision emerged a few years ago, for building a sanctuary fostering all kinds of encounters to strengthen their traditions. AWE aided in constructing this ceremonial center in Dureno, now hosting gatherings and ceremonies of yagé.
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In February 2024, 80 leaders of the A’i community from Ecuador and Colombia convened in one place to envision how to strengthen their communities through their ancestral knowledge. Discussions focused on jungle protection, arts, infrastructure, and education, laying a foundation for future endeavors and collaborations. While several initiatives emerged from this council and were carried out in 2024, many remain ongoing as part of a long-term commitment to the A’i people’s vision for their future.
Read more here:
Teachers’ Gathering
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In response to the vision and leadership of the A’i communitiesas discussed in the Council of Elders, we supported a series of gatherings where educators, students, and elders came together to share knowledge and explore ways to integrate traditional wisdom into school education.
Some of the schools of these communities have begun to offer Yage ceremonies in the public schools; with students, parents, and elders, once a month. This helps the young understand the value of yage, their elders and traditional authorities, their traditional stories, and ceremonial music.
Teachers’ Gathering – June 2024
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Educators, children, and parents from Chandia Nae, Duvuno, the Autonomous Ancestral Community A’I Dureno, Resguardo Campo Alegre, and Yarinal came together in a space of dialogue and exchange. The gathering provided an opportunity for communities to share their experiences in incorporating Yagé ceremonies within educational practices, strengthening the intergenerational transmission of knowledge in ways that feel meaningful to them.
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As part of this process, participants engaged in two days of ceremony guided by elders, deepening their understanding of the role that Yagé plays in learning, cultural continuity, and communal well-being. These ceremonies are valued not only as a way for younger generations to connect with their traditions, but also because many teachers have observed that Yagé helps students learn more effectively, improve concentration, grasp complex concepts, and develop problem-solving skills. Additionally, these gatherings foster a deep sense of respect for the elders, who share stories of their people, teach ceremonial music, pass on traditional healing knowledge, and offer personal guidance to the children.
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A core aspect of this process is the vision of Yagé as the teacher—the guide, the guardian, and the caretaker of the community. Through its teachings, Yagé nurtures not only intellectual and cultural learning but also emotional and spiritual growth, helping individuals deepen their relationship with themselves, their ancestors, and their territory.
Second Gathering – December 2024
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Building on the insights from the first gathering, this second meeting, guided by the priorities of local teachers and elders, focused on indigenous language revitalization and traditional medicine. Participants explored the role of Yagé in education and how it can support learning while deepening cultural connection. Some children received study materials, and teachers reflected on ways to encourage youth participation in ancestral ways and practices.
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A significant aspect of this gathering was the delivery of traditional musical instruments—including acoustic guitars, classical guitars, maracas, and folkloric drums—to young people eager to learn ceremonial music and the songs that tell the stories of their people. During the Council of Elders, the community expressed their wish for instruments to be provided so that the younger generations could continue the tradition of their songs, which are also an essential part of Yagé ceremonies. Some of the instruments, such as the guitars and requinto, are of higher quality, as the community also hopes to participate in musical competitions, further strengthening their artistic and spiritual heritage.
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These gatherings are part of a continuous process led by the communities themselves, with educators and elders shaping the direction of their own educational and cultural initiatives.
Maloka in Duvuno
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In response to the vision of the A’i communities, talked in the council of elders, we supported the construction of a ceremonial Maloka in Duvuno, guided by the needs expressed by Taita Cesario Lucitante and his community. As a highly respected A’i healer, Taita Cesario plays a crucial role in both healing and the spiritual protection of his territory, ensuring the continuity of ancestral practices.
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For the A’i people, a ceremonial house is more than just a structure—it is a sacred space that preserves and transmits ancestral knowledge. Within these walls, teachings about medicinal plants, spiritual rituals, and the Indigenous worldview are shared with new generations. It is a place where cultural identity is strengthened, community bonds are reinforced, and collective healing takes place. It also stands as a symbol of cultural resistance and self-determination, allowing the community to uphold its traditions on its own terms.
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At the request of the community, we also contributed essential ceremonial items such as lamps, hammocks, and other necessities to support their ongoing practices.
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This initiative is part of a larger movement led by the communities themselves, driven by their commitment to keeping their traditions alive. Rebuilding these sacred spaces nurtures the enthusiasm of those who follow and apprentice with the Taitas, ensuring that ancestral knowledge continues to be practiced and passed down.
Babongo, Massango & Mitsogo maganga communities in the
Congo Basin
This report captures the outcomes of this year’s collaboration and lays the groundwork for continued partnership with these communities, guided by their vision and aspirations.
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1. Construction and Adaptation of Temples​
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Temples in Mukabu, Komi, and Mikodi were built and adapted, supporting spaces for ceremonies, rites of passage, community gatherings, and the transmission of ancestral knowledge.
2. Initiations for Community Members​
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Support was extended for initiations of a total of seven women into Mabanji. A vital rite of passage that sustains the larger aspect of what community means in this cosmology and traditions. By passing through this initiation a very strong spiritual bond is created between the initiate, the spirits of the village, and the community. This is essential in the conservation of the cohesion of the village and tribe. This also ensures the continuation and passing on of the tradition into younger generations.
3. Iboga plantations:
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A new Maboga plantation was made for the community. This supports the preservation of their teacher plant, ensuring that in five years from now, they will have enough Maboga for their ceremonies.
4. Donation of Food and Materials
Food, fabrics,bed sheets and agricultural tools were distributed to each family to help meet basic needs.
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5. Legislative Proposal for the Conservation of Sacred Sites
There are hundreds of sacred sites inside the jungles of Gabon that are of great importance to its villagers and its traditions. Nevertheless, Gabon does not have a law protecting them. For this reason we have supported Judges and lawyers to formulate a legislative proposal aimed at protecting Gabon's sacred sites for future generations.
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This is the first of three phases of this project. The next phase will entail holding a conference with ministers and senators to debate and polish this legislative proposal and then take it to congress.
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​​​Impact and Reflections
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The initiatives undertaken have contributed to the preservation of Gabon's spiritual traditions and reinforced community ties. The restoration of temples and support for initiations have helped keep ancestral practices alive. This collaboration respects their traditions and self-reliance, contributing to their ongoing work in cultural preservation and sustainability.
Wixaritari (Huichol) Community in Wirikuta and the Sierra Madre
1. Deer Sanctuary
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​​​In the Wixárika worldview, the deer is of utmost importance and one of the most sacred deities, serving as an older brother, a spiritual guide, and a means of connecting with ancestors. Kauyumari and Maxa Kuaxi, the deer, also are the deities that bring fertility and abundance to the earth and to their village and crops.
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Deer have been essential in the rituals of the wixaritari, but they are every time harder to find in their area, as most wild animals, for diverse reasons. For this reason we have created a deer sanctuary of 250,000 square meters, betweeen the villages of “Cohamiata” and “La laguna” to help them reproduce safely. As their population grows, they will continually be released from the enclosure to share the mountains with the pumas.​
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Given the remote location of the area, community members played an essential role in facilitating the transport and movement of materials, ensuring the project's success.
2. Construction of shelters for the Jicareros of the Tseriakame ceremonial center.
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​The Tseriakame ceremonial center is led by Jicareros, ceremonial leaders, from far away villages. This is why support was given to build shelters for their families to camp and cook during ceremony weeks. They will last for at least 20 years, but we will also build adobe walls around them for the wind and for privacy.
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3. Wirikuta Land. Construction of caretaker’s house
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This project supported the construction of fencing around a 200 hectare land in Wirikuta that was purchased by the Wirikuta Preservation Project for the Wixaritari. Also material has been bought to build a caretaker’s house but the construction of the house has still not begun.
By securing this land, the community is laying the foundation for future sustainable initiatives and ensuring the protection of their sacred territory. This caretaker’s house will later expand into a bigger project to receive volunteers that will help care for the peyote seedbeds.
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Impact and Future Prospects
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These projects have played a critical role in preserving the Wixaritari community’s cultural heritage and sacred traditions. Preserving the peyote and the deer, who are one in spirit, through the protection of wirikuta and the deer sanctuary, helps to ensure that the children of the community who are now being introduced into ritual and spirituality, will be able to continue practicing this beautiful tradition. This report outlines the key achievements of 2024 and serves as a basis for ongoing collaboration with the Wixaritari people.
