Huni Kuin Multi Cultural Center for Women & Youth

The Shamanic Multicultural Center, located in Brazil, is intended to gather and empower indigenous Amazonian youth and women by creating a space to learn and exchange the ancient wisdom of the indigenous cultures. The multicultural center is designed to care for the environment and cultures of the Amazon rainforest. The inidgenous tribes and shamanic wisdom keepers of Brazil are the original stewards of the Amazon rainforest.

These indigenous wisdom holders of the Brazilian Amazon are losing their territories and traditions at an increasing rate. Women, keepers of the ancestral wisdom, are marginalized and restricted from their traditional healing roles due to the influence of Western, male-dominated culture. Many women are denied the right to practice their healing skills despite being sought out for the depth of their knowledge. Many youth are losing touch with the roots of their culture due to modern influences and the lack of opportunities to study their culture: the language, plant wisdom, ancient healing practice, music and art craft.

Our project will support youth to connect to the roots of their culture through partnerships with individuals and key villages: spiritual and plant-based healing, master plant dietas, traditional music, rituals, and art craft. The space will also provide women healers a safe and expansive place to practice their traditional skills and receive people seeking their healing practice.

We will also promote intercultural exchange on several levels:

Amazonian inter-tribe cultural exchange: In addition to establishing a learning hub for traditional cultures, the space will be open to exchange between youth and women of neighboring indigenous tribes such as the Huni Kuin, Yawanawa, Shanenawa, Varinawa and beyond. This will be a safe space for indigenous female leaders and wisdom keepers to practice their ancestral healing, exchange knowledge and share rituals during cultural gatherings, ceremonies, festivals, and dietas. Youth will also have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and build collaborations.

International cultural exchange: We have a space is designed to receive visitors from abroad, such as the United States and Europe for cultural immersions, retreats, festivals and dietas. The organization will also support excursions and immersive experiences for Westerners to learn the roots of the indigenous culture in Amazonian villages. These exchanges are an invitation for citizens of the world to become stewards and allies of all indigenous cultures of the Amazon. We are inviting global collaboration in stewarding and guardianship of the Amazon Rainforest.

The multicultural center is a co-creation between inidgenous wisdom holders, Brazilian allies, and organizers from the United States.

To begin this project, we are seeking support for the establishment of the following: