Indigenous Culture
Indigenous peoples are any ethnic group of peoples who are considered to fall under one of the internationally recognized definitions of indigenous peoples, such as “those ethnic groups that were indigenous to a territory prior to being incorporated into a national state, and who are politically and culturally separate from the majority ethnic identity of the state that they are a part of.” Some people refer to the indigenous as ‘first nation peoples,’ or ‘original peoples.’ They were the first to walk on any given earthly land before it was colonized by other nations/peoples.
Indigenous peoples all have their own unique culture that they live by, with inherent morals, principles, beliefs, customs, traditions, philosophies and practices. For the most part, what unites indigenous cultures in commonality is that they are earth-centered and animistic – believing that everything in existence holds consciousness. Some of these cultures feature practices surrounding the use of psychotropic plants, believing that such practices are a way of gaining direct access to this animistic consciousness that is considered to be wise and divine. It is these practices that brought a global upsurge in interest in the cultures of the world’s indigenous peoples.
Explore the Intersection of Psychedelics & Shamanism at The Plant Spirit Summit
A new paradigm of healing is emerging at the intersection of psychedelic medicine and ancestral shamanic healing… Psychedelic medicine has been pushed to the forefront as the new frontier in psychotherapy, a new solution to the global mental health crisis. Psychotherapists might say that its cause is widespread trauma, the outcome of an increasingly unequal…
Read MoreAyahuasca Ceremonies Huni Kuin Style, at the Eskawata Kayawe Festival
Guest writer Iván Sawyer García gives us a glimpse of the Huni Kuin way of life, and their use of ayahuasca, in the Brazilian Amazon.
Read MoreWhat’s a “Traditional” Ayahuasca Ceremony? Hint: It’s Not What You Think
Is there such a thing as a traditional ayahuasca ceremony? What do ayahuasca retreats mean when they call their ceremonies “traditional”?
Read MoreWhat Are Ayahuasca Icaros & How Do They Work?
Icaros are shamanic songs that come from spiritual realms, and possess unparalleled power. Here we describe the different types, and where icaros come from.
Read MoreDeclaration by the Indigenous Peoples of the World Ayahuasca Conference 2019
A summary of the statement made by Indigenous Amazonian Peoples at the World Ayahuasca Conference 2019.
Read MoreRichard Evans Schultes: The Father of Modern Ethnobotany
Richard Evans Schultes was an Amazonian explorer, and some consider him the father of ethnobotany thanks to the discoveries he made.
Read MoreAyahuasca vs Yage vs Daime – What’s the Difference?
Ayahuasca, Yagé, Daime – three different names for a powerfully visionary tea consumed primarily in the northwestern region of the Amazon Basin, where Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil come together. But are they three different names for the same plant medicine recipe? Or are they different? If so, how? Depending on who you ask, answers tend…
Read MoreAyahuasca Governance & The One Thing We Need to Do To Improve Society
With the global expansion of ayahuasca, it is still considered to be an illegal drug in many countries – some communities are in danger of prosecution; would it be possible for ayahuasca to be recognized as a global cultural heritage under UN? Would this be a good thing, and how might we be able to arrive at…
Read MoreSex, Sacred Medicine & the Psychedelic Patriarchy
Sexual assault and misconduct among shamans has long plagued the plant medicine shamanism community, resulting in prolonged physical and emotional trauma for ceremony participants, rather than healing. But is it “wrong” for a shaman to sleep with a ceremony participant? When do accepted cultural behaviors transgress into sexual addiction and predation? And is it all…
Read MoreShamanism, Racism & Cultural Appropriation in a Multicultural World
The worldwide expansion of sacred plant medicine ceremonies beyond their cultural boundaries has been coined a “global shamanic revival”. Increasing the numbers of Westerners traveling to the Amazon, Central America, and Africa to participate in tribal ceremonies, initiations, and festivals. This heightened interest in indigenous culture has fueled an indigenous cultural renaissance in the Amazon…
Read More