Amid the Amazon fires in October 2019, we sponsored a gathering of over 200 indigenous elders from all over the Brazilian Amazon, in which federal judges, scientists, environmental lawyers and government representatives were also present. This meeting served to discuss strategies in the face of the fires and under the current political regime, as well as the pressing issues that arise with this new wave of interest in their ancestral medicines. As entheogens like ayahuasca gain more attention worldwide, it is crucial that these experts guide the proper use and cultural integrity of the medicines.
We will build a structure to accommodate guests, which will remain standing after the conference as a part of the Yorenka Tasorentsi Project, a cultural, medicinal, and reforestation and agroforestry university.