At Chacruna: 1st Indigenous Ayahuasca Conference – Yubaka Hayrá, Acre, Brazil: The Wisdom of the Elders

Maíra Dias

In December 2017, indigenous Brazilian ayahuasqueiros from the north-western State of Acre came together at the Yubaka Hayrá—the inaugural Indigenous Ayahuasca Conference, in the Puyanawa Indigenous Territory, in the Municipality of Mâncio Lima. It was a conference “by Indians for Indians,” according to Francisco Pyãko Ashaninka, coordinator of the Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Juruá River (OPIRJ), promoting the “wisdom of the elders,” as described by Biraci Brasil, as Chief Biraci Nixiwaka Yawanawá is known, seeking to address questions relating to the ancestral drink common to all of them. Apolimas-Arara, Ashaninkas, Huni Kuins, Jaminawas, Jaminawas-Arara, Kuntanawas, Nawas, Noke Kois, Nukinis, Puyanawas, Shanenawas, Shawãdawas and Yawanawás held meetings for three days, with two cups of ayahuasca on the debating table, available for consultation for anyone who so desired. It was the first time, at least it is known, that so many ethnicities gathered to discuss their sacred drink... continue reading.