WISDOM KEEPERS
Reconciling, Reconnecting and cooperate with Original Nations
In the 200 years or so since industrialization, there has been incredible destruction and stress on the environment and climate on all continents. The overexploitation of the earth for the profit of large corporations has gotten out of control. For this, most biospheres have been thrown out of balance, peoples have been killed, driven off their land or colonized in a brutal way, and many animal species have been exterminated. All this from a one-sided Western worldview that no longer respects nature and people. We must become aware of this in order to be able to recognize the effects in a holistic sense and to be able to remedy their causes.
That all this could happen has 2 essential causes: The outer separation of people from nature and the inner separation from spiritual guidance. These separations are to be made conscious to humans and overcome.
Humanity is a community in a globally interconnected civilization, in which every single human being can do what is in his or her power to contribute to its overcoming, the worldwide reconciliation and the restoration of the biospheres.
In respectful cooperation for the benefit of all, a mutual understanding of cause and effect as well as realizations of mistakes and the corresponding reparation emerges.
This is also necessary, among other things, to convince indigenous peoples of the seriousness of reconciliation and compensation. There are still so many open wounds of peoples regarding the atrocities of our ancestors with their campaigns of conquest, colonial overexploitation of raw materials, destruction of sacred sites, and exploitation and oppression of indigenous peoples, especially in Africa, the Americas and Australia.
The Wisdom Keepers
In this sense, the journeys with the group of wisdom keepers serve the places as well as the reconciliation of people and cultures. We want to contribute through these activation journeys to overcome the separation of nature and spiritual vision.
And that through the participants from all continents also their ancestral lines and cultures and knowledge preserved over generations flow in. Through their representation and experience in the different fields, together they use all the necessary methods and combine the old and the new knowledge to fully reconnect and reactivate the energetic flows in the ley grid.
Connecting, preserving and protecting them is an ongoing task, as is sharing and expanding knowledge and experience about them. This is why the Wisdom Keepers are also involved in the next Earthrise Collective Gathering in Capetown.
The Coregroup
Here I would like to introduce you to our group that visits and documents the ley places. It represents the ancient cultural lines of all continents and it is about sharing their history, experiences and projects. We work there together with the indigenous peoples of the respective places, hold ceremonies in which we connect and so symbolically also stand for the new global humanity, which recognizes the current problems and solves them together. You can see the wisdom keepers in the film TRANSFORMATION – which is expected to be released in spring 2023 – and there also experience their show about the current situation of the places, the environment and humanity and what each of us can do and experience for it.
We are also sharing and defending this knowledge and the solutions with the Wisdom Keeper Delegation at COP28 in Dubai.
Rutendo Ngara, South Africa
She has an M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering and will soon receive her transdisciplinary Ph.D. from the DST/NRF South African Research Chair at Unisa.
Her research focuses on the synthesis between Western and Indigenous medical knowledge systems and her dissertation is titled “Science, Culture, Cosmology and Paradigms of Healing – Towards an Integrated Approach.”
In addition to her professional work, Rutendo sits on a number of Indigenous councils and advisory committees, including as chair of the Credo Mutwa Foundation.
Passionate about the integration of science and spirituality for the healing of the Collective Consciousness and the restoration of holistic ways of living, she works as a spiritual sangoma master, guide, shaman, priestess, and facilitator of various types of healing for people and sacred sites. This work is guided by her ancestral, water and lion spirits.
Mindahi Bastida, Mexico
Mindahi Crescencio Bastida Muñoz has a PhD and is the Director of the Original Nations Program at The Fountain and a member of the Delegation for Mother Earth. He is an executive member of the Alliance Guardians of Mother Earth and spokesperson for the recently formed Grand Council of the Eagle and the Condor. He is also the General Coordinator of the Otomi Regional Council of the Lerma River Basin in Mexico, which advocates for the rights of nature and Mother Earth and for the right of self-determination of the original peoples.
Mindahi has participated as a delegate in various commissions and summits on indigenous rights and sustainability, including the 1992 Earth Summit and the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002). From 2015 to 2020, he served as Director of the Original Caretakers Program at the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and was invited to participate on several advisory boards.
He has published on the relationship between the state and indigenous peoples, cross-cultural education, collective intellectual property rights and related traditional knowledge, biocultural sacred sites, and other topics.
Tatjana Kobelzhicova, Altai Russia
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Pooven Moodley, South African of Indian origin
He has contributed to a range of indigenous resistance and struggles around the world, beginning with the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa when he was 14 years old. Pooven has worked in over 30 countries and has campaigned with a range of communities and activists from the local to the global level on issues including women’s right to land in Africa, the fight against large mining companies destroying indigenous communities and the environment.
He carries ancient wisdom based on his Indian ancestry and also works closely with sangomas in South Africa and wisdom keepers from over 40 traditions across the world. He is the co-founder of the Earthrise Collective (Ancient wisdom, activism and alternatives), which brings together wisdom keepers and activists from across the globe. Pooven has been travelling to different energy centres and sacred sites across the planet with wisdom keepers from various traditions, working with the energy grid of the planet.
Caileen Sisk and
Pom Sisk, Shasta USA
Chief Caileen Sisk of the Winneman Wintu provided spiritual leadership. Here at a public appearance to protect Salmon.
Chief’s son Pom Sisk. He is globally engaged and also leads the project RUN4SALMON.
Jacob Johns, USA
Jacob Johns is from the Akimel O’Otham and Hopi nations. He is a community supported organizer who operates as an autonomous change agent. His work focuses on strategic ways to implement new paradigms into outdated systems of oppression. Visual artist as well as organizer Johns uses a multitude of ways to shift political will as creatively as possible. From front line direct action to structural organizing for campaigns, including digital content creation, Johns uses dynamic innovative ways to convey messages to humanity .
He currently leads design at studio 1 eleven a movement to counteract the effects of cultural genocide by the American government. Johns works to remind humanity of forgotten truths so that we can move forward together, into a healthy livable future.
Sharazad Aywan, Egypt
Narciso Corona, ColumbiA
In the sacred lands of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, a devoted guardian of KOGI traditions emerges, and his name is Narciso Coronado Vacuna. Born into a lineage of wisdom, Narciso is the son and interpreter of Mamo Manuel Coronado Simongama, a revered Kogi Elder, and a Kogi mother. His life’s journey is deeply intertwined with the spiritual heritage of his people, and he carries the sacred responsibility of preserving and passing on the ancient wisdom of the Kogi.
Growing up in the embrace of his Kogi roots, Narciso also learned Spanish in school, becoming a bridge between the Kogi culture and the modern world. His unique ability to interpret and communicate between these realms allows him to bring the wisdom of his people to a broader audience, fostering understanding and respect for KOGI traditions. Despite his rich cultural heritage, Narciso recognised the importance of education and attended University to study Nursing. Through this academic pursuit, he gained valuable knowledge that complements his spiritual upbringing, creating a well-rounded foundation for his work in both the physical and spiritual realms.
Narciso’s journey of spiritual growth and service led him to accompany his father, Mamo Manuel Coronado Simongama, in doing sacred work at the hallowed sites in Sierra de Santa Marta. Together, they engage in spiritual practices that honor and connect with the sacred landscape, fostering a deep connection with the land and its ancestral wisdom. Narciso’s unwavering commitment to his heritage makes him a strong holder of Kogi traditions. Through his actions and teachings, he preserves the sacred knowledge that has been passed down through generations, ensuring that the essence of KOGI wisdom remains vibrant and alive.
As Narciso Coronado Vacuna walks the path of his ancestors while embracing the modern world, he embodies the essence of unity and continuity. His journey of education, spiritual practice, and service harmoniously weaves the threads of the past and the present, nurturing a legacy of cultural pride and reverence for the Earth.
Narciso Coronado Vacuna’s life journey embodies the interplay between tradition and progress, illustrating the importance of preserving cultural heritage while adapting to the challenges of the contemporary world. As he accompanies his father in spiritual work and bridges cultural divides, he paves the way for a future where ancient wisdom thrives, and the sacred connection between humanity and the Earth remains honored and cherished.
Yanling Duan, China
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Eru, New Zealand
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Whaia Whea, New Zealand
Whaia, of the Ngati Kahugnunu tribe, has walked the Australian outback desert since she was six years old. The land and her Aboriginal grandmother of the Yindjibarndi people in the Pilbara have shaped her story from an early age. A Maori and Whale Wife who travels with traditional First Nations instruments and crystal singing bowls, Whaia weaves her healing phonetics. With her traditional Koauau Whales Tooth Flute, she preserves the ancient whale songs of her ancestors. Singing in her native language of Te Reo, the language of the sun, Whaia combines intuitive melodies of wood, bone, clay and stone with the currents of the crystalline frequency field that forms the sound bridge between worlds. For over two decades she has performed professionally at festivals, sacred gatherings and retreats throughout Australia and New Zealand.
She discovers new pathways of integration and understanding in today’s world and builds bridges for these transitional rights to reawaken women across borders and races. She founded Kurawaka Australia – Empowering Women Through Culture & Arts, a branch of her whakapapa lineage and mentor Wheae Te Raina Ferris.
Kalani Souza, Hawaii
Wise Kahuna priest and shaman Kalani is a multi-faceted Activist, thought leader and networker.
Galina Angarova, Siberia
Galina is a representative of the Ekhirit nation of the Buryat Peoples, a Russian Indigenous group. Before joining Cultural Survival, she worked in local and global advocacy organizing direct actions and campaigns against large natural resource extraction projects including oil and gas development, mining, and hydro-dam development in Siberia and the Russian Far East. Thereafter, she served as a representative of the Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group at the United Nations on issues of Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Furthermore, Galina led a team of Indigenous experts to represent the Indigenous Peoples constituency to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Green Climate Fund. Galina served as a policy and communications advisor for Tebtebba Foundation, and later transitioned to working as a program officer for the Swift Foundation. There, she managed a portfolio of 75 grantee partners in British Columbia, Canada, regions of the Amazon and the Andes in South America, and parts of the United States and Africa. Galina holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico. For over seven years she served on the board of International Funders of Indigenous Peoples (IFIP), the only global donor affinity group dedicated to Indigenous Peoples issues worldwide. In 2019, Galina joined Cultural Survival as the Executive Director.
Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq, Grönland
Angaangaq will spiritually guide the ceremony. He is one of the last great shamans and Wisdom Keepers of the Inuit and spreads their knowledge also through ICE WISDOM.
Edith Soto, Mexico
Trevor, Uluru Australien
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Don Alvaro Diaz, Mexico
Don Alvaro is the guardian of the pyramids of Teotihuacan and for 25 years a founding member and co-organizer of the Sun and Moon Dances in front of the corresponding pyramids. He has received several awards for this, including from the City of Mexico City.
He works as a traditional doctor on the foundations of the Mesoamerican peoples, especially the Maya, Olmec and Toltec. This traditional medicine is about healing not only the body, but also the mind, the psyche, the emotions, as well as the energy body.
He led many ceremonies to heal Mother Earth and Sacred Sites, such as Path of the Jaguar in many pyramids and temples, Path of the Eagle and Condor in Tiahuanaco and Puma Punku in Bolivia, Activation of the 1000 Drums in the Jalisco ceremonies, and he also worked in different places in Europe, Switzerland, Italy and France.
Rick Ferguson, Hawaii
Rick has been an active environmentalist all his life. He spent the first part in the technical field as a geological engineer, studying the science and physical nature of the of the earth. The second part of his life set him on a spiritual path as he learned to deepen his relationship with the spirit of water and the spirit of trees – which earned him the name Spirit Walker and gave him the guidance to help humanity find a better way by leaning into love. Rick is the co-founder and organizer of the successful WWD World Water Day and he runs a non-profit organization in Kauai, Hawaii to spread these messages and bring us into better balance with the natural world. To this end, he works with indigenous leaders and has published several books.
Fernando Ausin, Mexico
Fernando holds a BA in Latin American politics from Dartmouth College and has worked extensively as a consultant, educator and healer around the globe. He is an international social entrepreneur with a strong passion for social justice and global sustainability. For the past 15 years, he has been studying the promise of survival for humanity from an indigenous perspective, travelling across 48 states in the US and most of Mexico to learn from these teachers. Through his non-profit organizations, he teaches their lessons to younger generations. His most recent book, “Messages from the Elders” describes the cosmovision and wisdom of a man of knowledge from a remote indigenous community in the highlands of Mexico.
Juan Carlos Kaiten, Mexico
He holds a master’s degree in “Strategic Leadership toward Sustainability” from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden, where he began his research on social bio-mimicry and co-developed the “Magic Canoe” model for large-scale collaboration. This model reveals the principles and DNA of a global co-creative community.
He is a social architect and alchemist specializing in evolutionary leadership, collective intelligence, social networks, and organizational transformation. He is a co-founder of the School of Social Alchemy and a member of the One Ancient Future initiative, which aims to map, protect, and reactivate sacred sites across the planet. He has also been deeply involved in Mayan and Native American traditions for more than 25 years, participating in sacred rituals and activation ceremonies in Mexico, the U.S. and Egypt. He has also studied Egyptian alchemy and spagyric (alchemy of sound) as well as spiritual knowledge and traditions around the world.
Erika Sylven, Sweden
Erika lives in Stockholm and is in the Sami connection. She sees her a spiritual seeker who is dedicated to travelling and have for many years been drawn to explore ancient places of wisdom. She has been all around Asia from China, Pyramids in Xian, Mongolia, Monasteries in Tibet, temples in Bhutan to the sites in Turkey; such as Cappadocia, Nemrut and Göbekli Tepe. She also went on initiation trips to Egypt, where she visited the 3 pyramids in Giza, as well as the 3 pyramids in Teotihuacan in Mexico, because both places are aligned with the constellation Orion. She has been doing voluntary work in South Africa, at the White Lion Trust Foundation, as well been travelling within South Africa, and visited the stone circle Inzalo ya Langa among few other special places.
Erika is also passionate about mediations, dedicated to the work of different healing and trauma modalities in order to come back home to the true sate of being – conected in the heart. She is also passionate to bring Ceremonial Cacao to Scandinavia and hold and create loving and heart opening cacao ceremonies.Mindahi has participated as a delegate in various commissions and summits on indigenous rights and sustainability, including the 1992 Earth Summit and the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002). From 2015 to 2020, he served as Director of the Original Caretakers Program at the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and was invited to participate on several advisory boards.
He has published on the relationship between the state and indigenous peoples, cross-cultural education, collective intellectual property rights and related traditional knowledge, biocultural sacred sites, and other topics.
