Shavorã, Cultural Exchange and the Indigenous Female Power of Brazil.

Today, my words are being written directly from my homeland, São Paulo (BR). They carry the vibration and teachings conveyed through the sweet, deep, and precise words, like well-aimed arrows, which I received from two events I attended this past weekend. Once again, through the path of transformation by the hands of indigenous women and those who accompany them. Since 2015, I have followed with deep admiration the evolution of the path of the Yawanawa women. One of the greatest leaders of the Queixada (type of Wild Boar) people is a woman named Hushahu. Her arrow struck my heart during a ceremony at Colônia 5000, in Rio Branco, during the Second World Ayahuasca Conference, organized by ICEERS. Since then, I have been getting to know the work of other Yawanawa women who are students of teacher Hushahu, and my admiration only grows. The connection with this lineage, its current history, and the beauty of the saitis I have been learning have been vital on my journey. But today, I want to express my gratitude to these women who were part of the two events I attended last weekend (30/08/24). On Friday, I attended the event titled WOMANHOOD, GENDER, AND CULTURE, with the participation of: Hukena Yawanawá and Nãwãma, Anna Terra Yawalapiti, Jera Guarani Mbya, Bunke Inani, and Nixiani Huni Kuin.

It was a meeting of mutual empowerment and strengthening bonds, which united ancestral roots to discuss the struggle of these women involving gender issues and cultural transformations. As they introduced themselves and shared a bit of their journey, it became clear that each of them carries a path of breaking taboos, involving events that are new to the indigenous territory from which they come. Events such as: embracing a relationship and marriage with another woman, breaking a marriage and separating from the fathers of their children, establishing an association of 43 female leaders throughout their territory, entering diets with master plants that were previously only open to men, participating in spiritual life by consecrating Uni (ayahuasca) and leading ceremonies and diets, and especially liberating themselves from the possession of their bodies and destinies by the male leaders of their people - these are some examples of the results of these women's struggle.

Juliana Germano, Alice Haibara, Ana Terra, Dominique Nawama, Hukena Yawanawa, Jera Guarani e Bunke Inani

Many of the stories shared carried dense, painful, and difficult content. Stories of abuse, rape, child marriage, arranged marriages, more abuse, more rape, pedophilia, and other attitudes, practices, and values that are no longer tolerated by societies far from the villages were shared from a place of those who have broken away from these structures and continue to pave the way for the new generations of indigenous women who are already being born and growing up with mothers, aunts, and future grandmothers who carry their souls freed from what imprisoned them in the past. Women who were inspired to be the owners of their bodies and sovereign in the autonomy over their destinies; who walk the path of beauty and for whom the place of leadership also belong and becoming a reality everyday.

Dominique and Hukena sing Tonguerê from their first album. "It's already been 6 years of Tonguerê," joked Hukena.

Different perspectives were shared there, and people allowed themselves to express their struggles and difficulties. There was a lot of subtlety in the way the conversation was led by anthropologist Alice Haibara and clinical psychologist Juliana Germano—two women whose work is directly connected to these women and the generations they are nurturing in the world. Each in their own way, they are all medicine women. For me, the full potential and promise of a new tomorrow were resonating strongly right in front of me, literally loud and clear.

The next day, we had the honor of participating in a ceremony guided by the duo Shavorã, with the participation of Bunke and Nixiani. A group of 150 people gathered at a site that is a center originating from the União do Vegetal (a Brazilian church that also works with the medicine), and it was opening its doors for the first time in over 20 years of existence for an indigenous ceremony. For the first time in two decades of working with these master plants in different countries and contexts, I felt I belonged to a group where gender diversity was a reality.

Parte do grupo da cerimônia União de Povos, guiado por Shavorã no Sítio Irmandade Divina, interior de São Paulo.

To understand the type of space that is being created, nurtured, and offered by the Shavorã and their team, just read one of the paragraphs from the ceremony's organisation message.

"Our ceremony is a reference of respect, care, and inclusion for the LGBTQIAPN+ community, and it is extremely important that everyone present knows how to respect this diversity of bodies, genders, and realities. Any act of disrespect should be reported to the organisation, and measures will be taken. We appreciate the cooperation of each person present; it is the responsibility of all participants to ensure that our ceremony is a moment of healing and care for everyone."

Weaving Wholeness (me), Alma Luz Adélia e Bruna Marques.

The manifestation of Hukena and Nãwãma's mission is that, through their union, they break structures that have been deeply rooted until now. Shavorã has been gaining strength and independence through voice, art, culture, and the relationship with plants. They seek to empower other women, especially indigenous women. In this way, more and more women can occupy spaces of recognition and respect. By breaking structures and honouring the healthy roots of their ancestry (indigenous and Afro-Brazilian) that run through their veins, they give wings to a new way of thinking that can transform these structures. (Shavorã Material)