OUR STORY

Humanity has arrived at a space of active co-creation. Creating a new system requires us to acknowledge how we’ve been in relationship with the land and it’s wisdom keepers. Our model is a collective value system which centers the wisdom of the sacred Guayusa plant and honors the indigenous wisdom keepers that protect it. We invite people from all walks of life to learn the practices of integrating the teachings of this plant.

WISDOM KEEPERS

Meet the Kichwa Kuyaloma community and Association of Napusami, located in the Amazon region of Northern Ecuador. The Kichwa are the wisdom keepers and protectors of this sacred plant. In partnership, honor and respect, we’ve embarked on a collective journey to share the sacred traditions and wisdom.

Meet The Team

Meet The Team

  • Visionary

    Guayusa is inherent to this co-creation. We are not here to extract or comodify this sacred plant. We recognize that plants are here to teach, not serve us. We share this planet with them and they are our allies. We respect and have gratitude for her energy signature and the support she gives us in daily life. Learn more about the Guayusa plant here.

  • Co-Founder | Kichwa Wisdom Keeper

    Juan is a leader in the Kichwa Kuyaloma community and the Founder of Napusamai Pasourco Lodge. For over 25 years, Juan has been organizing retreats to teach ancestral knowledge and application of medicinal plants. Sacred Guayusa is a dream realized and part of the projects approved under the Ecuadorian resolutions law to protect the biodiversity of the flora, fauna, and culture. With the funding received, he acquires and reinvests into the Amazon. To-date, Juan has reforested over 30 hectares with medicinal plants.

  • Co-Founder | President

  • Co-Creator | Kichwa Wisdom Keeper

    Irene is a powerful medicine woman and wisdom keeper for Guayusa. She comes from a long line of Indigenous Elders in the Napo Region, caring for and preparing the sacred medicines along with the women of the community. She has been in deep relationship and preparing Guayusa and other plants for over 15 years. With the support of the community members, Irene creates the container for sacred ceremonies. A multi-faceted woman, she also manages retreat logistics, develops new projects, and coordinates cultural activities such as dance presentations, artisanal handcrafts, and healing foods for retreats to the sacred land.

  • Co-Founder

    Niza is US-based and of Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican lineage with strong Taino and Mayan roots. She brings 20 yrs. experience building partnerships, operations, and business models across various industries, including Marvel where she served as an Executive co-creating the infrastructure for integrated partnerships globally. Her work includes collaborations with diverse wellness communities in the co-working, NPO, event, and media sectors. In 2017, she connected and formed a strong bond with the Kichwa Kuyaloma community and is excited to assemble in true collective partnership to bring the visions of real world superheroes to life.
    Niza is a graduate of Penn State University with 2x Bachelors degrees in International Business & Marketing.

  • Co-Founder

    Juan Diego (JD) was born and raised in Ecuador and resides in Quito. As the Founder of NakSnack, he is leading the way towards food security in Ecuador and brings a technical background with a pragmatic systemic view on sustainability and innovation. This, coupled with his work with the Achuar, another Amazon community in Ecuador, he is supporting the build of indigenous community-led and managed ecosystems.

  • Advisor