Jeremy Narby is an anthropologist, writer, and advocate for Indigenous knowledge, born in Montreal, Canada, in 1959. After earning a doctorate in anthropology from Stanford University, he has devoted much of his life to studying the relationship between Amazonian peoples and nature, focusing on how native cultures understand and transmit knowledge about plants, animals, and ecosystems.

Between 1984 and 1986, he lived with Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon, particularly the Asháninka, learning about their systems of knowledge. His research aims to demonstrate the depth and complexity of Indigenous knowledge, which is often overlooked by Western science.

He is the author of several influential books, including The Cosmic Serpent, in which he argues that shamans can access molecular knowledge through ayahuasca. He recently retired after 35 years working with the Swiss NGO Nouvelle Planète, supporting land titling, intercultural education, and conservation projects in Amazonian communities.

Narby combines anthropology, science, and Indigenous knowledge, advocating for their integration. His life’s work shows a strong commitment to protecting the Amazon, respecting Indigenous cultures, and connecting native peoples with the broader world.