Opening Ceremony

Pilar Vergés, known as Iaia Pilar, is a spiritual guide and a reference figure in the field of ancestral practices and plant-based work in Catalonia. Originally from Catalan lands, she has been closely connected for decades to the Garrotxa region, where she has developed much of her path in relationship with the territory, nature, and spaces considered sacred.

With a trajectory spanning more than forty years, Iaia Pilar has cultivated a path of learning and transmission centered on the ritual and symbolic use of plants, integrating local knowledge with influences from Indigenous traditions of the Americas. Her work lies at the intersection of spirituality, ecology, and community, expressed in contexts such as temazcal ceremonies, vision quests, and spaces for ritual accompaniment.

Over the years, she has participated in and collaborated with various initiatives and collectives dedicated to the recovery of ancestral knowledge and the strengthening of the bond between people and nature. She is recognized as an “elder” or wisdom keeper, accompanying individual and collective processes from a perspective of care, respect, and deep listening.

Her work is oriented toward preserving and transmitting a vision of life based on reciprocity, balance, and connection with the Earth, contributing to the resurgence of contemporary spiritual practices in dialogue with tradition.

For the past 23 years, Benjamin De Loenen’s work has been dedicated to addressing critical challenges related to the globalization of ayahuasca and other traditional Indigenous medicines. His deepest commitment is to ensure that the path of collective stewardship strengthens all communities involved, fostering alliances between ancestral and Western knowledge systems in service of collective healing and a regenerative future

In 2009, Benjamin founded the non-profit ICEERS (iceers.org) as the principal vehicle to bring this mission into the world. From 2022, he served as Interim Co-Director of the Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund (IMC.fund) during its formative years, until Indigenous Co-Directors assumed leadership in 2024.

He has also served on the Board of the Global Ibogaine Therapist Alliance, is the author of the documentary Ibogaine – Rite of Passage (2004) and Ayahuasca Reframed (2012), is a TEDx speaker, and has lectured at conferences worldwide.

Since 2019, Benjamin has focused on deepening his study of Indigenous onto-epistemologies through alliances with ancestral knowledge holders, with a commitment to bringing his life, relationships, and work into alignment with the learnings of this path.

Nixiwaka Biraci Brasil Yawanawa is a renowned spiritual and political leader of the Yawanawa People in Acre, Brazilian Amazon. Throughout his life, he has been dedicated to preserving the culture, spirituality, and territorial rights of his people, with special attention to protecting the Amazon rainforest.
Under his leadership, the Yawanawa People obtained official recognition of their ancestral territory and initiated a cultural revitalization movement, focused on passing on traditional knowledge to new generations and expanding the dialogue with the world.

Since the 1980s, Nixiwaka has been an important voice in the Brazilian Indigenous movement, collaborating on the founding of Amazonian and Latin American Indigenous organizations. He is the president of the Nixiwaka Institute and one of the creators of the Indigenous Ayahuasca Conference.

His work is also distinguished by building bridges between ancestral knowledge and contemporary debates on sustainability and ecological balance. His leadership is marked by a commitment to preserving his people's memory and autonomy, ancestral wisdom, and the urgency of strengthening Indigenous voices on the global stage to build a world of peace and sustainability.

Benki Piyãko is an important leader of the Ashaninka People of the Amônia River, widely recognized as a social entrepreneur, environmental activist, and human rights defender. In addition to being an Indigenous spiritual leader, he is one of the founders of the Indigenous Ayahuasca Conference. As President of the Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute, in Marechal Thaumaturgo, Acre State, he carries out activities in reforestation of degraded areas, fish farming, and the education and awareness of local and global society about environmental protection and the strengthening of Indigenous culture.

As a guardian of the ancestral traditions of his people, Benki is committed to sharing knowledge about the forest, traditional medicine, and Ashaninka spirituality. He is an influential voice in national and international forums and coordinates local and global initiatives focused on environmental protection, including the preservation of river springs and the strengthening of Indigenous communities both in Brazil and in other countries. In addition, he is widely recognized for his wisdom, his ability to engage in dialogue, and his unwavering commitment to preserving the planet’s environmental and cultural heritage.