Reclaiming Stewardship in a World of Entitlement

In this session, we reflect on the values of today’s dominant culture and on how the expansion of Indigenous medicines has been marked by practices of individualism, extractivism, and cultural appropriation. Drawing from the foundations of Indigenous cultures—rooted in interdependence, regeneration, and the collaborative stewardship of life—we seek to outline pathways for ensuring respect for Indigenous intellectual property, strengthening just legislation, and cultivating a global ethical consciousness for the protection of ayahuasca, traditional knowledges, territories, and life itself.