Spirit of New Hope: Sacred Chants, Storytelling & Hapé with Chief Iskukua
About this Event
GISELLE WORLD HOSTS!
Spirit of New Hope: Sacred Chants, Storytelling & Hapé with Chief Iskukua
It's an honor to invite you all to meet Chief Iskukua and his daughter to share their profound & beautiful music and chants, their wisdom, and their culture.
Please join us November 4, 2026--6pm to receive some of their powerful, healing, and beautiful chants and songs bringing us to that connection with the deep Amazon Forest!!!
THE YAWANAWA
The Yawanawa people live along the banks of the Gregorio River, in the Brazilian state of Acre. They are the guardians of some 500,000 acres of Amazonian rainforest, of which about 95% has been kept intact. In the most biodiverse biome on the planet, their ancestors developed a vast knowledge of the healing plants of the forest and a cosmovision of great spiritual wisdom.
The Yawanawa's first contact with the non-indigenous world happened a little over a hundred years ago. The initial conflicts reduced the Yawanawa family to less than 100 people. For decades they endured the presence of the rubber industry and the missionaries who invaded their lands and tried to forbid Yawanawá language, culture and spirituality. In the 1980s, their fight for the recognition of their ancestral territory led the Yawanawá to become the first indigenous people to obtain the official rights to their lands in the state of Acre.
Under the guidance and teachings of pajés Tata and Yawa, the last living elders and medicine men of their people, the Yawanawa have been on a profound journey of cultural and spiritual revival. Their sacred rituals, prayers, songs and art are now celebrated all year round. In the last 20 years, the Yawanawa leaders have been dedicated to developing a model of sustainability that allows them to engage with the outside world on their own terms, without compromising their cultural and spiritual identity. Nowadays, the Yawanawa population is estimated at over 1200 people, 80% of which are children and youth. The new generations carry their identity with pride and are committed to the continuation of the legacy of their ancestors.
In the last decade the Yawanawa youth introduced instruments such as guitars, flutes and drums into their traditional ceremonies and prayers, and an exceptional musical culture has been rising from deep in the Amazon rainforest. Combined with their powerful voices, Yawanawa music is now known around the world and the new generation of Yawanawa leaders travel the world to share the message of the forest through their ancestral prayers and phenomenal music.
LOGISTICS
Family please eat before hand as there won't be food available for sale.
Please bring your own reusable water bottle.
PARKING:
Street parking
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENTS:
If you 'd like to avoid paying the eventbrite fees, feel free to send your payment via Venmo to @giselleworld with your name and which event you are attending.
Chief Iskukua Yawanawá
Chief Iskukua, son of revered elder Nixiwaka Yawanawá, is a visionary leader of Nova Esperanza Village dedicated to preserving his people's traditions and land.
Initiated into Yawanawá spirituality at 22, he travels globally to share their teachings and is renowned for his traditional music.
At just 26, after earning the elders’ trust, he became the youngest Chief of the Yawanawás. He also serves as Vice Coordinator of OPIRJ, where he serves as Vice Coordinator for the indigenous communities of the Jurua River.
His main mission is to revitalize the Yawanawá language and culture. Leading a village of youth and children, he works to pass down their traditions and ensure fluency in their native tongue, believing that losing a language means losing identity.
Blending deep ceremonial roots with a modern vision, Chief Iskukua guides his people toward education, sustainability, and sovereignty through unity and collective action.
Yawakanah Yawanawa
At just 13 years old, Yawakanah Yawanawa embarks on her first journey to North America, carrying the strength and wisdom of her ancestors. Having recently completed a profound three-month spiritual diet deep in the Amazon rainforest, she embodies the sacred teachings of her lineage with grace and devotion.
Guided by her grandfather, Nixiwaka, and her father, Isku Kua, Yawakanah is a gifted singer and musician. She leads a group of young girls in her village dedicated to preserving Yawanawa culture, ensuring that the traditions of her people continue to thrive.
Her voice carries the spirit of the forest, touching hearts across generations and inspiring all who hear the beauty of her songs.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 58.85 to USD 116.15
