Empowering Indigenous Communities Worldwide
COLLABORATIVE ALLIANCES
Continued relationship building with the various
indigenous communities in Colombia (Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo), other people and organizations in fostering similar mission and purpose as Teyuna’s is first and foremost.
It is the foundation upon which all collaborations are centered. This includes clearly defining a series of wise practices for collaboration. These wise practices apply whether the outputs are educational programs, research collaborations, or other endeavors.
We aim to create a foundation of relationship and trust, to understand that Indigenous and Western knowledge systems can reflect, resonate with, and reinforce one another, and can affirm and build upon each other when treated as equally valid, valuable, and vital.
Shi Tayku Land Recovery (Past Support Initiative): At an earlier stage of our work, limited support was provided toward the initial phases of the Shi Tayku land recovery effort in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta—an area of ecological and cultural significance connected to Indigenous communities and their ancestral practices. This contribution was specific to early-stage support, including partial assistance toward land acquisition.
The initiative was envisioned as a space for environmental stewardship, cultural continuity, and the preservation of traditional knowledge, including language, spirituality, and ancestral practices.
Teyuna Foundation’s involvement was confined to this initial period and did not extend to project implementation, governance, or land ownership structures. This experience formed part of the Foundation’s broader learning journey and has informed the evolution of its current, community-centered and guidance-based approach.
COLLABORATION FOR DEEPENING OPPORTUNITIES
At Teyuna Foundation, we recognize that a deeper connection with the natural world can be profoundly transformative. Through immersive learning experiences, we create spaces for individuals to engage with ancestral wisdom carried by Mamos and Jabas—respected spiritual authorities and keepers of knowledge—whose teachings reflect a living understanding of balance, care, and interconnectedness.
These offerings are not simply educational, but experiential—inviting reflection, awareness, and a reconnection with the rhythms of life. The presence and guidance of the Jabas, in particular, have become an essential and expanding dimension of this work, bringing forward the wisdom of the feminine line—grounded in life cycles, care, and the continuity of all living beings.Through these encounters, participants are offered the opportunity to learn in a way that is both personal and collective, carrying forward insights that often continue to unfold long beyond the experience itself.
