Empowering Indigenous Communities Worldwide
Our Team
At Teyuna Foundation, we strive to co-create a culture of heart-centered collaboration in honoring our mission. We share a common goal of protecting our Earth Mother and the ancient wisdom of the indigenous elders. We continue moving forward and learning from each other as we progress with our projects.
Mary Gaetjens
Founder
Introduced to Teyuna (Tairona) Elders in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia in 2016 and asked to be of service to Earth through them: to help protect the land they steward, The Heart of the World, and to support them in pagamento, the work they literally believe they exist to do. She agreed and has come to know the mamos and zagas (male and female spiritual leaders) as highly skilled planetary healers she’s had the honor to work with. As a life-long Earth steward she is honored and humbled to have founded the Teyuna Foundation in 2018 to further assist the Teyuna mission.
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She believes that indigenous wisdom is essential to the survival of the human race and she works with the last surviving pre-Colombian tribes to emphasize that. If the industrialized world does not heed the council of the Elders, does not turn to holistic ways of living that are founded on holistic principal: we are not separate from nature; we are the natural world. We were meant to live harmoniously: flora, fauna, ocean, sweet water, and land. We must care for Mother Earth as if she was our own mother, because she is. We must uphold peace, spiritual commitment, hope, and love as our highest values and weave our many cultures into a common thread of connection. We must honor the distinctive combination of insight, vision, and acceptance that empowers people to discover themselves through a connection to Earth, thereby a connection to themselves.
ANNA GALLMAN
Managing Director
Anna Gallman has an extensive background in business development in Hispanic territories across the world for over 32 years. As Founder/CEO of her own business, she has developed an extended network of business associates and engaged in various successful collaborative partnerships.
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Originally from Bolivia, she was exposed to indigenous cultures since an early age, having found an affinity with their ancient teachings about respect for and living in harmony with mother earth.
In 2007 she engaged with Pachamama Alliance as an active Facilitator of educational forums on earth consciousness, stewardship and social justice. In 2019 she started facilitating engagement of various companies and universities in California, with Project Drawdown–The 100 Solutions to Reverse Global Warming.
In late 2022 she engaged with Teyuna Foundation as Managing Director, overseeing all operations, projects, and co-creation of new workshops for the Western World. Also establishing new relationships with key Colombian agencies and worldwide foundations working towards the protection of indigenous communities.
VERN TAYLOR
Vern Taylor brings a lifetime of experience in leadership development, education, and facilitation. He holds a Ph.D. in Management and Behavioral Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and spent his early career in organizational development, including work with the American Management Association and Northrop Grumman.
Since his retirement, Vern has dedicated his work to service-oriented and mission-driven initiatives, including youth advocacy, education, and collaborative facilitation.
His long-standing involvement with the Pachamama Alliance—in partnership with the Achuar people of the Ecuadorian Amazon—reflects a deep commitment to the protection of ancestral lands and the respectful integration of Indigenous ecological wisdom.
Vern’s presence within Teyuna reflects a thoughtful bridge between structured leadership and a sincere respect for ancestral knowledge.
Alexandra Isaievych
Alexandra Isaievych is an artist, educator, and public policy professional whose work sits at the intersection of creative practice and community impact. She holds a master's degree in public policy that grounds her systems-oriented thinking. Her career spans nonprofit leadership, international consulting, and educational program development. She has volunteered with the Pachamama Alliance and is a life-long student of indigenous wisdom both in her native Ukraine and in North America.
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Within Teyuna Foundation, Alexandra contributes through her ability to cultivate meaningful relationships and support collaborative processes that bridge cultures. Her work strengthens the human dimension of the Foundation’s mission—fostering dialogue, trust, and alignment while honoring the integrity of ancestral knowledge.
Ruth Ford
Ruth Ford is a board member of Teyuna Foundation with a lifelong commitment to cultural understanding, creative innovation, and respect for indigenous wisdom traditions.
Her early experiences fostered a deep appreciation for diversity, global perspectives, and the value of learning through human connection. In 1978, Ruth relocated to Cancun, Mexico, where her work in photography led to immersive experiences with Mayan communities and the cultural significance of Chichén Itzá. This transformative period shaped her enduring dedication to ancestral knowledge, social responsibility, and cultural preservation.
Ruth later became an educational facilitator with Pachamama Alliance, further strengthening her commitment to environmental stewardship, human interconnectedness, and collective responsibility for the planet.
Professionally, she has built a distinguished career across the arts, multimedia communications, entertainment, film production, and creative development. Her experience includes work with ABC Sports during the 1984 Winter and Summer Olympics, as well as collaborations with leading entertainment organizations including Disney Studios, MGM, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
She brings to Teyuna Foundation a unique combination of creative leadership, global perspective, and dedication to conscious service.