Indigenous projects I’m currently supporting
Yorenka Tasorentsi
Founded by Ashaninka Leader Benki Piyako, Yorenka Tasorentsi is an institute in the Amazon rainforest that’s dedicated to the protection of indigenous culture and wisdom. In 2018, Benki acquired deforested land and quickly began reforestation efforts, planting thousands of native trees, fruit trees, and installing fish ponds as an ongoing source of food for the community (and to replenish fish populations in the nearby river). Benki and his team are currently accepting donations to continue building the institute infrastructure for larger conferences, retreats and educational workshops. The funds will also go towards wildlife conservation, medicinal plant farming, planting millions more trees, more fish ponds, and facilities to process and sell excess food, oils and plant medicines.
I spent almost a month at Yorenka Tasorentsi last year and it was the most transformative experience of my life. I got to witness firsthand how much the indigenous work, all day, every day, to protect and revitalize the forests. I learned from them how to be in the right relationship with nature, and how to treat all beings with respect.
The Unification Fund
I’m working alongside ICV to support the Unification Fund, a nonprofit arm of the fund that focuses on restoring the rights of indigenous communities, reclaiming ancestral lands, and climate stabilization.
The Unification Fund will be launching a crowdfunding platform in September to open doors for donations to the following initial projects:
Traditional Council of Elders: Acknowledge the spiritual authority of Original Peoples and their wisdom for caring for life
Sacred Sites: Participate in restoring and balancing Mother Earth through the protection of bio-cultural Sacred Sites around the world
Houses of Thought: Establish new learning centers and resources based on the Original Instructions for good living
Intercultural Learning and Resilience Building: Implement the Original Instructions to model good living and to strengthen cross-cultural dialogue
Permanent protection of Sacred Headwaters
Support for climate science and reclamation projects
Ancestral land repurchase and and Native rights