THANK YOU!
Message from Sneha founder, Gabriela Villacorta:
THANK YOU! Never underestimate the power of prayer paired with action. Thanks to each of YOU who shared the event, donated and joined us ♥️
We collectively raised a total of $5,602 that will be split amongst the elders.
𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐧 our 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐍𝐎 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.
On the contrary, we must GIVE BACK and protect those who’ve sacrificed so much for us to be able to comfortably grow spiritually & have access to the knowledge/rituals we practice today. For generations they have been persecuted, marginalized, forgotten and some things are only getting worse.
They spoke about corporate greed, about the abuse of natural resources, about the pandemic and ALL asked for the same: Let’s begin honoring our Mother in the ways she deserves! And THEY are our Mother’s keepers, so let’s begin by doing all that we can to ensure they’re ok before we go appropriating or profiting of their sacred culture & traditions.
Our intention is for Sneha Sacred to build bridges in which the exchange is always mutual and for TRANSPARENCY & INTEGRITY be at the forefront of all. We’ve taken enough from them, it’s time to pay back. Thank you Nana Marina for being my brightest North Star and Kyle Kesterson for driving this so far, And to all other supporters, I love you all!
More to come 🌿
- Gabriela
PROGRAMMING
Discussion | Prayer | Offering
Join us to gather in a sacred virtual circle led by elders and guides of sacred traditions, to honor and celebrate World Indigenous Peoples Day:
- Open up with a live traditional Mayan fire ceremony
- Be guided in prayers and sacred songs
- Receive guidance on how to navigate our current times and environment
- Open Q&A to ask questions of the elders if time permits
Special Guest Elders
Tata Pedro
Nana Marina Cruz
Nana Marina Cruz
Tz’utujil Mayan Guide
Guatemala
Nana Marina Cruz
Nana Marina Cruz
Nana Marina Cruz
Tz’utujil Mayan Guide
Guatemala
Manari Ushigua
Nana Marina Cruz
Grandmother FlorDeMayo
Sapara Nation
Ecuadorian Amazon
Grandmother FlorDeMayo
Grandmother FlorDeMayo
Grandmother FlorDeMayo
Mayan Elder
Nicaragua
Grandmother Ana Lahak
Grandmother FlorDeMayo
Grandmother Ana Lahak
1000 Tambores
Guadalajara, Mexico
Txana Masha
Grandmother FlorDeMayo
Grandmother Ana Lahak
Tribu Huni Kuin
Brasil
Maestro Manuel Rufino
Grandmother Twila Cassadore
Grandmother Martha Pico
Taino Elder | Golden Drum
North America
Grandmother Martha Pico
Grandmother Twila Cassadore
Grandmother Martha Pico
Voice of the Grandmother
Torreón, México
Grandmother Twila Cassadore
Grandmother Twila Cassadore
Grandmother Twila Cassadore
San Carlos Apache Tribe
North America
Belkis Izquierdo
Grandmother Elvia Angélica Martínez Falcón
Grandmother Twila Cassadore
Woman Arhuaca
Sierra Nevada de St M, Colombia
Grandmother Elvia Angélica Martínez Falcón
Grandmother Elvia Angélica Martínez Falcón
Grandmother Elvia Angélica Martínez Falcón
Quiahuitzin Mazatl Cacahuatl
Guadalajara, Mexico
Grandmother Nelly Rativa
Grandmother Elvia Angélica Martínez Falcón
Grandmother Elvia Angélica Martínez Falcón
Muisca
Colombia
Juan Apaza & Monica Quispe
Juan Apaza & Monica Quispe
Juan Apaza & Monica Quispe
Qero Paqo | Ñusta Paqo
Andes, Peru
Lila Lopez Sanchez
Juan Apaza & Monica Quispe
Juan Apaza & Monica Quispe
Shipibo Onaya
Roa Bo Ya, Peru
Elder Bios
Tata Pedro
Tz’utujil Mayan Guide
San Pedro, Guatemala
Tata Pedro Cruz is one of the last authentic Guatemalan Mayan TZ’UTUJIL. Hi is an acclaimed spiritual figure and international ambassador of world peace. His teachings include Mayan culture, cosmology, sacred calendars, and ancient oral Maya wisdom. He recognizes the interconnectedness of all people, expanding planetary consciousness, and the urgent need to unify our spiritual, cultural and ethnical wisdom for the benefit of the planet and humanity.
He is known for his phrase, “No matter what happens, everything with love!”
Opening Prayer 10am PST | 5pm GMT
Nana Marina Cruz
Tz’utujil Mayan Guide
San Pedro, Guatemala
Nana Marina is a carrier of ancient Mayan wisdom, serving as a leader of multiple ceremonial medicines and modalities. She specializes in the healing magic of Cacao, Pataxte, and Tobacco, as well as serving as a Fire Keeper and Sweat Lodge Facilitator for her Nation. Nana Marina’s mission is to ensure the healing and restoration of humanity, and as such has traveled the world to serve multiple communities and share these beautiful gifts of purification rituals with the intent to promote harmony on our planet.
She is the daughter of Tata Pedro Cruz.
Traditional Mayan Fire Ceremony 10:15am PST | 5:15pm GMT
Manari Ushigua
Sápara Nation
Ecuadorian Amazon
Manari is from the Sápara Nation in the Ecuadorian Amazon, of which there are less than 500 people remaining. He is a traditional healer and leader—the akameno (authority)—of his nationality.
The Sápara Nation of Ecuador is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” because their language and culture are in danger of disappearing.
10:45am PST | 5:45pm GMT
Grandmother FlorDeMayo
Mayan Elder
Nicaragua
Flor De Mayo is a Curandera Espiritu, or a healer of divine spirit. As a seer, she has the ability to see other realms of color, light, and sound. In addition, she has the ability to see the effects of existing imbalances on the physical, emotional and spiritual realms within a person's energy system. She was born and raised in the highlands of Central America by her mother, a midwife, and in a family of Mayan healers. She travels the globe to share her healings and to foster a more spiritual understanding among humanity.
She founded The Path, an organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of heirloom and heritage seeds. She is a regular contributor of workshops to The Shift Network.
She is a founding member of the Church of the Spiritual Path, the Confederation of Indigenous Elders of the America, Institute of Natural and Traditional Knowledge, The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, Grandmothers of the Sacred We, and The Mother Earth Delegation of United Indigenous.
11:15am PST | 6:15pm GMT
Grandmother Ana Lahak
1000 Tambores
Guadalajara, Mexico
Medicine Song Performance
Ana Teresa Sanchez González, known as Ana Lahak, is a Psychotherapist Promoter of Ancestral Cultures, Guide to Women's Circles in Mexico, Europe and Peru. Temazcalera.
She is the creator of the Female Psycho-shamanism training, 1000 Tambores Guadalajara, Ceremonial.
11:45am PST | 6:45pm GMT
Txana Mashã
Tribu Hunikuī
Brasil
Txana Mashã is from the Hunikuī people. He is a messenger from his homeland, Kaxinawa, Humaitá River. From an early age, he began his responsibility to care for and practice their ancestral wisdom.
Their ancestors and their songs are immortal. They are sounds of the "Seris" who had the power to fall to the Yuxibu. Each one drew their songs, prayers, each with their own purpose: peace, healing, teaching, protection, wisdom and so on. This has been his education since he was18 years old. People can hear, feel and see their own nature speak through these sounds of the holy being, the power of life in the sky, sea, earth and forest, and from the opportunity to hear with the heart from all directions of this planet Earth.
We are here on Earth to make the world a lovely and long life. Hauxx hauxx.
12:00 pm PST | 7:00 pm GMT
Maestro Manuel Rufino
Taino Elder | Golden Drum
North America
Maestro Manuel Rufino is a recognized elder in the Taino tradition and World Director of M.A.I.S.C. He is a spiritual guide, gifted ceremonial leader and teacher of sacred initiatic traditions of the world. Maestro Manuel is also an artist, certified iridologist, naturo-therapist, vegetarian chef & the visionary guiding the Golden Drum community and many vegetarian restaurants including Jungle Café in Brooklyn.
Guided by his teacher, Maestro Domingo Dias Porta, Maestro Manuel has been following the trails of indigenous healing arts for over 40 years. Maestro Manuel travels around the world sharing initiatic traditions, leading workshops, lectures, sweat lodges and healing rituals.
In 2010 Maestro Manuel and a number of his students opened Golden Drum as a space for sacred traditions in New York City. Founded to give voice to the worldview of Native Americans, indigenous peoples and the esoteric schools, Golden Drum features living representatives and students of these great traditions.
12:30 pm PST | 7:30 pm GMT
Grandmother Martha Pico
Voz de la Abuela
Torreón, México
Medicine Song Performance
Martha Ofelia González Pico Aguilar is originally from northern Mexico in the state of Coahuila. Known as Martha Pico, a direct descendant of the original Pame people through the paternal line.
Holistic therapist and granicera with 47 years of uninterrupted work in favor of the community, grandmother of tradition and guardian of heaven and earth.
1:00 pm PST | 8:00 pm GMT
Grandmother Twila Cassadore
San Carlos Apache Tribe
North America
Twila Cassadore has been working with San Carlos Apache, White Mountain Apache, and Yavapi peoples for the past 25 years, addressing health and social issues. She works on a number of community and cultural preservation projects- reconnecting the local youths with their ancestors’ way of life and diet, she is also a professional caterer.
Twila is the founder and face of the grassroots organization, “Native Mothers Against Meth.”
1:15 pm PST | 8:15 pm GMT
Belkis Izquierdo
Mujer Arhuaca
Santa Marta, Colombia
Belkis is a lawyer from the National University. Magister in public administration. First assistant magistrate in the Superior Council of the Judiciary. Current magistrate of the Special Jurisdiction for La Paz.
1:45 pm PST | 7:45 pm GMT
Grandmother Elvia Angélica Martínez Falcón
Quiahuitzin Mazatl Cacahuatl
Guadalajara, Mexico
Medicine Song Performance
Falcón Quiahuitzin Mazatl Cacahuatl (Venerable Lluvia Venada Cacao) She was born in an old indigenous settlement called Mezquitán in what is now Guadalajara,Mexico. Since, she was a child she showed taste and identification for the indigenous cultures of the original peoples of her State Wirarikas and Nahuas and for the 63 ethnic groups that subsist throughout Mexico.
Native Dancer, medicine woman, ceremony and guardian of Mother Earth, Grandmother responsible for the preservation, promotion and teaching of the Anahuaca culture. Psychotherapist by profession, Addiction Specialist and Expert in legal processes.
2:15 pm PST | 9:15 pm GMT
Grandmother Nelly Rativa
Muisca
Bogota, Colombia
Nelly Rativa known as the Princess Muisca is originally from Colombia, a member of the council of grandmothers of Colombia and of the 24 most knowledgeable people of Mhuykita.
At 70 years old, she is the bearer of the sweet word of the corn , tabajo and tihyki.
2:30 pm PST | 9:30 pm GMT
Juan Apaza & Monica Quispe
Qero Paqo | Ñusta Paqo
Andes, Peru
From the nation of Q'eros in the heart of the Andes.They are highly respected Paqos and leaders of their community which is extremely remote and isolated at 14k-16k feet in elevation. Don Juan Apaza Quispe is a powerful representative of one of the few remaining indigenous traditions still existing and maintaining the Ancient Way. His mission is to be an ambassador and bridge... bringing the preserved wisdom and healing power of the Q'eros to awaken our Yachay (Knowing) our Munay (Loving) and Llankay (Service).
Lila Lopez Sanchez
Shipibo Onaya
Roa Bo Ya, Peru
Lila is Ynes’s daughter and Laura’s younger sister. She was also born in Roa Bo Ya, but grew up with her grandparents on her father’s side, also respected Onayas. At the age of 13, she was the victim of a serious daño or damaging energetic attack, which was sent by a jealous neighbor who had wanted to buy a pot for carrying water that was being made for her and had been denied. A tree fell on her right leg and an excruciatingly painful, chronic infection set in that had her bed-ridden for over a year.
By this time, she had moved to live with and be cared for by her mother, Ynes, who started her on a dieta with an extremely powerful tree, catawa. The dieta succeeded in curing her leg, and was the gateway for her path as a curandera to open.
Being the rebel that she is, Lila resisted the path on occasion, in favour of leading a ‘normal’ life, but two children later, the plants persisted in ‘calling her back’ to work with them. Since then, she has worked with her mother and other extremely respected maestros all over Peru, and is also a specialist in warme ikaros. She works with an amazing amount of love and care.