To have witnessed a historic event of great importance to traditional medicine is an honor that can hardly go unnoticed in the life of a human being.
From March 20 to 23, 2011, in the community of Mocoa in the Colombian department of Putumayo, members of the Union of Indigenous Yagé Healers of the Colombian Amazon (UMIYAC) and the Women's Indigenous Medicine Association (ASOMI) assembled together for the first time. They held both concurrent and independent sessions to address issues of concern to both groups. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to observe.
A primary point of concern for both groups was the misuse of their traditional medicine that is occurring in many places, as well as the ongoing irresponsible commercialization of their knowledge by both indigenous and non-indigenous persons.
The message that they wish to disseminate to the world is that the virtuous practice of traditional indigenous medicine must comply with the cultural rules and traditions in which it is fostered. This means, among other things, that it must be the elders, the recognized knowledge-keepers, who give consent to this practice; that their traditional medicine must be performed in appropriate settings, that is, cultural and environmental conditions that ensure the "cleansing" of space; that the origin of the plants employed must be known with certainty, so that they have not been exposed to pollution of any kind; and that the musical instruments and songs employed are those belonging to the local cultural tradition.
The healers stressed that the worthy producers of the “remedy" are those that are supported by and are rooted in their communities. In contrast, those who are engaged in the distribution of medicine in a city without being in real contact with their natural environment are considered charlatans and “knowledge-mongers” who endanger the lives of their patients as well as the good name of traditional medicine.
The healers’ reflections and communications reinforce the importance of protecting both their lands and their culture. To keep their medicine alive, it is necessary not only to ensure that their youth engage in the study of plants (through an apprenticeship program), but also to protect and restore the territory in which this medicine was born, and to ensure that the state and its institutions provide the means to make certain that the culture and territories are respected and possess the proper conditions for their survival in the future.
As I mentioned at the beginning, having witnessed this new stage in the growth of these organizations is an honor for which I thank the generosity of the shamans and mamas present at the meeting. I received their concerns and enjoyed their conversations as well as the kindness of their healing and medicine. Now, I have both a personal and institutional commitment to support efforts so that this medicine and ancestral knowledge may continue to bring well-being to humanity.
Amazon Conservation Team Colombia
