ABOUT THE NOKE KOÎ
Come and learn the ancient Amazonian cosmology and plant medicine technology of the Noke Koi Indigenous people of Acré, Brazil.
The Noke Koi people are among the best-preserved cultures, particularly in their stewardship of Uni (Ayahuasca), which is central to their way of life.
The “Noke Koî” can roughly be translated as the “original” or “true people” and are a First Nation of the Amazon, living on Indigenous lands on the banks of Rio Gregório. For generations, their way of life has been deeply intertwined with the land, where every tree, river, and spirit holds meaning.
While many "contacted" cultures remain well-preserved, the Noke Koi stand out for having retained their language and cultural practices almost entirely intact. Unlike many Indigenous groups who have faced linguistic loss, the Noke Koi have preserved their native language, Noke Vana, across their entire population. This remarkable resilience reflects their unwavering commitment to keeping their traditions alive.
Respected by many other indigenous tribes in Acre, the Noke Koi are renowned for their strong, ancient culture and for sharing their songs and wisdom. They are especially famous for their unique relationship with the Kambo frog, whose medicine is used throughout their lives-from infancy to old age—in ways that demonstrate their mastery of medical techniques and safety practices. Their knowledge of healing is woven into their culture, passed down through ceremonies and ancestral teachings.
We are honored to welcome the Noke Koi to Brave Earth, whose presence, prayers, and songs bring the essence of the Amazon to our gathering. Through their connection to the land, their sacred medicines, and their teachings, they remind us of the power of reciprocity, of living in balance with nature and honoring the wisdom it offers.
Chief Paka Kamãnawa and his wife Rora Varinawa have been an integral part of the Noke Koi people creating compositions of their traditional prayers and chants to the guitar. These sacred chants were received directly from Spirit and have been passed down through generations. They are potent ancestral codes that help connect us with Nature and the Divine. They are seen as an opportunity to purify and heal the body, but also to generate and share joy. Paka & Rora are honoring us by providing this special opportunity by offering a workshop where they will help us to connect through their music to understand the meaning and significance of their sacred Txirîti (pronounced “chir-in’dee”- which means chant or song in the Nokevana language).
Join us on a transformational journey into the heart of the Noke Koî culture. We are excited to share this incredible opportunity to experience their music, stories and ancient technologies. To sing, dance and play together as we heal with the sacred medicines of the forests.
ARC OF EXPERIENCE:
3 UNI MASTER PLANT MEDITATIONS
FROG MEDICINE
RAPEH & SANANGA CIRCLE
SACRED TXIRÎTI MUSIC WORKSHOP
PAJELANÇA (OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL PRIVATE HEALING )
SONG & DANCE CIRCLES
FACE PAINTING
TRADITIONAL CRAFTS MARKET
PREPARATION CALL
INTEGRATION CIRCLE
FOR REGISTRATION
FACILITATORS:
Cacique Paka Chay Kamãnawa
Born on the banks of the Gregorio River in Acre, Brazil, Chief Paka Kamãnawa carries a name that embodies his purpose—"Spear" in the Nokevana language, a powerful weapon bestowed by his mother to forge him into a spiritual warrior. As leader of the Timbaúba Village, he walks in the footsteps of his father, a revered Noke Koî leader, carrying forward his legacy with deep respect and responsibility.
Paka's spiritual journey began remarkably early at just seven years of age, when he first participated in the sacred Uni medicine ceremonies of the Noki Koî tradition. Under the guidance of one of the most venerated elders, Romeya Koshti, Paka has completed four traditional Kamãnawa dietas, immersing himself in the ancestral healing ways of his people. During these sacred ceremonies, he experiences "another life"—a realm where profound learning and spiritual study unfold.
A renowned txana (traditional musician), Paka has channeled over 63 songs in his native language through the power of the medicine. His innovative spirit led him to become one of the first to adapt traditional prayers and chants to guitar compositions, demonstrating masterful knowledge of the Sacred Txirîti (pronounced "chir-in'dee"). His musical gifts extend beyond performance—as a music teacher among the Noke Koî, he ensures these sacred sounds continue to resonate through future generations.
Paka stands as a vital cultural bridge, dedicated to preserving the traditions, beliefs, and language of the Noke Koî people, whom he affirms are the first nation of the Amazon—the roots of Brazil, culture, and healing. He shares his life in Timbauba village with his wife, Rora Varinawa, and their two children, together weaving ancient wisdom into the fabric of their community's future.
https://open.spotify.com/track/42L0QAeJemH0dW8Z7tsy9i?si=R5zrhtDOSDWOeUnPurwKfA
https://open.spotify.com/track/3rSiBv5g2MF3bg6tERt4c4?si=gxcA0Kb3RZCprtAZDAzoJg
Rora Varinawa
Rora, a visionary 25-year-old leader from the Noke Koî people, stands at the crossroads of ancient wisdom and new paths forward. As the first woman in her community to break the gender barrier in traditional music, she embodies the spirit of respectful evolution within indigenous tradition.
Under the guidance of Romeya Pajé Kochti, the most senior Noke Koî spiritual leader, Rora has completed sacred plant dietas—becoming the first woman to open these profound spiritual practices to other women in her community. Her dedication to traditional knowledge has earned her the honored position of medicine server, a role traditionally reserved for those who have undergone extensive spiritual study and dietary discipline.
A mother of two boys and a wife to Chief Paka, Rora weaves her responsibilities as a parent with her emergence as a female leader within her community. Her artistic spirit flows through multiple expressions—painting, guitar playing, and singing—creating bridges between generations and cultures.
For the past two years, Rora has traveled throughout Europe, sharing the richness of Noke Koî culture. She brings to life the traditional Kene patterns of her Amazon heritage, sacred designs that have adorned her people's bodies for countless generations. Through her art and presence, Rora translates the profound ecological and spiritual knowledge of the Amazon into a universal language of beauty and connection.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7xkVwAdidCEsOzt1BkpfEy?si=kw733aXyTC-GKhR8dsy4nA
Vero Hernandez
Vero is a multicultural facilitator who understands the nuances of different languages and cultures. Born in Venezuela and living throughout the Americas and Europe has led her on a sacred path of connection.
Veronica serves as a bridge between worlds; supporting indigenous led medicine work, transformative integration, and holistic healing modalities with unique ease and sensitivity. A certified yoga teacher, trained in psychological and somatic therapies to heal body, mind, and spirit. She uses these gifts to create containers where participants can feel safe, seen, and
understood. Honoring and helping us understand the ancient wisdom of Indigenous healers whilst gently helping us process and release what no longer serves us.
She has been proud to be an ally that supports the peoples of the Noke Koî since 2023.
Wesley Parker
Wesley is a musician, artist, ceremonialist and earth steward. He synergizes 13 years of personal study and healing with the plants from various amazonian traditions from Peru to Brazil.
His main studies were passed to him by a Mestizo/Cocama palero and curandero. Deep in the Peruvian jungle he maintained a steady spiritual study of dietas with the master plants and trees of these ancient traditions.
In addition to his medicine study, he has worked as an ally and bridge for many of the families of the Yawanawa to first arrive in the US. Building lasting relationships with Cacique Isku Kua and the families of Mutum.
Wesley carries these healing traditions with the utmost integrity, with so much reverence and respect to those who have opened this path with the transmission of ancestral ways
He is humbled and honored to be of service to our beloved Pachamama and the healing that she so graciously shares with us through the plants.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ctClV0UiNxHj70ACEKN7y?si=JLxXUGQ3SNyLuHelAlApIw
PROGRAM PRICING & DETAILS
TO COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION
1. TO REGISTER SCROLL DOWN TO SELECT YOUR ROOM OF CHOICE. PRICES INCLUDE ACCOMODATION FOR SIX NIGHTS AND FOOD PACKAGE ONLY**
2. THE WORKSHOP FEE IS $1100 PER PERSON. PLEASE SEND THE PAYMENT SEPARATELY TO VERONICA HERNANDEZ. TO FINALIZE YOUR REGISTRATION PLEASE EMAIL EMAIL: VERONICA.HERNANDEZ014@GMAIL.COM | PAYMENT PLANS AND SLIDING SCALE ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
3. TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND TRAVEL LOGISTICS WILL BE SHARED UPON REGISTRATION
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF ROOM TYPES TO FIT YOUR NEEDS & BUDGET. THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR SINGLE, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY IN PRIVATE & SHARED SPACES & DORM STYLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
NOTE: DOMES, JUNGLE HUTS AND TAMBO'S UTILIZE SHARED WASH ROOM FACILITIES. THE DOMES HAVE A PRIVATE SHOWER. CABINS HAVE PRIVATE BATHROOMS AND A/C AND ARE A SHORT WALK TO THE DINING AREA AND MALOKA SPACE.
TIERRA VALIENTE | BRAVE EARTH
Brave Earth is located between San Ramon and La Fortuna, nestled in between Arenal Volcano and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, the largest reserve of protected wildlife in Costa Rica.
As a living lab, we have experimented with different building modalities using AirCrete and materials sourced on the land including bamboo and adobe. We have implemented biophilic design, closed-loop systems and permaculture design principles. Ornamental, food, and medicinal gardens surround the center as well as hiking trials to a nearby river, and a natural swimming pond.
CULTURES OF TRANSITION
The impulse for Tierra Valiente stems from an awareness of our civilizational trajectory within the dominant culture with its source code of extraction, domination, commodification, colonization, control, entitlement, and separation from the living world.
We are both informed by this critical lens and inspired to create outside of the old values and incentive landscapes to build a culture based on reciprocity, regeneration and resiliency.
In this collective transition - whether you call it the Anthropocene, the Kali Yuga, late-stage capitalism or capitalist modernity - our intention is to become more attuned to this cultural context in order to decolonize the conditioning of the dominant system and be in deeper service to our collective potential.
Our living lab is located on the northwestern Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, about 2.5 hours from San Jose. We have created an 80-acre commons nestled between the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, one of the largest protected regions of rainforest north of the Amazon and Volcano Arenal.
Juan Santamaria International located in San Jose is the nearest airport to Brave Earth. We are approximately a 2.5h drive from San Jose.
We are located 11 miles south from La Fortuna Arenal Area in a community called San Isidro de Peñas Blancas, La Fortuna, Alajuela.
GPS Coordinates:
10°23’16.2”N 84°35’50.8”W
Our address is:
Transportation:
Please reach out to maxine@braveearth.com with any transportation or logistic questions. We can support you in coordinating shared shuttles to and from the event. *This is not included in the registration fees*
Private Taxis (1-5 people)
$165 each way / 2.5-3 hours
Private Van (6-9 people)
$185 each way / 2.5-3 hours
Public Buses
~$10 / Approx. 5 hours
Bus 1: San Jose bus terminal to San Ramon, Bus 2: San Ramon towards La Fortuna. Get off at San Isidro de Penas Blancas or Chachagua. Take short taxi ride to Finca Luna Nueva.