The Spirit of Tatá - Wisdom of an Amazonian Shaman
About the event
You are invited to join us for a special screening of “The Spirit of Tatá”, a documentary honoring the last great spiritual elder of the Yawanawá people of the Brazilian Amazon. The Yawanawá—“povo da queixada”—live along the Rio Gregório River in the state of Acre, Brazil. The name is commonly translated as “people of the wild boar” and, in academic terms, refers to the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari). At 103 years old, Tatá was responsible for safeguarding the tribe’s spiritual legacy through the difficult years of colonization and interference by the rubber tappers and missionaries. When the Yawanawá started to reclaim their culture in the 1980s, it was Tatá who helped guide a profound cultural and spiritual revival, transmitting ceremonies, songs, healing practices, sacred plant knowledge, and ancestral stories once held in secrecy for survival. The Spirit of Tatá offers a glimpse into Tatá’s final days—a historic and challenging moment for the tribe, as they face losing their beloved elder and greatest living library of spiritual knowledge. He spent his last day continuing to teach from from his deathbed, devoted to passing the teachings to the next generation. This story is emblematic of a story happening around the world—the story of cultures losing their elders while struggling to recover and revive their ancient languages and traditions before they are lost forever. The film aims to wake up modern audiences to the inherent and vital need to preserve, protect, and support the continuation of indigenous peoples and knowledge for the sake of all Life on earth. ✨ This screening is a fundraiser in direct support of the Yawanawá Indigenous community. Your presence helps protect living wisdom and the forest that holds it. ✨A documentary brought to us by The SOFIE Foundation.
