🌵Insights From Indigenous Wisdom

Honor the History

• Acknowledge the deep knowledge and wisdom of indigenous communities in working with plant medicines for healing and spiritual purposes.

• Learn about the cultural and historical context of these medicines, and the role they play in indigenous traditions and practices.

• Recognize the ongoing impact of colonialism and other forms of oppression on indigenous communities, and how this has affected their access to and use of plant medicines.

• Educate your community in your local indigenous peoples. Find out who stewarded the lands on which you are offering events to.

• Build relationships with local indigenous communities and leaders, and seek their input and guidance on how to respectfully and responsibly work with plant medicines.

• What medicines did those indigenous communities traditionally use?

• Support efforts to preserve and promote indigenous cultural heritage, including through language revitalization, land reclamation, and cultural exchange programs.

Indigenous Reciprocity

• Many of the indigenous communities that stewarded these practices had to assimilate to modern day society in order to protect these medicines. We now use them ourselves and are building communities that indulge in these medicines. Oftentimes, these indigenous communities do not see any benefits of what Psychedelic Societies offer. How can you give back? How can you build relationships?

• Recognize the importance of reciprocity in indigenous cultures, and the need to give back to the communities that have shared their knowledge and resources with us.

• Partner with indigenous-led organizations and initiatives, and support their work through financial contributions, volunteerism, and other means.

• Use your platform to amplify the voices and perspectives of indigenous leaders and advocates, and showcase their cultural and artistic contributions.

• Create opportunities for indigenous community members to participate in events and initiatives related to plant medicine use, and ensure that they are compensated fairly for their time and expertise.

• Build meaningful relationships with indigenous communities, and work to create a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration.

• Advocate for policies and practices that honor indigenous rights and sovereignty, and seek to redress historical injustices and ongoing disparities.