
Chief Nixiwaka Biraci Yawanawa
Chief Nixiwaka is one of the most relevant indigenous leaders of our time. He has dedicated his life to reclaiming his people’s ancient culture and spirituality. After reconquering the rights over their ancestral territory, Nixiwaka, alongside his family, led the opening of their culture to the outside world. Its main element is the Yawa Festival, which is held annually since 2002 in the village of Nova Esperança (“New Hope”). In the past years, he has spent most of his time in the Sacred Village, dedicated to spirituality and healing and receiving teachings from the elders to carry on the Yawanawa legacy. In his few journeys out of his village to represent his people, he’s also visited other spiritual leaders worldwide and has partaken in sharing many cultural traditions.