YAWANAWÁ PEOPLE

The Yawanawá are an Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest, belonging to the Pano linguistic family, and living in the region of the Gregório River in the state of Acre, Brazil.

They inhabit and protect a territory of approximately 187,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest, officially recognized as the Rio Gregório Indigenous Land—one of the most well-preserved areas in the region.

They are recognized as one of the guardian peoples of the sacred forest medicines, such as Uni (ayahuasca), Rumë (rapé), Kanapa (sananga), among others. Their knowledge is passed down from generation to generation within a profound spiritual system.

Spirituality guides their decisions, chants, rituals, the education of their children, and their relationship with the forest. Even after decades of external pressures, the Yawanawá have preserved their language, their kenes (sacred geometric designs), and their ancestral chants.

Today, they share their culture with the world—not as a spectacle, but as the living expression of their own way of being.

WHO WAS PAJÉ TATÁ

Pajé Tatá Yawanawá was one of the greatest spiritual leaders of his people.

At a time when many traditions were weakening and the culture was under strong external pressure, it was he who kept alive the sacred chants, the traditional diets, and the ancestral teachings of the forest.

Tatá was not only a spiritual leader. He was guidance, direction, and strength for his community.

His words carried weight.His chants carried power.His presence brought order to the collective.

He dedicated his life to protecting the Yawanawá identity, ensuring that future generations would not lose connection with their origins.

Today, every chant sung, every sacred design painted, every celebration held carries forward the path he helped preserve.

His legacy is not in the past.It lives on through the new generations.

THE VISION OF KAIRAU

When Shaman Tatá was already advanced in age, he traveled to Rio de Janeiro and, for the first time, contemplated the ocean.

The vastness of the sea deeply touched his spirit.

After that experience, he traveled to Curitiba.

There, during a ceremony with Uni (ayahuasca), Shaman Tatá received a vision:

A great boa serpent approached him.Its body had the form of a woman and was covered in kenes (sacred geometric designs).

It was the spirit of the ocean.

The spirit spoke to him.

And gave him a seed.

The name of the seed was KAIRAU.

She said:

“If the Yawanawá people care for this seed, it will grow and become a great tree. And the fruits of this tree will be Yawanawá music and culture known throughout the Earth.”

And so it was.

WHAT IS THE KAIRAU FESTIVAL

Kairau is not just a festival.

It is the materialization of a vision.

It was born from the prophecy received by Shaman Tatá — “the seed given by the spirit of the ocean” — and became the space where that seed begins to take root.

It is:

• A music and sacred medicine festival

• A contemporary Yawanawá cultural movement

• An annual program for strengthening cultural identity

• A platform for youth leadership

• A bridge between the village and the world

During the festival, the following are celebrated:

• Yawanawá tradition and culture

• The birthday of Rasu Yawanawá

• The release of new original songs

• New styles of composition and guitar expression

• Electronic music with Yawanawá DJs

• Contemporary Indigenous fashion shows

• The new artistic expressions of Mutum Village

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The Kairau Festival is the celebration of the new within YAWANAWÁ tradition.

DISCOVER MUTUM VILLAGE

Mutum Village is one of the main cultural and spiritual centers of the Yawanawá people.

It was there that Shaman Tatá lived and established the Samakey Center, forming leaders and strengthening the spiritual tradition of his people.

Today, the village is led by Chief Matsini Yawanawá and is home to approximately 120 people. It is a living territory where culture unfolds in everyday life.

Reaching Mutum is already part of the experience.

It is approximately an 8-hour drive from Rio Branco to São Vicente Village. From there, another 6 hours by boat along the Gregório River, crossing the Amazon rainforest.

This geographic isolation helps preserve the essence and identity of the Yawanawá people.

It is in this territory that the Kairau Saite Festival takes place.

WHO ARE OUR HOSTS

The Kairau Saite Festival takes place under the leadership of Matsini Yawanawá, Chief of Mutum Village and one of the main spiritual leaders of the Yawanawá people.

A direct disciple of Shaman Tatá, Matsini learned from him the sacred chants, the traditional diets, and the foundations of their spiritual tradition. He was one of the first to resume the Muká Diet after years without it being practiced, strengthening the spiritual continuity of his people.

By his side will be his family: seven of his children are singers and devoted students of Yawanawá tradition, and they will perform during the festival.

Also present will be Rasu Yawanawá, the adopted son of Shaman Tatá. Entrusted to him as a baby to be raised as his own, Rasu grew up learning the language, the chants, and the secrets of the forest. At the age of 14, he completed the Muká Diet under the guidance of his father, marking a profound moment in his spiritual formation.

Julia Yawanawá (Mani) will also participate. She is Matsini’s sister and the daughter of Tuin Kuru, founder of Mutum Village, connecting generations of leadership within the same territory.

PROGRAM

• Uni Ceremony (Ayahuasca)

• Rumë (Rapé) Circles

• Traditional Body Painting with Genipapo

• Traditional Yawanawá Games

• Stories of Yawanawá Cosmology

• Traditional Plant Bath Ritual

• Herbal Steam Sauna with Medicinal Plants

• Mapu (Sacred Clay) Bath

• Guided Walks to the Sacred Samaúma Tree

• Art and Handicraft Fair

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Program schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions and decisions made by Yawanawá leadership.

Who Is the Kairau Festival For?

• Those who feel the call of the forest

• Those seeking a genuine life-transforming experience

• Those who wish to learn directly from an Indigenous people

• Those who want to experience life in a village in the heart of the Amazon rainforest

• Those who wish to meet the guardians of ayahuasca in their own home territory

• Those who desire to deepen their spiritual connection

• Those seeking a reference point of peace and harmony aligned with the original order of creation

  
  

Who Is It NOT For?

• Those seeking comfort and luxury hotel accommodations

• Those looking for only a tourist experience

• Those unwilling to change life patterns and behaviors

• Those not interested in deepening their spirituality

TESTIMONIALS FROM THOSE WHO ANSWERED THE CALL OF THE FOREST:

MUTUM VILLAGE CAPACITY

To ensure, above all, the safety, physical well-being, and quality of the experience for everyone, Mutum Village has established a strict participant limit for the Kairau Festival.

The territory has organized infrastructure while remaining preserved. Access is remote, logistics are complex, and daily life is communal. For this reason, the number of visitors is carefully determined by Yawanawá leadership.

People from different countries and continents, connected to the Yawanawá, the sacred forest medicines, and Indigenous traditions, will be present at this edition.

Spots are limited.

Once the village reaches its capacity, registrations close. Please check current availability and secure your participation.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY

Brazilian Participants: R$ 7,000

International Participants: R$ 9,500

Please inquire about installment payment options by credit card.

This contribution goes directly to the community and includes:

• Round-trip river transportation by boat along the Gregório River

• Accommodation in the village

• Full meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)

• All spiritual, cultural, and experiential programming within the community

  
  

LOGISTICS TO REACH THE VILLAGE

To reach Mutum Village, we offer two optional external logistics packages (not mandatory), organized and operated by a travel agency with over 15 years of experience.

Option 1 – R$ 1,950

• Airport/hotel transfer (round trip)

• 3 hotel nights

• Round-trip ground transportation to the river boarding point

Option 2 – R$ 1,600

• Airport/hotel transfer (round trip)

• 2 hotel nights

• Round-trip ground transportation to the river boarding point

Airfare to Acre is not included.

INSTITUTO RELIGARE

Instituto Religare is an organization dedicated to promoting spiritual connection experiences and human development in partnership with Indigenous peoples.

Presided over by Vinicios de Souza De Conti, the Institute works directly with traditional communities. Currently, Vinicios resides in Mutum Village, living alongside the Yawanawá people, deepening relationships, learning from spiritual leaders, and strengthening bridges between cultures.

Instituto Religare organizes immersive experiences, retreats, and journeys into the heart of the Amazon, guiding groups with responsibility, preparation, and respect for local traditions.

More than a travel organization, Instituto Religare acts as a facilitator of authentic experiences, ensuring safety, structure, and alignment with the values of the host community.

Our commitment is to promote genuine encounters—with respect, organization, and responsibility—honoring both those who receive and those who arrive.

THE FOREST IS CALLING

The Yawanawá and Mutum Village are ready to welcome those who truly feel this calling.

Spots are limited and strictly aligned with the real capacity of the territory.

If you feel you are meant to be there, do not postpone.

Come be part of a prophecy that continues to unfold into reality.

SECURE YOUR PLACE AT THE KAIRAU FESTIVAL 2026

Participation in the Kairau Festival is limited to the actual capacity of Mutum Village.

To confirm your attendance, it is necessary to complete the Official Participation Reservation in the amount of:

R$ 1,000

This amount:

• Secures your spot at the festival

• Locks in your position within the participant limit

• Will be deducted from the total community contribution

CONTACT US

+55 (41) 9 8737-1435 (WhatsApp)

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