ABOUT THE NOKE KOI
"Noke Koî" means original people and they consider themselves to be the
"True People of the Amazon Rainforest".
Their story say they came out of the Earth, breathed into life by Kokapino Txari (the Great Spirit), who showed them how to live. They received knowledge on how and what to eat, how to utilize sacred plant medicines, as well as prayers and practices to strengthen the body and spirit.
The Nomanawa family has resided on the banks of the Tauari River, deep in the Brazilian Amazon, since the first generations of the Noke Koî people. Their mission on Earth is to care for and protect the rainforest, safeguarding their land and nature.
They still preserve their traditional ways and only a few speak Portuguese – their native tongue is Nokevana. They have historically had limited connection with the outside world and were one of the few tribes not to lose their connection to their ancient practices through colonialism and the enforcement of Christianity. The Noke Koî are the original people who helped other tribes recover and reclaim their forgotten ancient technologies and sacred Txirîti (Chants).
These sacred chants were received by Spirit and have been passed down through generations. They are powerful ancestral prayers that help connect us with Nature and the Divine.
For the first time the Nomanawa are honoring us by providing a special music lesson where they will teach us one of their sacred Txirîti (pronounced “chir-in’dee”) which means chant or song in the Novevana language.
They work with Uni medicine, hapé and are widely known as the original people of Kambô, which is used for healing various illnesses among their community.
We are delighted to warmly welcome you to join this special opportunity to experience the culture and way of the Noke Koi people through sound, earth based wisdom and traditions.
ARC OF EXPERIENCE:
3 UNI MASTER PLANT MEDITATIONS
RAPEH & SANANGA CIRCLE
SACRED TXIRÎTI MUSIC WORKSHOP
AMAZONIAN HERBALISM PREPARATIONS
PAJELANÇA (OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL PRIVATE HEALING )
SONG & DANCE WORKSHOPS
TRADITIONAL CRAFTS MARKET
PREPARATION CALL +INTEGRATION CIRCLE
FACILITATORS:
Cacique Yama Nomanawa
Chief Yama Nomanawa is the leader of the Nomanawa Village.
He has been a key element in ensuring his people continue to practice their culture and pass on their knowledge to future generations.
He strives to maintain their culture, keeping traditions, beliefs and language alive in his village. He affirms the Noke Koî are the first nation in the Amazon - they consider themselves to be the roots of Brazil, roots of culture and roots of healing.
In his own words: “I’m continuously studying with medicine from the forest, traveling in the spiritual world and connecting with Great Spirit to ask for protection of the forest, Mother Earth and humanity, and to bring light, health and good life to all human beings.”
He has five children and lives together with them and his wife in the Nomanawa village.
Paje Aro Nomanawa
Paje Aro represents the Shamanic doctor of his culture and keeps the tradition of Romeya - the highest level of Paje in the region. Currently he's one of only a few Romeya Pajes in the world. Pajes are the true doctors of the forest - they work by traveling through different dimensions of time and space. It is truly a privilege to feel the strength, healing powers and spiritual connection of a Romeya paje in ceremony.
As all doctors of the Forest, he attends to his community, helping in all physical, mental and spiritual processes. Paje Aro has over 30 years of experience with the ancient technologies of all the healing medicines of the forest, as well as being skilled in the sacred art of traditional midwifery.
Paje Aro’s mission is to preserve the wellness of his people bringing healing to all of human-kind.
Pajelanca (Paje healing sessions)
Paje Aro, will offer individual healing sessions during the ceremonies, limited to up to seven people max, per night, or you can also schedule a private session for you or a loved one outside of ceremony. The patient will share what they would like to work through with the Romeya – it can be a physical, mental or spiritual issue – and the Romeya will then perform the work, with the guidance of Spirits and the power of plants. The paje will perform the healing using different techniques such us healing chants (Shoiti) or blowing/sucking into the patient's body (Kushu).
The Romeya's spiritual work allows him to visualize and remove physical, mental or spiritual illnesses.
Vari Nomanawa
The eldest daughter of chief Yama and Machi Nomanawa and the ancient knowledge of her people has been passed on to her since childhood. At the age of 12, she began consecrating the sacred medicine of her people, Uni (Ayhausaca) and rome poto, (rape) Vari is a singer of Txirîti (sacred chants and music) and works in the traditional beadwork and handicrafts of the Noke Koî. She is an activist of her people and a proud representative of Nomanawa female strength.
Txana Ãta Nomanawa
Paje Aro’s son, Txana Ãta Nomanawa is our incredible and renowned txana (musician from the tribe) and they will both be supporting the circles with their Sacred Txirîti (pronounced “chir-in’dee”)
Luna Rukmini Devi
Luna Rukmini Devi is a Plant Medicine Integration Therapist, Sacred Feminine Mentor, Sound Healer, Ceremonialist, and a devoted bridgetender for indigenous wisdom carriers. She's also the founder of Vozes Da Floresta, a nonprofit that is guided by indigenous leaders and dedicated to protecting and empowering the guardians of the Amazon. She believes that one of the most important courses of action in Rainforest conservation is through elevating the voices of the indigenous communities that live there. She has been walking side by side with the Nomanawa clan from the Noke Koi tribe.
In the past 8 years, her personal journey of self-discovery alongside her relationship with plant medicines and the Spirit world led her to offer soul-led mentorships, facilitate sacred ceremonies and hold retreats and immersions in different parts of the world. Offering her inner medicines, light and heartfelt wisdom to support awakening souls.
Luna believes in a future where we all honor the origin of plant medicines and the Rainforest and its people are heard, respected, protected, and allowed to flourish
Vero Hernandez
Veronica is a multilingual facilitator who understands the nuances of different languages and cultures. Born in Venezuela and living throughout South America has led her on a sacred path of connection.
Veronica serves as a bridge between worlds; guiding 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 walk alongside the Aldeia Nomanawa of the Noke Koi tribe since 2023 and is founding member and treasurer for Vozes da Floresta.
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)
$150 each way / 2.5-3 hours
Private Van (6-9 people)
$175 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.