Basilio is a beloved Elder in his mid-eighties who has been holding sacred ceremonies in the Sieko’pai territory of Ecuador for many years. He has devoted his life to sharing his wisdom and medicine with both his community and visitors from around the world. Keeping the ancient tradition alive has been a challenging journey for him and his people, but thanks to collective efforts, these beautiful ceremonies continue to echo through the jungle, carrying the same sacred purpose: to honor and care for Life.

Today, Basilio, together with his family and close friends, is working to raise the necessary funds to build a new community space, the Sieko’pai Bamboo House, which is currently under construction. The purpose of this space is to care for the Elders, ensure dignified living conditions, support the passing on of ancestral wisdom, and promote community-based tourism that contributes to the conservation of the territory and the living memory of the Sieko’pai people. However, the house still lacks several basic necessities, including access to safe water, proper sanitation, windows, and adequate spaces for cooking and communal activities.

This project addresses an urgent need: to dignify the lives of the Elders and their extended families, ensure basic health and safety conditions, and safeguard the continuity of ancestral knowledge. In doing so, it directly supports both the cultural and ecological sustainability of the Sieko’pai community.

The Bamboo House is coming to life through the union of many hands and hearts, through donations, volunteers sharing their skills and labor, young people building alongside their Elders, and a community that welcomes visitors with generosity, food, and shared learning. These long days of communal work are not only practical but deeply meaningful, offering a powerful way to reconnect with the richness of the land, culture, and stories that have been carried forward through generations.

By supporting this initiative, we help protect an ancient way of life and ensure that Sieko’pai ceremonies, teachings, and traditions continue to live on, rooted in the forest, strengthened through community, and carried forward for generations to come.

Support the Sieko’pai Yaje Bamboo House project:
https://www.pumamaki.org/