Centro Kako
Centro Kako is a cultural and ecological center located in the ancestral territory of the Siekopai people in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The center serves as a space for cultural exchange, rainforest conservation, and the transmission of ancestral knowledge. Through nature experiences, cultural learning, and spiritual practices, visitors are invited to reconnect with the wisdom of the forest and the living traditions of the Amazon.
Centro Kako also functions as a living laboratory dedicated to strengthening food sovereignty and forest regeneration through the design of edible forests, regenerative agroforestry systems, and sustainable land practices. In this space, ancestral knowledge is integrated with contemporary techniques to safeguard life protecting the territory, biodiversity, and the cultural continuity of the Siekopai people.
The center is also a place for the practice and transmission of the ancestral medicine and millenary spirituality of the Siekopai people, where knowledge of medicinal plants, traditional ceremonies, sacred songs, and healing practices preserved for generations are shared. Through processes of Indigenous ancestral education, the culture, identity, and relationship with the forest as a source of life and wisdom are strengthened.
Among the initiatives developed at the center are community fish farming, the cultivation of Amazonian fruits and superfoods, traditional chakra gardens, and the stewardship of medicinal plants, as well as cultural and spiritual learning spaces. These initiatives contribute to the resilience of the ecosystem, the autonomy of the Siekopai Nation, and the well-being of future generations.
About the Siekopai
The Siekopai (meaning "People of the Multi-Colored Feather" or "People of the Rainbow") are ancestral wisdom keepers deeply rooted in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Known historically as master botanists and spiritual visionaries, the Siekopai possess an extraordinary depth of sacred plant knowledge passed down through generations of healers (yëkë iye).
For centuries, their way of life has revolved around a profound, harmonious relationship with the rainforest—protecting ancient Ceibo trees, navigating the waters of the Aguarico River, and preserving their traditional cosmovision. At the core of Siekopai culture is their sacred connection to Yajé (Ayahuasca) and Amazonian plant medicine. Through nighttime ceremonies, sacred songs, and traditional plant cleanses, the Siekopai carry forward an unbroken lineage of spiritual initiation, collective healing, and forest stewardship.
By opening their home at Centro Kako, the Siekopai invite visitors to step into their living sanctuary, learn directly from elders, and experience the ancient wisdom of the Amazon rainforest.
Centro Kako is proud to partner with Kako Earth, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, cultural preservation, and the restoration of our planet's living ecosystems.
Through this partnership, we work together to empower Siekopai communities, preserve ancestral wisdom, and create a regenerative future rooted in Indigenous knowledge and connection to the Earth.