The Journey That Changed My Life

Meet Shazia Kikia

My journey with sacred plant traditions began long before I ever sat in ceremony. At 16 years old, I watched a ceremony portrayed in a film, and something deep within me was awakened. I didn't fully understand it then, but a seed had been planted.

Years later, in 2015, at the age of 32, life brought me an unexpected gift. While walking the streets of Bangkok, I ran into a friend from South Africa who had just returned from a life-changing retreat in Peru. He told me I needed to experience the traditional prayer. I explained that I couldn't afford it, and without hesitation, he gifted me $3,000 to make the journey possible.

A few months later, I found myself in Peru, sitting in ceremony for the first time. From that very first experience, my world changed forever. I knew I had found a sacred path of learning.

The following year brought even more transformation. I became a wife and a mother, blessings that deepened my understanding of life, love, and purpose. I believe my time in prayer and ceremony helped prepare my heart for motherhood and for the life my son and I would share together. I believe he is here to make a meaningful contribution to his community and beyond.

Life, however, continued to unfold in unexpected ways. After moving to the United States, I experienced profound change. The COVID-19 pandemic, the end of my marriage, and the challenges that followed left me searching for direction. During that difficult period, Nixi Pae came to me in my dreams, gently reminding me that it was time to return to prayer and ceremony.

Not long after, I met Yawa Bané. Our meeting felt anything but accidental. I was called to sit with him and the sacred sacrament of the Huni Kuin people. From that first journey together, I committed myself to supporting Yawa's work and deepening my relationship with the prayers, traditions, and wisdom carried by the Huni Kuin and many Indigenous peoples.

Today, I am honored to serve alongside Yawa Bané as part of a dedicated team committed to supporting the preservation and respectful sharing of Huni Kuin traditions, prayer, and cultural wisdom. This path has transformed my understanding of myself, my community, and my purpose. It is a privilege to walk with humility, gratitude, and deep respect for the Indigenous elders, families, and knowledge keepers who have preserved this sacred wisdom for generations.

I feel truly blessed to be in service to this work.

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Photography: Selected images throughout this website are by Daniel Cohen and are used with permission. We are deeply grateful for Daniel's generosity in sharing, through his reflective lens, the story of Lago Lindo, the Huni Kuin, and his guidance in helping tell the story of Medicine of Many Tribes.

Medicine of Many Tribes is a Colorado nonprofit religious corporation and is in the process of applying for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.