The Kairau Saiti Festival is a rare opportunity to gather with the Yawanawa people in their ancestral homeland, their sacred universe, deep within the Brazilian Amazon.
Held in Mutum Village, this gathering is a living expression of Yawanawa culture where songs, chants, ceremonies, and daily life are shared as they are lived, passed down, and honoured within the village.
It is an invitation and opportunity into shared presence and time lived together.
When the great Yawanawa elder Pajé Tatá was still among the living, he recevied a vision: the image of the Kairau plant. He shared with his people that the Yawanawa must plant that seed, for if it resisted and took root, their prayers and wisdom would then spread to the four corners of the world, supporting the healing of humanity.
In time, the sacred plant did sprout. And today, we live the unfolding of Tatà’s vision. Yawanawa music now flows beyond the forest, crossing seas and reaching the entire planet. The Kairau Saiti is held in honour of this propehcy - a celebration of Tatà’s vision and of the sacred moment the Yawanawa people live today, through their music, living spirituality and ancestral wisdom.
The Spirit of Kairau
WE’VE ALWAYS KNOWN WE JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER
-NAIWENI (first female chief of the Yawanawá people)
What Awaits You
Immersive teachings on Yawanawa chants
Rume circle (Rapè/Tobacco snuff)
Traditional body painting
Plant medicine wisdom
Hike to the Samauma sacred tree
Uni (Ayahuasca) ceremonies
Circles with Sepa (sacred resin incencse)
Storytelling - Yawanawa cosmology
Arts & Crafts market
*All subject to change
Mutum Village & The Yawanawa People
The Yawanawa live along the Gregorio River in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, protecting 200,000 hectares of rainforest, 95% of which remains intact. Guardians of deep spiritual and ancestral wisdom, their culture was nearly lost after years of conflict and persecution.
In the 1980s, the Yawanawa reclaimed their territory and ancestral heritage. Guided by the last great elders and shamans, Pajé Tata and Yawarani, they embarked on a powerful cultural and spiritual revival, strengthening their rituals, songs, art, and identity.
Today, the younger generations proudly carry this legacy, blending guitars, flutes, and drums into their traditional prayers. Their music and spirituality now resonate worldwide, sharing the message of the forest through prayer, sacred teachings, and unique musicality.
Chief Matsini Yawanawa
Matsini Yawanawa, chief and spiritual leader of Mutum Village, descends from an unbroken lineage of Pajés (master shamans) and trained
under the legendary Pajé Tata, who helped restore Yawanawa traditions after years of suppression.
Brother to Putanny and Hushahu Yawanawa, Matsini works year-round welcoming students to his village while also sharing his wisdom abroad. His global engagements include representing his people and participating in cultural exchanges with spiritual leaders worldwide.
He is a living symbol of commitment to cultural preservation, spiritual depth, and the empowerment of indigenous communities - and will be our main guide through the Kairau Saiti Festival.
Our hosts - Keneihu Yawanawa
Keneihu Yawanawa is the oldest daughter of the spiritual leader Matsini Yawanawa, chief of Mutum Village - a very respected leader of the Yawanawa people. Through her fathers guidance, she has been raised deeply immersed in her people’s tradition.
Coming from a powerful lineage, Keneihu is a young female leader and has been representing her people in ceremonies around the world pursuant to her deep study of the Yawanawa tradition. Keneihu has undertaken different diets in the guidance of her father.
For being the oldest of 7 sisters, she carries the Yawanawa feminine force with a deep sense of responsibility. Due to her unique and deep voice, she has already taken part in different musical and art projects around the world. Kene is a living symbol of the force carried by indigenous women and brings a powerful presence wherever she goes.
Our hosts - Shawma (Wira) Yawanawa
Shawma Yawanawa (Wira) is son to Chief Nixiwaka Biraci Yawanawa, a grand leader of the Yawanawa people & chief of the Yawanawa Sacred Village. Shawma lives in Mutum Village together with his wife Keneihu, where he supports spiritual works and other cultural activities within his community and across the globe.
A young leader of his people, Shawma has represented the Yawanawa in ceremonies around the world, guided by sacred diets and his deep study of ancestral knowledge and spirituality. With a strong presence and musical talent, he has joined projects such as the album The Future is Ancestral with DJ Alok - which took him to the United Nations, The Grammy Awards and places like Indonesia and Thailand.
Through his leadership, wisdom and studies, Shawma embodies the masculine force and spirituality behind the Yawanawa tradition.
Yawanawa Journey invites you to step into this sacred space.
Together, we walk in prayer, song, and unity.
Logistics
Location: Cruzeiro Do Sul Airport, Brazil
Dates : 12-22nd of June 2026
Festival Dates: 14-21st of June 2026
Language: Immersions are facilitated in English and Portuguese.
Investment
Included: Shared accommodation, three meals per day in the village, ceremonies, hotels in Cruzeiro Do Sul and transportation from/to
Cruzeiro Do Sul airport.
Not Included: International flights.
Contribution: $2800 USD (33% deposit required to reserve your place).
Spots are limited to ensure an intimate and authentic immersion.
If you feel the call, reach out to us for more details.
Ready To Join An Immersion?
Please fill out our Intake Form to get started. Once submitted, a member of our team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps and ensure you meet the necessary requirements for participation.
By joining this gathering, you are directly supporting the Yawanawa people and the preservation of their culture, while receiving the blessing of their sacred songs, prayers, and teachings.
For questions or additional details, please fill out the form or email us at team@yawanawajourney.com. We will be happy to support you.
Hope to see you in the heart of the forest!