DIRECTOR

Manari Ushigua is the leader of the Sápara Nation in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He is a traditional healer, dreamer, and defender of indigenous rights and lands. He also has founded the Naku Center which is an ecotourism project that intends to protect the rainforest, connect visitors with the spirit world, and immerse themselves in the magic of the Amazon rainforest.
Ushigua's ancestors were powerful shamans of the Sapara Nation who live in the Amazon rainforest along the border of Ecuador and Peru, and he was designated as the successor to his father, his grandfather and his great-grandfather, taking on the role of healer and leader of the nation - the akameno (authority).
Once a nation of about 200,000 people, the Sápara are now in risk of extinction with a population of about 700 due to enslavement during the rubber boom, land grabs and intermarriage with neighboring tribes. Today only 3 people speak their native language fluently. Manari and the Sapara have opened their teachings to the world to keep their wisdom alive.

FOUNDER

Jacob is passionate about healing, art, culture and nature. Jacob founded Naku Foundation after living in Ecuador and working with the Sapara people and seeing there was a need for an NGO dedicated to supporting their needs for cultural protection and appropriate development.

DIRECTOR

Florencia Fridman is passionate about supporting the voices of indigenous nations, wisdom keepers, and guardians of the sacred lands. She works with the Mayan tradition from Guatemala and the
Sapara Nation of Ecuador. She shares her passion for Theobroma Cacao through education and ceremony globally. Florencia has opened for Deepak Chopra, has facilitated ceremonies for the corporate world at Spotify, Morgan Stanley, and has been a guest to teach at NYU.
Florencia is the co-founder of Cacao Laboratory, a Ceremonial Cacao brand aiming to bring awareness of a regenerative world through the voice of Cacao. She is also the founder of Florecer Community, bridging modern and ancient wisdom to create a more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.