Guyana, Suriname & Brazil join forces to advance Indigenous traditional healing

A group of traditional knowledge experts and healers from Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil have launched a first-of-its-kind Regional Traditional Knowledge and Healers Network to advance Indigenous traditional healing. From September 8-11, 2026, representatives from Indigenous communities within the aforementioned Amazon countries assembled at Iwokrama River Lodge to exchange knowledge on traditional medicines, healing and other cultural health practices.
Facilitated by the Amazon Conservation Team Guianas (ACT Guianas), the overall purpose was to build on two previous exchanges and establish regional organisation, credibility, advocacy and continuity.
The central goal of the meeting was to establish a regional networking platform of Indigenous traditional healers and knowledge holders, supported by clear principles, ethical protocols, communication mechanisms and an advocacy agenda for respectful recognition by Governments and health systems.
Other objectives accomplished during the exchange included the exchange of best practices among traditional healers and Indigenous communities from the three countries, reviewing lessons learned from exchanges over the last four years, strengthening the reliability, credibility and ethical practice of traditional healing across the region and exploring pathways for respectful Government recognition and possible future integration with national health systems. Additionally, the exchange introduced an opportunity for Guyana and Suriname to learn from Brazil’s experience, particularly Brazil’s model public health system, Indigenous health subsystem and integrative/complementary practices policy. Brazil’s public health system, Unified Health System (SUS), has a specific Indigenous Health Subsystem that was created in 1999.
Moreover, Brazil also has a National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices in the SUS, which includes medicinal plants and phytotherapy among recognised practices. The proceedings over the four-day period commenced with a spiritual cleansing ritual performed by a young Guyanese apprentice, Adele John of Surama Village. Following the opening ceremony, immersion activities in the forests surrounding the Iwokrama River Lodge and workgroup sessions aided in the development of a roadmap for this regional group over the next three years.
The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development was delighted to have hosted the ACT team and the Indigenous healers from across the region. The centre has supported the establishment of the network as it works to build an Indigenous knowledge networking platform across the region and advocate for the integration of Indigenous medicinal knowledge into national healthcare systems.