Care across generations
Supporting Amazonian maestros and their families in recognition of lives devoted to plant medicine knowledge.
Meet the eldersThe beginning
The Elder’s Fund began during the pandemic as a donations account supporting four maestros and maestras living in the Peruvian Amazon Basin.
Each has dedicated a lifetime to Amazonian plant medicine and shamanic practice. The fund offers direct care in later life and expresses gratitude for knowledge carried across generations.
The idea came from Chris Odle, a maestro with more than two decades of dedication to the plants. The Heroic Hearts Project community in the United States and United Kingdom joined this work through its founder Jesse Gould and UK leader Keith J. Abraham.
Community partnership
Contributions have been led by members of the Heroic Hearts Project community in the United States and United Kingdom.
Lives of service
Their experience reaches through families, communities, students and the many people who have received their care.
Tamshiyacu
Don Augustin was born in Tamshiyacu in 1933. His life is documented in the book Amazon Magic. He completed a five-year Banco series of dietas, has helped thousands of local and international visitors across the decades, and built a school campus for his town.
San Martín
Don Ricardo has lived in the San Martín region throughout his life. He began the path of vegetalismo at 35 following a serious hip injury. A six-month Bachua dieta supported his healing, and he continued learning the knowledge of vegetalismo from three Banco curanderos, including his grandfather.
Pucallpa
Don Alberto began working with the medicines at 14. He comes from a generation of Shipibo and Yuhua practitioners, with a grandfather who worked as a curandero near Iquitos. Years of study and long dietas with master plants opened his path into the medicine traditions of the Amazon.
Contribute to the circle
Contact John to learn about current needs and the most direct way to contribute.
Ask about contributing