
Indigenous-Led Plant Medicine Science Program
An 8-month immersive program culminating in the Certificate in Indigenous-Led Research & Experiential Studies in Plant Medicines- a collaboration between Drug Science UK
What we offer
Certificate in Ethical & Intercultural Foundations of Indigenous-Led Research
(Awarded by Drug Science UK in collaboration with OIOC)
Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort close on November 1st.
Please contact info@oioc.co with any inquiries.
Program Overview
Program Format
Hybrid: Online + 10-day Immersion in Putumayo, Colombia
Schedule: 10:00am- 12:00pm (America/ Bogotá UTC–5)
Time Zones: Morning sessions for the Americas, afternoon for Europe
Access: All sessions recorded for flexible viewing
This 8-month hybrid certificate provides guided study and experiential learning in the ethics, intercultural methods, and Indigenous-led approaches that shape community-based and plant-knowledge research. Participants gain a solid grounding in ethical collaboration and reciprocal science, learning directly from Indigenous knowledge holders and interdisciplinary scientists.
The program blends online coursework, mentorship, and immersive field experiences to create a cohesive and practical learning journey in Indigenous-led science.
Learning Experience
The learning journey unfolds through a carefully balanced blend of online study, immersive fieldwork, and reflective mentorship. Through weekly online lectures, discussions, and mentorship sessions, participants engage in an interactive curriculum that integrates case studies, applied research exercises, and intercultural dialogue. These modules are designed to foster continuity, connection, and community-building throughout the eight months of the program.
A 10-day field immersion in Putumayo, Colombia offers direct engagement with Kamëntsá knowledge holders and local researchers, where participants take part in observed ceremonies, ecological learning, and community-based practices. This in-person experience deepens understanding of Indigenous perspectives on health, ecology, and reciprocity.
Participants also develop experiential projects that bridge research and community practice — documenting songs, ceremonies, conservation efforts, and ancestral health frameworks. Guided integration and reflection sessions support each learner in synthesizing personal, scientific, and ancestral insights through dialogue and mentorship.
Throughout the journey, participants receive ongoing support, including extra Q&A office hours offered in alternating time slots and continuous guidance from mentors across both the online and hybrid components. This integrated approach ensures a deeply supported, experiential, and transformative learning experience.
Eligibility & Who This Program is For
We welcome participants who are committed to ethical, Indigenous-led research and collaborative science. Ideal participants include:
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Indigenous youth and community members interested in ecological research and leadership
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Researchers and academics in ethnobotany, ecology, or social sciences
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Practitioners of plant medicine and traditional healing arts
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Conservationists and field scientists dedicated to biocultural restoration
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Activists, educators, and community organizers engaged in decolonial or environmental justice work
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Allies and funders supporting Indigenous-led initiatives
No formal prerequisites are required, though experience or study in related fields is advantageous.
Practical Details
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Cohort Size: 20–30 participants per cohort
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Language: Spanish and English (with translation support as needed)
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Tuition & Scholarships: Need-based scholarships available to support accessibility
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Continuing Engagement: Graduates join an active alumni network and mentorship programs
Please Note: This program does not provide professional licensure or authorization to conduct research independently. It equips participants with ethical, cultural, and practical skills to engage in Indigenous-led science in collaboration with community partners.


Why this Matters

Across the world, Indigenous knowledge holders have safeguarded the relationships between people, plants, and place for millennia. Today, that wisdom is essential — not only for the healing of our ecosystems, but for the renewal of scientific and spiritual balance.
The Indigenous-Led Plant Medicine Science Program creates a bridge between ancestral lineages and modern research practices. By centering Indigenous leadership, ethical reciprocity, and community accountability, the program redefines what it means to study medicine — as an act of respect, remembrance, and repair.
We don’t need to be invited into the future of psychedelic research. We are already leading it — in our way
TAITA JUAN

Module 1: Cosmology, Reciprocity & Research Foundations
Ancestral Knowledge, Intercultural Ethics, and Plants as Teachers This module introduces participants to the cosmological and ethical frameworks that guide Indigenous approaches to health, knowledge, and relationship with the natural world. Through study, reflection, and dialogue with Indigenous knowledge holders, participants learn to recognize plants as teachers and guardians of collective memory, engaging with dieta, ancestral communication, and the ethical principles that underlie all ceremonial and research practices. The module bridges Western scientific ethics with ancestral mandates of harmony and guardianship, cultivating an intercultural understanding of reciprocity, protection, and preparation in the context of Indigenous-led science. 1. Plants as Teachers Understanding plants not as substances but as guides and guardians of collective memory Building relationships with plant intelligence and ecological consciousness 2. Dieta and Allied Plants Bodily and spiritual preparation through dieta and allied plants Learning their language, song, and medicine qualities 3. Ancestral Communication Chants, music, dreams, symbols, and prayers as pathways of transmission Honoring oral and embodied ways of knowing 4. Ancient and Genetic Memory How plant medicine awakens deep memory processes—spiritual and biological Remembering as healing: personal, collective, and ecological restoration 5. Health and Illness in the Indigenous Worldview Understanding imbalance and healing as relational processes Yagé as integral medicine: harmonizing mind, body, and spirit 6. Plural Epistemologies Western scientific ethics ↔ ancestral mandates of harmony and guardianship Intercultural dialogue and the co-creation of ethical knowledge frameworks 7. Protection and Safeguarding Laws, practices, and current efforts to protect ancestral medicine and knowledge Ethics of consent, guardianship, and cultural continuity 8. Preparation as Ceremony Readiness for knowledge that speaks through images, memory, and stillness The researcher’s and participant’s inner preparation as a ceremonial act ~ Outcome Formation of intercultural ethical protocols that integrate dieta, cosmology, and ancestral communication as the foundation for research, collaboration, and reciprocal engagement with Indigenous plant knowledge systems.
Module 2: Integration, Applied Research & Transformation
Ceremony as Research and the Ecology of Collective Healing This immersion provides a direct experience of Yagé as integral medicine, exploring how ceremony, ecology, and community intertwine as living systems of knowledge. Participants engage in observed participation within traditional Yagé rituals, guided reflection with Indigenous leaders, and collaborative learning within the Amazonian landscape. The immersion emphasizes ceremony as a mode of inquiry—where transformation, observation, and dialogue become pathways to understanding health, balance, and relationship. Through ecological awareness and community exchange, students deepen their recognition of the territory as both teacher and healer. 1. Ceremony as Research Observed participation in Yagé rituals as a process of experiential inquiry Guided reflection led by Indigenous knowledge holders and elders 2. Documented Transformations Observation of physical, mental, and emotional shifts: memory, perception, and embodiment Approaches to self- and group documentation within ethical frameworks 3. Ecology of Health The Amazonian territory as a space for knowledge conservation and collective healing Interconnection of environment, community, and spiritual ecology 4. Elements of the Spirit Water, air, fire, and earth as forces of balance and learning Working with elemental symbolism in ceremonial and ecological contexts 5. Community Dialogues Intergenerational circles on medicine, peace, environment, and social healing Collective reflection on reciprocity, coexistence, and the future of Indigenous-led science ~ Outcome Development of an experiential and ecological understanding of Yagé, integrating ceremonial participation, ecological consciousness, and community dialogue as interdependent dimensions of research and healing.
Module 3: Immersion in Yagé, Ecology & Community
Weaving Knowledge into Practice and Social Transformation This culminating module brings together the personal, scientific, and ancestral learnings developed throughout the program. Participants engage in intercultural integration processes, applied research, and community collaboration to translate insight into ethical and transformative action. Guided by principles of reciprocity and guardianship, the module emphasizes knowledge application as ceremony—a living continuation of learning that honors both Indigenous wisdom and contemporary research practices. Through project work, reflection, and co-creation, participants explore how ancestral frameworks can inform new approaches in health, ecology, and education. 1. Intercultural Integration Remote and in-person discussions weaving together personal, scientific, and ancestral perspectives Reflective synthesis of field experiences, mentorship, and self-study 2. Applied Projects Documentation of songs, limpias (cleansing ceremonies), conservation practices, and ceremonial health frameworks Collaborative development of applied research outputs in dialogue with Indigenous mentors 3. Knowledge Guardianship Ethical publication, authorship, and data sovereignty Preventing extractivism through consent-based, community-driven research methodologies 4. Social and Scientific Transformation Applying ancestral principles—harmony, evolution, and guardianship—to reimagine frameworks in health, psychology, and education Building pathways for intercultural collaboration and systemic change 5. Environmental Conservation Practices Yagé cultivation, forest restoration, and biocultural stewardship as acts of planetary healing Ecological reciprocity and the ethics of care in environmental practice ~ Outcome Creation of co-authored articles, reports, and tools applicable in clinical, academic, ecological, and community contexts—embodying the program’s vision of reciprocal, Indigenous-led science as a transformative practice.
Module 4: Certification
From Learning to Action: Sustaining Knowledge, Community, and Global Impact This final module emphasizes long-term engagement, reciprocity, and the translation of experience into educational and societal impact. Participants apply program learnings through active collaboration with Indigenous communities, academic institutions, and international networks. The focus is on sustaining knowledge, fostering cultural and ecological continuity, and creating pathways for future generations. By integrating ceremonial practice, intercultural research, and global dissemination, participants contribute to a living model of science in dialogue with ancestral wisdom. 1. Active Reciprocity Participation in language revitalization, reforestation, and cultural initiatives Engagement in community projects that reinforce mutual respect and sustainability 2. From Experience to Education Presentation of findings and design of curricula for universities and institutions Translating ancestral knowledge into educational frameworks without appropriation 3. Personal and Academic Continuity Long-term integration plans for researchers, communities, and Indigenous youth Strategies for ongoing mentorship, collaboration, and intercultural practice 4. Internationalization Presentation of results at global health and science conferences Recognition through academic and Indigenous certification, fostering broader intercultural dialogue ~ Outcome Formation of sustainable intercultural networks, innovative curricular pathways, and a replicable model of research and education grounded in dialogue with ancestral knowledge—ensuring the longevity and ethical stewardship of Indigenous-led science and community practice.

The Pillars of the Program
Indigenous-led Research
Knowledge sovereignty, ethical protocols, and intercultural co-research.
Ancestral Plant Education
Experiential learning with Yagé and other sacred plants in ecological, ceremonial, and cultural contexts.
Community-based Education
Revitalization of the Kamëntsá language, intergenerational research, and youth leadership development.
Leadership & Advisory Team
Guided by Indigenous knowledge holders and intercultural researchers, our team unites ceremony, science, and community to nurture ethical learning and cross-cultural collaboration.

Taita Juan Bautista Agreda Chindoy
Spiritual leader, healer, and former Governor; Director of OIOC.

Mercedes Agreda
Youth Educator & Ethno-Pedagogy Facilitator

Andrés Juagibioy Escuela
Language revitalization expert and oral historian

Antonia Narváez
Community storyteller, researcher, and memory keeper.

Erika Salazar
Program co-founder; coordinates intercultural operations and reciprocity.

Dr Anne Schlag
Head of Research, Drug Science UK; ensures academic standards.

Arno Adelaars
Author and Ayahuasca researcher; facilitates cross-cultural dialogue.

Celina De León
Minister and plant medicine educator with extensive teaching experience.
Your Investment (Program Fee)
Co-create an ethical model of Indigenous-led science and education

Next Steps

$10,000 USD
For universities, research institutions, or organizations sponsoring faculty, students, or staff to participate.

Partnership Tiers
Knowledge & reciprocity partnerships supporting curriculum co-development, publications, and conservation initiatives.
$25,000 – $50,000 USD +
Complete Application
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Our admissions team carefully evaluates each application.
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We may reach out for additional details or clarification if needed.
Complete Enrollment & Payment
Program Preparation
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Receive Your Confirmation
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Flexible payment plans available
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Receive travel details and make your arrangements
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Access your reading materials
Start Program
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Begin online Learning in March 2026
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Attend 10-day Retreat at Shanayoy from September 21st
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Receive certification after successful completion of training
Institutional Seat
Individual Tuition
For independent practitioners and researchers deepening their engagement with Indigenous-led plant medicine scholarship.
$5,000 USD

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Curious about our Indigenous-led Psychedelic Science Certificate Program? Below are answers to some of the key questions about the program
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