Elders from Ecuador
.jpg)
Avelina Rogel
Avelina Rogel, also known as Mama Ave, is an Indigenous woman of the Panzaleo and Palta peoples of Ecuador. She is a spiritual authority recognized by CONAIE (the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) and a guardian of ancestral knowledge transmitted through her maternal and paternal lineages. Her path unites science with the wisdom of the Earth: she is an agronomist engineer specialized in agroecology, with studies in ethnomedicine and a master’s degree in bioethics.
Mama Ave inhabits the intersection of spirituality, activism, and healing. In her role as a “Yachay Mama”—a Wise Woman who guides with her word, her action, and her heart—she accompanies collective processes of resistance, care, and regeneration, both in Indigenous territories and in urban and community spaces. Her medicine integrates the art of the sahumerio (smoke cleansing), heartfelt words, plants, and deep listening.
Along her path, she has woven bridges between tradition and the present, reminding us that “corazonar”—to think from the heart—is both a political and spiritual act. Her presence opens a space for reconnecting with the living wisdom of the original peoples, and for feeling, alongside her, the insurgent power of care, reciprocity, and a life with dignity.
Tashka Peshaho Yawanawa
I am an indigenous member of the Pueblo Salasaka from Ecuador, trained as a general physician with a deep commitment to my community. I combine clinical care with a heart for cultural preservation, working to strengthen wellbeing through accessible health services rooted in respect for ancestral traditions.
I’m an active participant in Líderes Jóvenes de Salasaka, engaging in cultural and social initiatives that reinforce indigenous identity. My focus is on promoting education, supporting community wellbeing, and keeping our ancestral practices alive — blending tradition with a practical, community-centered vision for the present and future.
Nancy Chango Masaquiza
********