How to hear the voice of nature again: Shane and Yaka on the wisdom of the Huni Kuin tribe

We live in a time when the world is connecting faster than we can perceive. Technology shortens distances but, at the same time, often separates us from the natural rhythm of life.

In the seventh episode of Talks 21, I sat on a rock with Shane and Yaka from the Amazonian Huni Kuin tribe, who offer a different perspective—from a place where every word carries weight and where cooperation is not an ideal but a daily necessity.

We talked about the power of speech, which heals and creates reality, about dreams as a map of consciousness, and about the vision of Xinã Bena—a new era in which tradition, spirituality, and technology are interconnected.

You can listen to the entire 7th episode of the Talks 21 podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube , or directly on my website.

What to take away from the episode

• Every word has weight – it can heal or hurt.

• Cooperation is not an ideal, but a natural way of life.

• The new era of Xinã Bena begins where tradition and the modern world learn to listen to each other.

• Technology is useful as long as it remains in our hands.

• Wisdom comes from listening to nature, others, and ourselves.

Why this interview is worth paying attention to

Listening to the wisdom of an Amazonian tribe is an extraordinary experience that rarely comes one's way. The Huni Kuin live in a way that we in the modern world are only just beginning to return to—in natural connection with nature, in community, and in conscious experience of each day.

This episode is exceptional not only for what we talk about, but also for how it unfolds. It features two traditional Huni Kuin songs – sacred chants that are not only part of their culture but also carry a healing power and tranquillity that are disappearing today.

This is a conversation that cannot be listened to in a hurry. It invites you to pause, to listen to a different rhythm of life, and even to return to yourself.

Who are the Huni Kuin

The Huni Kuin, translated as "true people," live in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Brazil and Peru. Their lives are closely connected to nature, which they perceive not as an environment, but as part of their own body and spirit.

Huni Kuin culture is based on cooperation and mutual assistance. Every member of the community has their role—from children, who learn about herbs and rituals from an early age, to elders, who pass on their experience. 

Shane is a singer and painter whose voice and paintings are inspired by the spiritual songs of the rainforest. Yaka is a guide and facilitator who connects female wisdom with the daily life of the community. Together, they lead the Kayatibu group, which is dedicated to preserving the traditions, arts, and rituals of the Huni Kuin and sharing them with the outside world.

Their mission is not to romanticise the past. They want to show that even in the modern world, ancient wisdom has its place and that people who live in balance with nature are stronger, calmer, and more connected to others.

About the Hatxa Kuin language

The language of the Huni Kuin tribe is called Hatxa Kuin, which means sacred words. Words are not just a way for them to communicate, but a means of creating reality. That is why they treat them with respect and even purify their language before important rituals so that "false words go away."

This idea is very close to my heart. For a long time now, I have been trying to speak consciously—avoiding unnecessary negativity and not using words that carry destruction. I believe that language truly shapes our reality: the way we talk about things is also how we shape them.

Modern society tends to waste words. We react quickly, speak emotionally, and use phrases that mean nothing. But this is where we can draw inspiration from the Huni Kuin. It may not be about talking more. It is about making each of our words purer, more accurate, and closer to what we really want to bring into the world.

Xinã Bena

In our conversation, we also touched on a topic that the Huni Kuin call Xinã Bena – "the new time." It is a period when the world is changing faster than we can comprehend, and at the same time, space is opening up for deeper connections between people and cultures.

According to Shan and Yaka, humanity is at a crossroads. If people close themselves off in competition with each other and lose touch with nature and themselves, they will also lose their balance. But it could also be that we discover a new ability to cooperate – a common force that transcends the boundaries of nations and generations.

Xinã Bena is not an abstract spiritual concept for them. It is a vision of a new era in which traditional wisdom is combined with modern possibilities and technology becomes a means of strengthening humanity, not replacing it. I, too, believe that we are heading toward a time when we will be able to combine the best of both worlds—science and intuition, reason and humility. Will we succeed in this collective lesson?

Technology and artificial intelligence 

Finally, I was interested in how they view and perceive the future of technology and what artificial intelligence means to them. 

They replied that everything has its pros and cons. Technology can benefit people if we know how to use it and if it does not start to control us. However, they believe that we are increasingly relying on devices and forgetting to use our own minds. 

They believe that technology can be beneficial, but it can also control us. They added that it is essential for the modern world to reconnect with traditional cultures and knowledge, because that is where we can find the balance that we might otherwise lose.

Would you like to know more about why the Huni Kuin believe that nature holds the cure for every disease? What do they see as the weaknesses of the modern world, and why do they consider dreams to be a path to self-knowledge?

Listen to the seventh episode of Talks 21 with Shana and Yako about the wisdom of the Huni Kuin tribe on your favourite platform - Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts or on my website. It is a peaceful but profound encounter between two worlds that can learn a lot from each other.

And if the Huni Kuin have caught your interest and you’d like to learn more about their culture, traditions, or support them directly, visit www.moudrostamazonie.cz. There you’ll find information on how you can travel to meet them in the rainforest, or follow them on Instagram @moudrost.amazonie.