WHO ARE WE
Romeya Peño Kamãnawa
President and Project Coordinator | Guardian of Ancestral Culture
Romeya Peño Kamãnawa, a Noke Koî indigenous person born in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, carries with him the strength and wisdom of a lineage of ancestral healers. From an early age, his life has been guided by the dream of caring for his family, strengthening his people and sharing his culture, knowledge and love with humanity.
Peño is dedicated to preserving and expanding the Noke Koî traditions, protecting the forest and future generations. Her work transcends boundaries, bridging spirituality with practical life, and creating a legacy of balance and connection.
Karine Vari
Vice President and Project Coordinator | Educator
Dedicated for over 6 years to studying and living with the Noke Koî ethnic group. Married for three years to Romeya Peño Kamãnawa, she is by their side in the mission to strengthen the culture, protect the forest and bring significant improvements to the Noke Koî families and communities.
Sharing the same purpose as Peño, Karine works to expand the visibility of the culture of the Noke Koî people. Her work goes beyond coordination: she dedicates herself entirely to spiritual experiences and to caring for families. Her dream is to help promote a more harmonious future for future generations.
BRIEF HISTORY | GOALS
The name of the association “Projeto UNIverso- Romeya Peño”, came about after much study and reflection within spirituality and ceremonies with medicines.
A Romeya is the highest level of healer within the Noke koî ethnic group, one who has various prayer techniques to help sick patients. Today within the ethnic group there are some Romeyas, and Peño is one of them, his song is a prayer for the improvement of all humanity, a prayer for love, health, peace, well-being and protection of the Earth.
Today, reporting from the Romeya Peño family, the indigenous people need many improvements to achieve a better quality of life, saying that the rivers are drying up, the fish are decreasing, hunting is no longer abundant, the population has grown, the houses no longer last due to intense climate changes that include excessive rain and flooding, in addition to being in contact with the city and unknown diseases that end up becoming a pandemic in their families.
The name UNIVERSE refers to the creative power of the Universe, just as the universe has the power to create, our goal is to expand and create a beautiful story, with the flow and strength of the universe and the beauty of nature. In addition to mentioning “UNI” which means Ayahuasca in the native language of the ethnic group, Noke Vana.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Peño has dedicated himself for more than 10 years to strengthening his culture and the well-being of the Noke Koî community.
With the support of some partners and a lot of personal effort, he built an important space in Shonoya village, including two large houses and a water well, where his children now live and work.
Together with his wife, over the past three years, Peño has expanded his impact: he has built two houses for his children, purchased a boat to meet the needs of the community and supported several families, encouraging the sale of handicrafts and contributing to local food.
In addition, they undertake experiences and trips that strengthen the culture and spirituality of their people.
METHOD
Investment and Autonomy
To date, all investments have been made autonomously, with total dedication to strengthening the community and preserving the forest. With the creation of the association, we intend to structure a methodology based on the continuous evolution of our ideas and projects.
Disclosure and Expansion
We have developed a strategic plan to expand our communication and increase the visibility of the Noke Koî ethnic group, highlighting the essential role of Peño in cultural preservation. Our goal is to create a solid and connected image, valuing the roots and efforts of our work.