Don Alejandro at a Village ceremony

Alejandro Darikiking Juaranchi.(1938? to 1998) was the last tribal chief of the Huachipayris and the seventh in a powerful lineage of spiritual and medicinal healers. He was born and grew up in a tribal village, not experiencing his first “contact” with outsiders (anthropologists and missionaries) until around the age of 20.

Self-taught at reading and writing, Alejandro adopted many of the Western ways. Later, discouraged by this lifestyle he returned to the forest and lived in silence, communicating and working with the spirits and plants of the forest.

During this time of introspection he received a vision of creating a teaching and training center where people from all over the world could come and learn the ancient plant knowledge.

Alejandro's Centro Wanamey (Tree of Life Center in the Huachipayri language) is situated near the banks of the River Tono near a powerful confluence of rivers flowing towards the Madre de Dios Mountains in Peru. Within the Center, Don Alejandro taught the Way of Nature as communicated through the Powers of the Four Elements and the Plant Spirits.

Alejandro worked tirelessly to communicate his knowledge about the healing powers inherent in Nature. During his travels in the United States, Alejandro was invited to speak at the White House. He addressed officials of the Department of the Interior, urging them to protect the Natural World.

His intention was that in the year 2000 a group of healers from the Four Great Corners would congregate at Centro Wanamey to dedicate the Reuniting and Reawakening of the Visions of Humankind in Balance with Nature.

Shortly before his sudden death, Alejandro initiated his lands and center with a Boat Dedication ceremony in Philcopata. Donna Runnalls, Living Bridges Foundation,was named Godmother of the boat. It is from this inauguration that Living Bridges continues to support the manifestation of Alejandros vision through the Shamans Conference Project.

Updated: July 19, 2004

Big Sur, California, USA

Boat Dedication, River Tono, Peru