About IRI
Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative of the Americas
The Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative of the Americas is a program of the Chacruna Institute. At IRI, we support community-led, grassroots projects designed and implemented by local peoples to address their own self-determined needs. Our commitment to reciprocity, education, and collaboration drives everything we do.
As an Indigenous Mazatec, it is very meaningful for me to serve as Program Coordinator for the Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative of the Americas. This work is both personal and professional, allowing me to honor my ancestors, support Indigenous communities and create avenues for true reciprocity by promoting the building of just relationships between the Global North and the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
— Dr. Osiris García Cerqueda, IRI Program Coordinator
End of Year Reports
The IRI Reports document the evolution and impact of the Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative, showcasing the support provided to Indigenous-led organizations over the years. These reports highlight funds raised, their impact on local communities, projects funded, and IRI’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Indigenous biocultures through direct and unrestricted giving.
Systematic Change
Unconditional Funding
We raise funds in alignment with our partners’ values and priorities, ensuring that donations are distributed equitably and used exclusively for charitable purposes as defined by our shared agreements.
Educational Platform
IRI provides a platform for education, presenting at conferences & universities, co-producing publications exploring reciprocity, biocultural conservation, plant medicine, and Indigenous rights.
Supporting Initiatives
We engage with Indigenous and local stakeholders on their own terms, supporting their ongoing initiatives by offering platforms to amplify their voices, share their work, and strengthen their campaigns.
Chacruna Institute
The Chacruna Institute of Psychedelic Plant Medicines, an organization founded by Brazilian anthropologist Dr. Bia Labate and American psychologist Dr. Clancy Cavnar, produces high-quality research on plant medicines and psychedelics, and helps propagate academic knowledge in more accessible formats. We educate the public and create cultural understanding and legitimacy regarding these substances so that they may cease to be stigmatized and outlawed. Chacruna also promotes a bridge between the world of plant medicines and the emergent field of psychedelic science, between “traditional ceremonial use” and clinical and therapeutic settings, bringing the knowledge and perspectives of the social sciences to health care professionals and practitioners of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Finally, we foster cultural and political reflections on the field of psychedelic science and facilitate conversations about controversial topics that have been simmering on the sidelines as psychedelics go mainstream.
