Program

How it works

The objective of the IRI program is to raise donations and build a fund to support the strengthening of Indigenous biocultures throughout the Americas. 

The money donated will be distributed evenly among the grantee organizations showcased on the IRI webpage, discounting an administrative fee of 7.5%. A report on the money raised is issued at the end of each calendar year. The IRI Program represents a unified pathway to support all the grassroots organizations involved. Supporters can also contribute directly to any of our current or former partners listed on the IRI partner page.

It’s Time to Give Back — Directly.

It is vital that members of the psychedelic community support Indigenous groups and the traditional ecological knowledge they practice. Many organizations and individuals have a genuine desire to help, but struggle to find ways of connecting directly and meaningfully with local communities. Too often, the only option is donating to massive non-governmental organizations (NGOs) based in Western countries. However, those who care about the environment and its interdependency with Indigenous cultures are aware that money given to large NGOs often fails to reach the people on the ground due to bureaucratic and infrastructural costs. Meanwhile, small grassroots groups doing the most impactful work, struggle to connect with those who wish to offer direct support. This is why Chacruna created the Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative of the Americas.

Sharing the Benefits of the Psychedelic Renaissance

In addition to encouraging individual acts of reciprocity from our supporters, IRI seeks to foster a relationship of reciprocity between the rapidly expanding psychedelic industry in the Global North—often far removed from the needs and struggles of Indigenous peoples—and the Indigenous communities whose biocultures and traditions have ultimately made the “psychedelic renaissance” possible. Going beyond symbolic acts, retreat centers catering to Western visitors, or income streams from the tourism economy, we created the IRI Program to act as a mechanism for businesses, foundations, and private donors to address the disparities stemming from the globalization of psychedelic plant medicines.

Did you know that in 2022, the world market for psychedelic drugs was valued at almost 1.6 billion USD, and is estimated to grow by 1.37 billion USD between 2024 to 2028. Meanwhile, the urgent needs of Indigenous communities continue to grow as they remain at the forefront of combating climate change, nurturing biodiversity, and supporting local food economies —all against the backdrop of enduring colonial legacies and ongoing injustices, such as threats to land rights, extractivism, and systemic discrimination. The IRI Program is an opportunity to direct some of the enormous profits anticipated by the commercialization of psychedelics back into the hands of Indigenous people.

IRI´s Theory of Change

IRI recognizes that a 100% ground-up structure emphasizing local agency that challenges conventional philanthropic models is the most meaningful way to support Indigenous and local community autonomy while safeguarding the planet’s biodiversity. IRI serves as a platform for reciprocity, education and collaboration:

  • Raising unconditional funding

    Accepting donations with strict adherence to the terms set by IRI partners, and distributing funds evenly and with integrity, allows our partners to pursue their self-determined priorities and initiatives. This flexible funding is used to address the immediate and constantly changing needs of communities, while fostering autonomy and lasting impact, all guided by a commitment to the ethical and responsible use of funds.

  • Providing a platform for education

    Presenting at conferences & universities, co-producing publications exploring reciprocity, biocultural conservation, plant medicine, and Indigenous rights.

  • Supporting Indigenous Leadership

    We work in partnership and collaboration with Indigenous and local peoples to help them defend their livelihoods, and protect their natural and cultural resources. Our work is rooted directly in our deep and enduring relationships and partnerships with Indigenous and local communities at the grassroots.

RECIPROCITY

The Chacruna Institute promotes reciprocity in the psychedelic community, and supports the protection of sacred plants and cultural traditions. It is invested in curating conversations and producing publications around honoring the Indigenous roots of the psychedelic movement, reciprocity, autonomy, decolonization, commodification, conservation,  cultural appropriation, Indigenous perspectives on the globalization of plant medicines, inclusion of Indigenous people in the psychedelic circuit, and ethics in the new psychedelic industry (see also this). 

IRI invites a deeper consideration of what we mean by the idea of “reciprocity” and how we might embody that understanding in the most authentic way, contributing to a general culture and awareness around this concept in the psychedelic community. Often vaguely defined, paid lip-service by corporate interests, or used to launder the dubious promises of neoliberal development and access and benefit-sharing, indigenous reciprocity is concept that doesn’t neatly fit with the model of capitalist exploitation extracting profits from Indigenous biocultures.

Historically, Indigenous peoples have suffered violence and oppression from expansionist powers seeking to establish control over their territories, natural resources, and forms of social organization, including their sacred plants and mushrooms. The ongoing existence of Indigenous biocultures today stands as a testament to their resilience and resistance against centuries of external domination

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While the concept of “Indigenous Reciprocity” is finding broader acceptance, the lack of understanding around Indigenous people’s diverse realities can lead to the reproduction of neocolonial practices in their territories. “Reciprocity projects” can be imposed on Indigenous people without their meaningful participation, used to legitimize corporate activity and applied in a coercive manner.

“Indigenous reciprocity” is a process under construction, in which the leadership and autonomy of Indigenous people and organizations is fundamental; their demands are based on a complex reality that is often misunderstood by Western societies. That is why its development should focus on philanthropic proposals aimed at redressing the harmful colonialist practices of the Global North and avoiding further exploitation of Indigenous Peoples and territories. 

IRI provides a unique avenue for psychedelics enthusiasts to reciprocate with the land and its Indigenous defenders; but it is not just about donating money. IRI is a bridge between the Global North and South, building lasting relationships within a living, growing network; it aids communication and coordination between Indigenous groups who can support each other in solidarity, exchanging ideas for how to tackle the similar challenges they face.

Criteria 2025

The diverse Indigenous traditions supported by IRI emphasize relationships to the land irrespective of psychoactive plant use, striving to include Indigenous groups often left out of the conversation in psychedelic circles and tourism. The community-centered nature of IRI’s projects focuses on collective efforts and avoids concentrating funds in the hands of one or two well-connected families or solo shamans. With a structure that avoids intermediaries wherever possible, the IRI Program seeks to serve Indigenous communities without creating extra bureaucracies or barriers to funding, ensuring that the agency, autonomy, and focus remains with the recipients rather than with the donors. 

Accordingly, IRI focuses on grassroots organizations with the following characteristics: 

  • Indigenous-led organizations engaged in cultural conservation projects that lack significant financial and material support, foundation funding, donations and/or alliances with other non Indigenous organizations and non-governmental organizations. 

  • Grassroots, Indigenous organizations with women-led projects aimed at strengthening local traditions and customs. 

Donate

Support our Indigenous partners by making a donation using the link below. Your gift will be evenly distributed among all partner organizations, minus a 7.5% administrative fee retained by the Chacruna Institute. All donations are eligible for tax deduction in the U.S. You can also donate directly to any of the organizations by finding their info on our list.