Preservation and Revival of Indigenous Shamanism

The Foundation is dedicated to preserving, studying, and teaching shamanic knowledge for the welfare of all. The FSS has initiated a wide range of projects and programs for carrying out this three-part mission. Results from these strategic programs are incorporated into FSS courses worldwide.

Preservation, Revival, and Urgent Indigenous Assistance

Helping to preserve shamanism where it is being threatened, and assisting its revival when invited, are critical dimensions of the Foundation's mission. The FSS has a network of specialists in shamanism throughout the world to help save indigenous shamanic knowledge in imminent danger of being lost. The FSS also responds to requests from native peoples to help revive and maintain their own shamanic traditions.

This work is accomplished largely through the Foundation's extensive international network of Field Associates and Faculty who are now operating on five continents.

To date, by invitation, the FSS has sent basic training teams to the Republic of Tuva, China, Siberia, Samiland, Australia, Canada, the northeastern United States and Alaska. The Foundation is actively engaged in preservation work in Nepal, Siberia, China, Central Asia, the Amazon, and elsewhere.

The Foundation has provided assistance to the Baniwa people of Northwest Amazonia to help preserve and revive their shamanic traditions.

Scholarship rebates are available to Native Americans on federally recognized tribal rolls for all FSS workshops in the United States and Canada.

Living Treasures of Shamanism

Our Living Treasures designation provides an annual lifetime stipend to exceptionally distinguished indigenous shamans in less-developed countries where their age-old knowledge of shamanism and shamanic healing is in danger of extinction. Special care is given to providing the economic assistance necessary to allow these Living Treasures to pass on their knowledge to their people.

Examples of these Living Treasures honored by the FSS are:

  • Kapi Waurá, a shaman of the yakapá type, which allows her not only to recite healing charms, but also to see spirits and other beings while in a tobacco trance.
  • Dukha shaman Saintsetseg in the northernmost region of the Sayan Mountains, located at the edge of the Siberian Frontier.
  • an Ulchi shaman, Grandmother Nadia Duvan, Ulchi territory, southeastern Siberia ... read more...
  • a Daur shaman, Sichingua, of Inner Mongolia, China ... read more...
  • two of the last known Tibetan shamans, Pau Karma Wangchuk (passed 2008) ... read more... and Pau Pasang Rhichoe (passed 2012)
  • the last Tibetan shaman in a refugee camp in Nepal, Pau Nyima Dhondup... passed on in September 2013
  • one of the last known snuff-Jaguar shamans, Mandu da Silva, of the Baniwa people, Aiary River, Northwest Amazon ... read more...
  • a Yaminahua shaman in the Upper Amazon
  • a Camaiura shaman in Central Brazil
  • a Nanay shaman and an Ulchi shaman, both in Siberia
  • a shaman in the Republic of Tuva ... read more...
  • and a Buriat shaman in Siberia. View the video Shamans of Siberia from Russia Today TV about Bo Bair Rinchinov. (About 16:45 minutes into the video, it mentions Bo Bair's Living Treasure status with the FSS.)
  • a shaman of the Kofán people of the Colombian Amazon (passed 2007) ... read more...

Research and Teaching

In addition to our preservation efforts, the Foundation's work includes RESEARCH projects and WORKSHOPS and advanced training programs.


Videos of FSS Field Expeditions


READ MORE ABOUT THE WORK OF THE FOUNDATION IN THE FSS E-NEWS ARCHIVES

AND IN THE FSS NEWS BLOG


Shaman

Shaman

Mandu da Silva
Snuff-Jaguar Shaman
Mandu da Silva, 2001.
Photo by Robin Wright.