KIVA: The Call of the Wisdom Keepers

Documentary KIVA – The Call of the Wisdom Keepers has been successfully touring the Netherlands for almost four years, with sold-out screenings at renowned venues such as DeLaMar, Paradiso and Omniversum. It has also inspired audiences through special evenings organised in collaboration with organisations such as Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), featuring dialogues with, among others, Princess Irene.

On December 9, a special KIVA evening will take place at Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam. The evening will feature inspiring dialogues with, among others, Sherilyn Sanches (Founder of the International Indigenous Knowledge Centre) and Brazilian activist Shirley Krenak, who plays an important role in the documentary.

KIVA: The Call of the Wisdom Keepers

What if we have forgotten something, and the time has come to remember it?

We live in a world of chaos and division. In a world that seems increasingly disconnected from nature and out of balance, there is a profound need for a different perspective – one rooted in harmony and reconnection.

This film captures the essence of the unique and ancient KIVA gathering, where Indigenous leaders from all over the world come together to pray and work for peace, equality and reconnection with the Earth and with one another.

“The Original Peoples still live according to the Original Principles, in balance with the Earth and with one another. They understand that we are nature itself. Through their ancient wisdom and values, they can inspire us to embrace a more connected and sustainable way of life.

By raising awareness and remembering the Original Principles – the same principles our distant ancestors also lived by – restoring balance with the Earth and with one another becomes possible.”

For more background information and to watch the film trailer, visit here. 

Biographies

Sherlien Sanches is Chairperson and Founder of the International Indigenous Knowledge Centre. She also works as an International Heritage Cooperation Advisor at the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KIEN).

Sherlien is dedicated to the preservation and revitalisation of Indigenous cultures and to bringing greater attention to Indigenous perspectives on the Dutch colonial and slavery past, as well as their continuing impact today.

She strengthens partnerships and collaborations in Suriname, Indonesia and India, with the aim of promoting cultural exchange and identifying and documenting intangible cultural heritage.

Sankale Ole Ntutu (Kenia), a wisdom keeper and son of Chief Lerionka Ole Ntutu, is a proud Maasai. He serves as the Community Chief in Maji Moto, representing a community of over 5,000 Maasai. Acting as a spokesperson between his community and the Kenyan government, he is also an expert on the natural world and a passionate nature guide in Kenya. Nature serves as his guiding principle: it is never biased and places all people on equal footing. He shares his knowledge about living in harmony with nature with great enthusiasm.

Together with his wife, Manon van Oldenbarneveld, he founded the 'Back to Nature Foundation.' His mission is to preserve the biodiversity and cultural heritage of the Maasai within the renowned Masai Mara ecosystem. As a leader—not only for his own community but for humanity at large—he has established an intimate, authentic camp called 'Loita Hills Basecamp.' Here, visitors from across the globe arrive through organized trips to learn more about Maasai culture and a way of life that exists in complete harmony with nature. In Kenya and Tanzania, fences pose a major problem for both wildlife and local communities. These structures are part of an extensive network that spans diverse landscapes and frequently crosses national borders. Let the wisdom of this community-based leadership inspire you to guide your own organization toward the future—a future that sustains life for the next seven generations.

Marijke Kodden: Nature has always been her greatest source of inspiration. As a designer and photographer, she worked for more than ten years for WWF and Staatsbosbeheer (the Dutch Forestry Commission).

In 2018, she was among the first to receive permission to film at the unique KIVA gatherings in the Netherlands, Mexico, India and Germany.

She interviewed many Wisdom Keepers and, together with her friend Rakinah Buttner and Jaap Verhoeven (who joined the project in 2021), produced this inspiring and hopeful documentary.

The documentary continues to attract sold-out audiences and is also screened in collaboration with organisations and eco-villages. Its reach has now extended beyond the Netherlands, with screenings in several European countries, as well as in Brazil, Peru, Australia and South Africa.

Description of the programme

A special KIVA film screening and speakers' evening featuring:

• Documentary KIVA – The Call of the Wisdom Keepers, by Marijke Kodden and Jaap Verhoeven.
• SHERLIEN SANCHES, Founder of the International Indigenous Knowledge Centre.
• Filmmaker MARIJKE KODDEN, sharing insights into the filmmaking process and the 7 Original Principles.
• Accompanied by beautiful handpan music performed by MARK ADRIAAN RUTTEN.

About our event partners

The purpose of Stichting Stories of Wisdom is to improve intercultural understanding, equality, peace and societal involvement, by sharing experiences of live and ensuring the accessibility of (old)wisdom from numerous cultures.

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