Guardians of the Forest

The indigenous Huni Kuin women Bunke Inani, Rita, and Bismaní have traveled a long way from the Amazon to remind us of a profound truth: the wisdom of the forest can only be heard when we learn to truly listen.

Cultural researcher Alisa Reimer invited the women to her atelier, the Jade Room in Potsdam, to host two unique retreats with her: Forest Teachings and Força Feminina. These encounters offered spaces to build bridges between worlds, to share visions and perspectives, to learn from one another, and to cultivate a deep sense of unity.

Thanks to the support of the NGO Living Gaia with Jaci Tzatza, Simon Koop, and Alexandra Schwarz-Schilling a full weekend of cultural exchange was made possible.

Let's build bridges together
A person coloring a black-and-white illustration of two women, one holding an umbrella, on a wooden table.
A lush, green forest scene featuring a small, rocky stream with roots and moss-covered rocks, surrounded by dense foliage and undergrowth.
A young child with curly hair stands outside in a village setting, holding a white bowl and wearing patterned clothing. There is a dog lying on the ground nearby, with huts and trees in the background.
A large tree with extensive roots and hanging vines in a dense green forest, with a stone bridge in front.
An elderly woman in a floral blouse and green pants stands inside a wooden building, holding a wooden post, with a young child peeking from behind the post.
A colorful gecko with orange spots and blue skin on a wooden floor with white painted fairy circles and text.
A young girl with dark hair peeking through wooden slats of a fence, looking at the camera.
A group of children playing soccer on a dry, grassy field with trees and small buildings in the background, and a mountain partially obscured by clouds in the distance.
Three young Buddhist monks in orange robes walking through an ancient temple with weathered stone steps and carvings.
Group of chickens and chicks foraging on dirt ground, with some scattered grains.
An elderly woman with short black hair and a floral red dress sitting outdoors during sunset, with a concrete structure to her left and a background of drying plants or straw.
Three children standing behind a wooden fence, peeking through the gaps. They are outdoors in a residential area with trees, houses, and other people in the background.
People walking along a dirt path in a rural area with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
A young girl with big eyes, wearing a white head covering, a light blue long-sleeve shirt, and light blue pants, walking barefoot on a dirt sidewalk. She has a bundle wrapped in a yellow cloth on her head, held with one hand, in a small village or rural area with houses and greenery around.
A woman sitting behind a small green table on a dirt ground, with plastic bags and containers, and fried snacks or chips displayed on the table and beneath it.
Three children are standing on a sidewalk in front of a weathered metal gate. The girl in the foreground has long hair and is wearing a light blue shirt and a dark skirt. Two younger children, a girl and a boy, are standing behind her, facing the camera and another girl, and appear to be talking to each other.
A coastal scene with boats, trees, and mountains in the background.
Two men in a small boat on a lake, fishing with a net, with lush green trees and mountains in the background.
A man stands beside a boat on a calm river with mountain hills and a cloudy sky in the background.
School of small fish swimming in deep blue ocean water.
An elderly man with gray hair sitting next to a dog by a river with city buildings in the background during sunset.
An elderly man with gray hair is resting on a green recliner chair, with his legs stretched out and feet resting on a red plastic chair. He appears to be sleeping or resting with one arm behind his head, holding a phone, and the other arm resting on his lap. He is wearing a light-colored shirt and dark pants. The setting is outdoors against a plain wall that is painted pink on the left and beige on the right, with a concrete floor that has visible cracks.
Tall tree with hanging vines and dense green foliage in the background, sunlight shining through
A young girl standing outdoors in a wooded area with green foliage, wearing a school uniform, tie, white shirt, red shorts, white knee-high socks, black shoes, and carrying a pink backpack with butterfly designs.
Close-up of colorful tropical plant leaves with shades of green, pink, and dark red, and a small black insect on the pink leaf.
An elderly man sitting under a rustic wooden and thatched roof, holding a cigar in his hand. He is wearing a red shirt with striped details and a watch on his wrist, with a background of lush green foliage.
Person crushing red and white chili peppers in a stone mortar with a pestle. Several colorful bowls containing ingredients are on the table nearby.