Ñawpa Ñan means ‘Ancient Path’ in Quechua. This cultural work began in 1993, fourteen years before Pachamama’s Path came into being, and the amazing grassroots work throughout these years still serves as the strong foundation of our Sumak Kawsay (Good Living) philosophy, present in all the projects that have come to fruition since. These community members — in fact, original “teachers” so to speak – contributed years of dedicated investigation into their ancestral heritage. They consciously share an interconnected and interdependent life commitment to preserve their ancestral indigenous culture; serving as an inspiration for a viable path. As the work grew, and their own personal resources and life dedication could no longer sustain growth, they identified the need to find funding, so in 2007, fourteen years later, Pachamama’s Path was formed for this purpose. Today these programs are still alive with great potential for growth.

All of these cultural programs and events have been and are still made possible to this day thanks to the dedication, commitment, perseverance and sacrifice of the founding families that have never received any economic compensation for this cultural revival work. For them it is a way of life, an eternal commitment, and their life calling and vision.

Workshops and special events have included: textiles, painting, music & dance, theatre, games, arts & crafts, ceramics, medicinal herbs, nutrition, parenting skills, women empowerment, martial arts, sauna and herbal baths, festivities and ceremonies according to the Andean calendar (Solstice, Equinox, Southern Cross sighting, etc.), intertribal gatherings, healing work, cultural outings (excursions to ancient archeological sites to celebrate and honor the function of the sundials and other astronomic accomplishments and learn true history), oral history and storytelling, activation of ancestral agrarian practices called faena and minka, traditional communal work.