DRAFT 2025 Program

Cultural Gathering for Holistic Health & Wellness

Uniting Indigenous and Diasporic Practices

Monday, November 17, 2025 to Thursday, November, 21, 2025

DRAFT PROGRAM (Belize Time)

Activity

8:00am

Check In/Coffee, Tea

Opening/Call to Order

Ancestral Voices - Invocations

Presenter

AI-25 Team

Aurora and Ernesto Saqui (Maya) and The Garifuna Youth Music Initiative, led by Eleanor Castillo Bullock (Garifuna)

Welcome, Introductions, Housekeeping

Healing Through Culture: How traditional practices promote mental and emotional well-being.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Mental Health: Exploring the application and wisdom of Indigenous psychological, spiritual, and wellness frameworks.

BREAK

The Decline of the Yucatec Maya in Belize:A fight for well-being.

Lánina Aüra Buni Amürü Nuni, Iáya Waü: A Garifuna Approach to Healing.

LUNCH & Lunchtime Discussion:

Natural Disasters, Culture and Mental Health

Reconvene - Afternoon Session

Ancestors Mapping & Meditations

BREAK

The Ancestral Institute as Blueprint: A Watake on Building Decolonial Wellness

“The Eternal Song” - documentary screening, compliments of Science & NonDuality (SAND)

AI-25 Team

Gwen Nunez Gonzalez, Ed.D.

Aurora and Ernesto Saqui, Ich-Komonil Organization

BREAK

Delmer Tzib, IILI, University of Belize

Peitra Arana, MD

LUNCH & Lunchtime Discussion

Facilitated by Delmer Tzib, IILI, University of Belize

Reconvene - Afternoon Session

Ifetayo Ojelade, Ph.D., A Healing Paradigm, LLC

BREAK

Keith Watts, Ph.D., Angela Flowers Jones, DSW, Ifetayo Ojelade, Ph.D., A Healing Paradigm, LLC

Maya & Garifuna

DINNER

Documentary Screening and Q&A with Iya Affo, Heal Historical Trauma

Monday, November 17, 2025

Time

9:00am

9:30am to 10:30am

10:30am to 11:30am

11:30am to 11:45am

11:45am to 12:45pm

12:45pm to 1:30pm

1:30pm

1:30pm to 3:30pm

3:30pm to 3:45pm

3:45pm to 4:45pm

4:45pm to 5:00pm

5:30pm

6:30pm

Closing Invocations

DINNER

Location

Coconut Palm Conference Room

in Coconut Palm Conference Room

Coconut Palm Conference Room

Pelican Beach Resort Dining Room

Q&A via Zoom - Coconut Palm Conference Room

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Martes, 18 de noviembre de 2025

Pre-Garifuna Celebrations

Walking Tour

Stann Creek Ecumenical High School/Ecumenical Junior High School
Dangriga Communities

Celebraciones Pre-Garífunas

Tour a pie

Stann Creek Ecumenical Escuela secundaria/Ecumenical Junior High School
Comunidades Dangriga

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Miercoles 19 de noviembre, 2025

Dangriga Celebration Day

Early Morning Gathering for Ancestral Worship where river meets the ocean
Parade to local church for service
Walk to Drums of Our Fathers Monument and Park
Official Garifuna Ceremony
Parade through Dangriga

Día de celebración de Dangriga

Reunión matutina para el culto ancestral donde el río se encuentra con el océano

Desfile a la iglesia local para el servicio.
Camine hasta el monumento y parque de los Tambores de Nuestros Padres
Ceremonia oficial garífuna
Desfile por Dangriga

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Jueves, 20 de noviembre, 2025

Cultural Immersion Experiences:

Maya Center Ceremony (optional)

Garifuna Cultural Experience - Palmetto Grove (optional)
Experiencias de Inmersión Cultural:
Ceremonia del Centro Maya - Centro Maya (opcional)
Experiencia Cultural Garífuna - Palmetto Grove (opcional)

Friday, November 21, 2025

Viernes 21 de noviembre, 2025

Open - Attendees free to depart or extend stay, explore Dangriga and surrounding areas.

Abierto: los asistentes pueden salir o extender su estadía, explorar Dangriga y sus alrededores.

Kindred Spirits

This beautiful sculpture was built by the Irish people in Ireland to honor the American Choctaw Indian tribe, to express their gratitude for the Choctaw People , who in 1847 sent money to Ireland when they learned that Irish people were starving due to the potato famine. The Choctaw themselves were living in hardship and poverty, having recently endured the Trail of Tears.

Kindred Spirits is a large stainless steel outdoor sculpture in Bailick Park in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland. The shape of the feathers is intended to represent a bowl of food.

Espíritus afines

Esta hermosa escultura fue construida por el pueblo irlandés en Irlanda para honrar a la tribu india choctaw americana, para expresar su gratitud al pueblo choctaw, que en 1847 envió dinero a Irlanda cuando se enteraron de que los irlandeses morían de hambre debido a la hambruna de la papa. Los propios choctaw vivían en penurias y pobreza, habiendo soportado recientemente el Sendero de las Lágrimas.

Kindred Spirits es una gran escultura al aire libre de acero inoxidable en Bailick Park en Midleton, Condado de Cork, Irlanda. La forma de las plumas pretende representar un plato de comida.