On Saturday the 8th of February we welcome Dennis McKenna and Wade Davis to Xapiri Ground in the city of Cusco for a day of film screenings and conversation. This event concludes the Wisdom of the Leaf Coca Summit which is to be held at the Willka T’ika retreat center, in the Sacred Valley from February 3-7 2025.

*Capacity is limited to 40 people so please reserve your space by emailing us or purchasing your ticket in person at the Xapiri Ground gallery. Tickets are 100 soles (revenue will be shared between the non-profit organizations of the Mckenna Academy and Xapiri Ground, in support of their work).

Their summit promises profound discussions on the past, present, and especially, the future of coca where a wide array of Indigenous leaders, researchers, and policymakers will be presenting and discussing the potential of coca in medicine, food, culture, and policy.

We are honored to host the Peruvian premiere of the short film “Biognosis, Bridges to Ancestral Wisdom”; a project of The McKenna Academy that aims to renovate and digitize an immensely important collection of 150,000 biological specimens currently housed at the Herbarium of the Amazon in Iquitos, Peru. The herbarium includes vital knowledge on how the Indigenous people use the plants for healing. It is their vision to make this reservoir of knowledge and wisdom available for future generations. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the film’s co-director, Greg Hemmings and Dennis McKenna.

We will also screen other works related to the topic of coca, including an excerpt from "Kuka Saruy" by Lara Jacoski, which will be presented by the cinematographer Faisal Tisnés, who will speak about the film's production. Additionally, we will show a section from "The Day the Waylakas Dance"; a documentary with Wade Davis and his encounter with the Mujunamiento coca ritual which takes place annually in Chinchero, Peru.

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Biography | Dennis McKenna

Dennis McKenna has conducted research in ethnopharmacology for over 40 years. He is a founding board member of the Heffter Research Institute, and was a key investigator on the Hoasca Project, the first biomedical investigation of ayahuasca. He is the younger brother of Terence McKenna. From 2000 to 2017, he taught courses on Ethnopharmacology and Plants in Human affairs as an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. He emigrated to Canada in the spring of 2019 together with his wife Sheila, and now resides in Abbotsford.

Since 2019, he has been working with colleagues to manifest a long-term dream: the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, a non-profit organization founded in the spirit of the ancient Mystery Schools and dedicated to the study of plant medicines, consciousness, intelligence in nature, preservation of indigenous knowledge and a re-visioning of humanity's relationship with Nature. Dr. McKenna is author or co-author of 6 books and over 50 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals.

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Biography | Wade Davis

Wade Davis is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker whose work has taken him from the Amazon to Tibet, Africa to Australia, Polynesia to the Arctic. Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society from 2000 to 2013, he is currently Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia. Author of 23 books, including One River, The Wayfinders, Magdalena: River of Dreams and Into the Silence, winner of the 2012 Samuel Johnson prize, the top nonfiction prize in the English language, he holds degrees in anthropology and biology and received his Ph.D. in ethnobotany, all from Harvard University.

His many film credits include Light at the Edge of the World, an eight-hour documentary series written and produced for the NGS. Davis, one of 20 Honorary Members of the Explorers Club, is the recipient of 12 honorary degrees, as well as the 2009 Gold Medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the 2011 Explorers Medal, the 2012 David Fairchild Medal for botanical exploration, the 2015 Centennial Medal of Harvard University, the 2017 Roy Chapman Andrews Society’s Distinguished Explorer Award, the 2017 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration, and the 2018 Mungo Park Medal from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. In 2016, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2018 he became an Honorary Citizen of Colombia.

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Biography | Greg Hemmings

Greg Hemmings is a pioneer in positive social impact filmmaking, recognized globally for his commitment to catalyzing change through storytelling. His commitment for positive social change has taken him and his team to all corners of the globe to tell global stories to inspire local change and local stories to inspire global change. As the founder of Hemmings Films, and Hemmings House Pictures (a certified B-Corporation) based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Greg employs change-makers who feverishly produce filmed content that makes a difference. Hemmings House has been producing film content for the brand marketing and global broadcast industries for almost a decade. They have also created a process that engages social community and brand stakeholders in the film story experience helping to accelerate social movements that matter to them.

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Biography | Faisal Tisnés

Faisal Tisnés is a talented photographer and visual storyteller with a deep commitment to exploring culture, landscapes, and human connections through his lens. Faisal brings his artistic perspective and technical expertise to the event, contributing to the broader narrative about coca and its cultural significance. Faisal’s photography journey has been shaped by his ability to capture contrasts and beauty in the world around him. His work spans diverse subjects, from intimate portraits to expansive landscapes, and demonstrates his dedication to using visual art as a medium to tell powerful stories. A self-taught artist, Faisal has honed his craft through years of exploration and experimentation, including a profound engagement with analog photography. Learning to develop his own film has allowed him to build a unique and personal relationship with his medium, bringing depth and authenticity to his work. With his keen eye for detail and passion for storytelling, Faisal will continue to shine a light on the stories and landscapes that connect people to the coca plant and its broader significance in the world today.

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