Sacred Forest · Programme Framework
From vision
to action.
Every lasting ecosystem begins with relationships. Every meaningful innovation begins with trust. And every vision becomes transformative when it is translated into collective action.
The framework
The Sacred Forest Programme Framework is a long-term methodology that brings together Indigenous leadership, ancestral knowledge and emerging technologies to strengthen Indigenous self-determination.
Rather than implementing isolated projects, Sacred Forest cultivates relationships, strengthens Indigenous organisations and creates the conditions for communities to imagine, design and lead their own future.
The journey begins in Europe and continues in the Brazilian Amazon through a progressive incubation process, where each phase builds upon the previous one.
Our ambition is not to replicate projects — it is to replicate a way of working, rooted in reciprocity, cultural integrity and Indigenous leadership.
The Journey
Five moments, one ecosystem.
Every phase expands relationships, capacities and leadership. Together, they create a living Indigenous Innovation Ecosystem capable of growing across territories, cultures and generations.
Phase 0
Connect & Co-Design
Europe · Jul. → Sep. 2026
Indigenous representatives meet researchers, universities, companies, foundations, storytellers, innovators and partners. Storytelling and partnership development.
Phase 1
Discover & Build
Amazon · October 2026
First field mission. Understanding the territory before designing the future.
Phase 2
Incubate
Amazon · Oct. – Nov. 2026
Transforming ideas into Indigenous-led initiatives. Prototypes, governance, bioeconomy, AI.
COP31
Global visibility
International · November 2026
International platform, strategic partnerships, fundraising, global dialogue.
Phase 3
Lead
Amazon · 2027
From Capacity Building to Indigenous autonomy. Impact Expeditions, cross-cultural sharing, replication.
Sacred Forest Global Indigenous Innovation Ecosystem
Phase 0 · Europe
Connect
European Co-Design Mission
Late July → early September 2026
Not in the Amazon. But through dialogue.
Every meaningful collaboration begins with trust. Before projects, technologies or investments, there are relationships. That is where the Sacred Forest journey begins.
The European Co-Design Mission brings together two representatives of the Yawanawa Nation with researchers, entrepreneurs, universities, storytellers, innovators, companies and strategic partners.
More than a study visit, this first encounter creates a bridge between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, opening a space where different perspectives meet as equals.
Three shared questions
How can emerging technologies strengthen Indigenous self-determination?
How can ancestral knowledge inspire new models of leadership, innovation and sustainability?
How can long-term partnerships create meaningful impact for Indigenous communities while contributing to global challenges?
Objectives · By the end of the mission
- ✓ Established relationships with prospective international partners
- ✓ Initiated the co-design of the incubation programme
- ✓ Developed a shared long-term vision
- ✓ Begun the journey of Sacred Forest's first Indigenous Ambassadors
- ✓ Created the foundations for long-term collaboration
Storytelling — First chapter
Authentic conversations, cultural exchanges and moments of collaboration are documented through high-quality audiovisual production.
The resulting teaser becomes the first chapter of the programme's story — not the promotion of a project, but the introduction of the people behind it.
This production supports discussions with Rituals Cosmetics and future international partners.
Storytelling is not an end in itself. It is a bridge.
Phase 1 · Brazilian Amazon
Discover & Build
October 2026
Understanding the territory before designing the future.
Hosted on Yawanawa territory and developed together with invited representatives from the Noke Koi territories, the first field mission establishes the foundations of a long-term Indigenous-led incubation programme.
Before designing solutions, communities first take time to understand. To listen. To observe. To map existing capacities. To identify aspirations.
Every community is unique. The programme therefore begins with listening — not prescribing.
Building the Indigenous Innovation Ecosystem
Six complementary axes of a living ecosystem
Living Knowledge
Ancestral wisdom
Leadership
At the heart
Storytelling
Stories
Forest & Territory Stewardship
Stewardship
Digital Sovereignty
Digital Sovereignty
Regenerative Bioeconomy
Bioeconomy
Not independent projects — complementary building blocks of a living ecosystem that each community prioritises according to its own vision.
Capacity Building · Topics explored
By the end of Phase 1, participants will have
- ✓ A shared understanding of community priorities
- ✓ An initial territorial diagnosis
- ✓ Existing capacities and leadership identified
- ✓ Thematic working groups established
- ✓ Priority areas for incubation defined
- ✓ Strengthened collaboration between Indigenous organisations
- ✓ Foundations of the Indigenous Innovation Ecosystem built
Phase 2 · Brazilian Amazon
Incubate
October — November 2026
Innovation is not introduced into the forest. It grows from within the forest.
Ideas become projects. Projects become opportunities. Communities begin designing the future they want to build.
Sacred Forest provides methodologies, mentoring, technical expertise and access to strategic partners, while Indigenous organisations remain at the centre of every decision.
Focus Areas
By the end of Phase 2
- ✓ Operational project concepts
- ✓ First Indigenous-led prototypes
- ✓ Strengthened leadership teams
- ✓ Community implementation roadmaps
- ✓ Governance and management tools
- ✓ Partnerships ready for long-term development
Leadership Journey
Innovation Fellows progressively become project leaders. They coordinate thematic groups, mentor their peers and strengthen their ability to facilitate future initiatives within their own territories.
Subject to opportunity
COP31
November 2026 · Antalya
Should the opportunity arise, COP31 provides an international platform to present the first outcomes of the programme.
Rather than showcasing finished projects, Sacred Forest presents an emerging model of Indigenous innovation, leadership and international collaboration.
Presenting the Sacred Forest Programme Framework
Screening the European teaser
Showcasing the first Indigenous-led initiatives
Meeting foundations, companies and institutions
Expanding international partnerships
Strengthening fundraising opportunities
Positioning Indigenous leaders as protagonists of global climate solutions
Phase 3 · Brazilian Amazon
Lead
2027
The objective is not dependency. It is autonomy.
The final incubation mission marks a transition. Sacred Forest progressively shifts from facilitator to long-term partner, while Indigenous organisations take full ownership of their projects, governance and future development.
By this stage, the programme has moved beyond training. Communities are now strengthening their own governance systems, managing partnerships and developing fundraising strategies.
Technology is no longer something being introduced — it has become a community-owned tool that supports Indigenous governance, territorial stewardship and long-term resilience.
Focus Areas
By the end of Phase 3, communities will have developed
- ✓ Indigenous-led governance structures
- ✓ Long-term strategic partnerships
- ✓ Investment-ready initiatives
- ✓ Financial sustainability strategies
- ✓ Community-owned digital systems
- ✓ Strengthened organisational autonomy
- ✓ Foundations of the Indigenous Innovation Ecosystem established
Leadership Journey
From dialogue to mentorship.
Every phase grows Indigenous leaders. Four steps of progression across the entire programme.
Phase 0
Indigenous Ambassadors
Representatives chosen by their communities to engage in dialogue with European partners.
Phase 1
Innovation Fellows
Transition to leading the incubation process. Strengthened confidence and networks.
Phase 2
Project Leaders
Coordination of thematic groups, peer mentorship, facilitation of new initiatives.
Phase 3
Mentors
Supporting younger leaders, facilitating collective learning, community leadership.
Cultivating leaders capable of navigating between ancestral knowledge, emerging technologies and international collaboration — while remaining deeply rooted in their own cultures.
Across the journey
Two transverse components.
Activable at any stage of the programme. They strengthen relationships, accelerate learning and expand the ecosystem.
Component 1
Impact Expeditions
Bringing the right people into the forest.
Some partnerships are built around a meeting table. Others begin by experiencing the forest together.
Sacred Forest may organise carefully curated expeditions that bring together Indigenous leaders with a small number of selected guests. Every expedition respects local governance, cultural protocols and FPIC.
Possible participants
Potential outcomes
- ✓ International storytelling
- ✓ Strategic partnerships
- ✓ Responsible business collaborations
- ✓ Documentary productions
- ✓ New fundraising opportunities
- ✓ Increased visibility for Indigenous leadership
- ✓ Long-term impact networks
Component 2
Cross-Cultural Sharing
Learning between Indigenous Nations.
Every Indigenous People carries unique knowledge. By creating opportunities for exchange, communities strengthen one another while preserving their own cultural identity.
Knowledge travels in every direction. No community teaches another — communities learn from one another.
Activities
Long-term vision
A global Indigenous learning network where ideas, experiences and innovations circulate freely, while every community retains ownership of its knowledge, governance and cultural identity.
Sacred Forest · Programme Framework
Cultivating a new generation of Indigenous leaders.
Capable of navigating between ancestral knowledge, emerging technologies and international collaboration, while remaining deeply rooted in their own cultures.