The team

Maya McGonigle BSc

Co-Founder and Event Producer

Maya is a musician, holistic therapist, Kambô practitioner and owner of Sacred Forest studio Glasgow. She holds a BSc in Integrative Healthcare at University of West London and is a founding member and mentor at the Kambo Practitioner Collective.

Maya has over 15 years of experience in study of Earth medicine and ceremonial work, and has dedicated the last 7 years to deepening her connection with ancient Amazonian traditions, learning directly with the Huni Kuin and Yawanawá. She manages Barixá’s social media presence and co-produces community events that celebrate and amplify Indigenous cultures, creating spaces for meaningful cultural exchange and connection between Indigenous and Western communities.

Verónica Castro PhD

Founder

Verónica is an award-winning filmmaker, visual anthropologist and hypnotherapist. She holds a PhD in Anthropology, Media and Performance from the University of Manchester. Her films have been broadcast and screened internationally at film festivals, galleries and museums.

She has a longstanding relationship with the Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá) people of the Jordão River region since spending 18 months living within the community. Verónica is deeply committed to bringing awareness of Indigenous peoples, their traditions and cosmologies into contemporary consciousness.

In 2024, Verónica and Kawá Huni Kuin premiered their award-winning feature-length film Yupumá, filmed in the Amazon rainforest.

David Morris BSc

Musician and Event Producer

David is an ecologist with a BSc in Wildlife conservation, Kambô practitioner, DJ and musician.

He is dedicated to connecting with and learning from healing and musical traditions that are at one with nature.

As a musician, and in his personal practice, David has been inspired by the traditions and songs he learns from the Matses and the Huni Kuin from the Brazilian Amazon. He plays guitar, various kinds of flutes and djembe. He also writes his own soon to be released songs.

His ecstatic dance sets as DJ WZRDRY feature music from many genres which he styles into an ecosystem that work together to help people heal through sound and movement.