The Ancestral Institute (AI) is a forum in which participants bring and share ancestral/traditional healing practices, and examine how these can be incorporated with contemporary mental health psychological paradigms to work toward achieving a “whole person” type of treatment for Black and peoples of color, and which will be included in training modules and therapeutic practices, especially for Indigenous, Black and people of color practitioners.
El Ancestral Institute (AI) es un foro en el que los participantes aportan y comparten prácticas curativas ancestrales/tradicionales, y examinan cómo estas pueden incorporarse a los paradigmas psicológicos de salud mental contemporáneos para trabajar hacia el logro de un tipo de tratamiento de “persona integral” para los negros y sus pueblos. de color, y que se incluirán en módulos de capacitación y prácticas terapéuticas, especialmente para practicantes indígenas, negros y de color.
On November 8 to 10, 2024, join us at Casa De Cultura Ruth Hernandez Torres in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico for AI-24
Click on the flyer below for the recording from the 1st Webinar in the series, presented on Wednesday, Aug 7, 2024.
Click on the flyer below for the recording from the 2nd Webinar in the series, presented on Friday, September 13, 2024.
Click on the flyer below for the recording from the 3rd Webinar in the series, presented on Friday, September 30, 2024.
Click on the flyer below for the recording from the 4th Webinar in the series, presented on Friday, October 15, 2024.
Del 8 al 10 de noviembre de 2024, únete a nosotros en la Casa De Cultura Ruth Hernandez Torres en Río Piedras, Puerto Rico para AI-24.
Taino culture, the ball game was indeed considered a sacred activity that connected the players with the spirit world. The game was believed to be a way of communicating with the spirit, ancestors, and the natural world.
By saying "the ball game doesn't belong to us, it belongs to the spirit," you're highlighting the Taino belief that the game was a spiritual practice that transcended human ownership. The game was a way of honoring the divine and recognizing the inter-connectedness of all things.
In this sense, the ball game was a ritual that brought people together, fostered community, and promoted balance and harmony within oneself and with nature. It's a powerful reminder that many Indigenous cultures have a deep understanding of the inter-connectedness of all things and the importance of respecting and honoring the natural world.
In Borikén/Puerto Rico, a variation of the game called "Juego de Batey" is still played today. (Arawak Nation Facebook Group)
The Ancestral Institute 2024 (AI-24) returns with its program - “Cultural Gathering for Holistic Health and Wellness - Uniting Indigenous and Diasporic Practices”, on November 8 to 10, 2024, in collaboration and partnership with the Department of Psychology and the Department of General Studies, at the University of Puerto Rico; and the Casa De Cultura Ruth Hernandez Torres in Rio Piedras, PR.
in 2023, the Ancestral Institute (AI-23) continuing with the 2022 title, “Reclaiming Rituals - Honoring Ancestors, Impacting Communities,” convened and continued with its efforts to reconnect with the Ancestors, and to celebrate the many rites, rituals, practices, and respective communities - the ways our communities healed themselves and each other.
On October 6, 2022, the Ancestral Institute (AI-22) was launched online with the title, “Reclaiming Rituals - Honoring Ancestors, Impacting Communities,”; it began at noon and concluded at 6:30pm and featured keynote speakers, breakout presentations, and Indigenous/traditional opening and closing - acknowledging the Ancestors.
El Instituto Ancestral 2024 (AI-24) regresa con su programa - “Encuentro Cultural para la Salud y el Bienestar Holístico - Uniendo Prácticas Indígenas y Diaspóricas”, del 8 al 10 de noviembre de 2024, en colaboración y alianza con el Departamento de Psicología y el Departamento de General Estudios, en la Universidad de Puerto Rico; y la Casa De Cultura Ruth Hernandez Torres en Rio Piedras, PR.
En 2023, el Instituto Ancestral (AI-23), continuando con el título de 2022, “Reclamando Rituales - Honrando a los Ancestros, Impactando a las Comunidades”, se reunió y continuó con sus esfuerzos para reconectarse con los Ancestros y celebrar los numerosos ritos, rituales y prácticas. y sus respectivas comunidades: las formas en que nuestras comunidades se sanaron a sí mismas y a los demás. El 6 de octubre de 2022, se lanzó en línea el Instituto Ancestral (AI-22) con el título “Reclamando Rituales - Honrando a los Ancestros, Impactando a las Comunidades”; Comenzó al mediodía y concluyó a las 6:30 p.m. y contó con oradores principales, presentaciones de trabajo y una apertura y cierre indígena/tradicional, reconociendo a los Ancestros.
We are aware of these truths
1
that mental health, as a science, is relatively new;
2
that mental health was never designed or formulated to and for Black and people of color;
3
that we need to reconnect with, and incorporate ancestral and indigenous healing practices with Western psychological constructs to address mental health in our communities, to achieve a "whole person" type of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment;
4
that mental illness and health among our communities manifests differently.
As we turn to our elders for their wisdom and experience to guide us, we ask them:
1
What does mental health and illness among their tribes, nations, families, communities look like?
2
How does the family, tribe, village, community and nation assist with treating one of their own?
PAST EDITIONS
2023
2022
Further Reading:
