🌿 A Direct Call for Help: Let’s Support Uli & Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family

Hey friends,

Starting a business from the ground up is an exhilarating and profoundly humbling journey. While guidance and support for startup founders abound, I’m charting this journey as we go, creating a distinct roadmap for Earth Medicine Apparel Co. Recommitting every day to the vision, I’ve learned to embrace a willingness to pivot when things unfold differently than expected.

As with any business, a lot goes on behind the scenes to bring our products to life. From learning new creative tools to making urgent design updates, navigating production timelines, fire drills with garment suppliers—“trial by fire” is real! We dance through modest event turnouts and face the reality of what it entails to launch our online store in August. We’ve experienced firsthand the growing pains that come with aligning big heart-driven dreams with the practical realities of entrepreneurship. And we believe in building slowly, thoughtfully, and in community. Every challenge we’ve met so far has only deepened our commitment to the mission.

Today, I’m writing with a full heart and a simple request.

As you have read, our brand’s first impact campaign is in service to the family of the late Maestro Jhonny Javá, whose land and legacy in the Amazon shaped the vision for Earth Medicine Apparel Co. More importantly, we’re committed to sharing his story far and wide because when Jhonny passed away in January of 2024, the world lost one of its most precious wisdom keepers of Amazonian Medicine. To many folks, Jhonny Javá was simply a name printed alongside other gratitudes in Peter Gorman’s 2015 book, Sapo in My Soul. But to those who knew him, Jhonny was a profoundly wise keeper of knowledge about Kambô and many other plant medicines.

Jhonny’s love of the jungle and its creatures, and his working knowledge of the chakra systems and Western physiology, integrated into a practice that was equally shamanic and practical. While often misunderstood, this ancient Earth Medicine, many call Kambô, has touched the lives of thousands of folks outside of its native Amazon River basin. Practitioners in the Global North, most not trained by lineage holders of the Amazon, commonly serve Kambô within a neo-shamanic container utilizing prayer, ceremonial objects, altars, and working with the elements in addition to the practical application of Kambô to the recipient.

While this ceremonial style has been both widely received and deeply criticized, those who knew Jhonny Javá understand that this integrative practice originated in the Napo River Valley of Peru with indigenous wisdom keepers. Jhonny integrated his multi-generational understanding of Amazonian medicines, and throughout a 36-year career, he studied with the Matsés “Jaguar People” in their traditional lands, collaborated with Peter Gorman, and served many people in his Ecomunidad Nativa, Iquitos, as well as global travellers - including our founder! All wrapped in a million-dollar smile and baritone voice.

Jhonny’s wife, Uli, and their children have been working with us since this campaign began. With their blessing and collaboration, we’ve created original artwork, centered the Earth Medicine of Kambô, and committed to raising funds through apparel sales to support the restoration of their family’s healing center and nature reserve in the Napo River Valley of Peru.

But we’re not there yet.

Despite a beautiful start—two Pride events, a growing community, and so much love—the reality is: we haven’t raised the full amount yet. Our online shop launches August 1st, and until then, product-based fundraising is slower than what’s needed right now.

Meanwhile, the family’s need is immediate. The maloca and essential buildings on their property are falling further into disrepair after Jhonny’s passing, and until these repairs are made, they have a limited ability to host visitors or resume the healing work they’re known for.

So we’re doing what community does—we’re asking for help.

🌱 We’ve launched a GoFundMe to help raise 15,000 Peruvian Soles (about $4,200 USD) to support the rebuilding project.

→ Click here to donate or share the GoFundMe

This fund has been added to our apparel-based mission, and it’s 100% directed to Uli, her family, and their work with Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family. Whether you’ve already purchased a shirt, helped us spread the word, or are new to our community, this is a moment where even small gestures add up to createa lasting impact.

Why this matters

This is about more than rebuilding a physical structure. This is about preserving a sacred space where plant and frog medicines have been shared in integrity for generations. It’s about ensuring that indigenous people of Peru continue to maintain their titled land in the face of pressures from transnational corporate greed. It’s about ensuring that Uli and her family can continue to share their gifts, sustain their land, and carry forward Maestro Jhonny’s legacy with dignity.

It’s about reciprocity.

Earth Medicine Apparel Co. will always stay committed to long-term support with Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family. We’re laying the foundation for transparent impact work, and this GoFundMe is a bridge—a way we can help now while our business continues to grow and expand.

If you believe in direct giving
If you feel called to support the caretakers of this Earth
And if you have been touched by the medicine of Kambô (an other Amazonian allies)
…please consider contributing or sharing the link.

With deep gratitude,

Founder, Earth Medicine Apparel Co.

🐸 Coming Up Soon in EarthMed Threads:

• Announcing new vending dates

• Sneak peek of our next designs

• Behind the scenes of our design process