Wednesday, February 28th, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm PST

Join us for this Community Forum where we will delve into the intricacies of interethnic research, the convergence and divergence of Indigenous worldviews and Western science, and the challenges and opportunities of integrating Indigenous voices into academic research teams. We will discuss the co-creation of research teams that value Indigenous wisdom as legitimate knowledge systems and shift the mindset of western researchers to enable deeper collaboration with Indigenous approaches, the limitations of western research methodologies and different ways in which Indigenous research be valued, as well as the consequences of excluding Indigenous peoples from research with plant medicines. Our speakers will be Simon Ruffell, Ph.D, a psychiatrist, ayahuasca researcher, and student of curanderismo, who has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities in the Amazon basin, Jem Stone, who is a We Al-li Facilitator, Wayapa Wuurrk practitioner, trainer and cultural consultant in psychedelic assisted therapies in Australia, in this forum moderated by Glauber Assis, Ph.D.

Simon Ruffell studied medicine before specialising in psychiatry. He completed his core psychiatric training at The Maudsley Hospital in London and worked at King’s College London as a Senior Research Associate investigating the use of psilocybin for treatment resistant depression. Since 2016 he has conducted research into the traditional psychedelic brew ayahuasca and co-founded the not-for-profit research organisation Onaya Science based in Iquitos, Peru. Simon completed his PhD entitled Amazonian Ayahuasca and Mental Health Outcomes at Goldsmiths, University of London. He now works for the Psychae Institute and the University of Melbourne as Senior Research Fellow and Chief Medical Officer, running randomised controlled trials investigating the potential therapeutic application of botanical ayahuasca analogues as well as acting as Chief Medical Officer for Heroic Hearts UK, a charity supporting veterans with psychedelic plant medicine. Simon is currently training in Shipibo curanderismo under Keyo Sui Rono and Don Rono Lopez.

Jem Stone is a First Nations Woman, Educator and Wellness Practitioner with mixed heritage who is passionately integrating original knowledge systems into education and wellness spaces through connection and decolonised learning methods. Working and training in the wellness industry for over twenty years, Jem Stone arrived in healing spaces through her own personal healing journey and dedicates much of her time learning from Elders and other cultural teachers. Jem is a We Al-li Facilitator, Wayapa Wuurrk Practitioner and Trainer, Rebirthing Breathwork Therapist and Educator, Meditation and Yoga instructor, Cultural consultant, and trainer to the wellness industry, including psychedelic assisted therapies within Australia. Jem is passionate about creating safe, inclusive, decolonised spaces for healing and deeper ways to connect and care for Country through indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing and encouraging others to remember their place as Earth People and live in reverence and stewardship.

Dr. Glauber Loures de Assis has a Ph.D in sociology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). His main interests include the ayahuasca religions, new religious movements, the internationalization of the Brazilian religions, drug use in contemporary society, and psychedelic parenthood. He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters, and the co-editor of the book Women and Psychedelics: Uncovering Invisible Voices (Synergetic Press/Chacruna Institute, in press). Glauber is also an ayahuasca practitioner with 15 years of experience. He has built this practice in dialogue with his local Brazilian ayahuasca community and with the blessings of Indigenous elders and activists in Brazil. He is also the leader of Jornadas de Kura, a plant medicine center in Brazil. He is father to 3 children and lives with his wife Jacqueline Rodrigues in Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

How can we integrate Indigenous people into academic research on psychedelics?