José Lopez Sanchez

José Lopez Sanchez is the descendant of a reputed lineage of Shipibo ayahuasqueros and ayahuasqueras. He began his apprenticeship at the age of 7 with his paternal grandfather, a healer recognized as Meraya in their community (Roboaya, Ucayali, Peru). Following the death of his grandfather, José, joined his mother and the rest of his siblings in the urbanized periphery of Pucallpa. He continued his apprenticeship with his mother, Inès Sanchez, recognized as Onaya. Today José is a recognized curandero in the local community and among international networks interested in traditional Shipibo practices of care and knowledge. He is Visiting Expert on the "Healing Encounters" project. His participation as a research collaborator on the project is grounded in a decolonizing episteme, around a mutual concern with how Indigenous knowledge practices are preserved and transmitted. José’s objectives are to support the emancipation of peoples and territories as well as the defence of alternative futures, populated by regenerated forests, biodiversity, clean waters and abundant food, shared between different kinds of beings.

José joined the Healing Encounters team as an Ethical Advisor and Visiting Expert.