Speaker Bio
Erika Salazar is a Colombian woman of Indigenous ancestry, deeply rooted in the community and reservation of the Kamentsa Biya in Sibundoy Putumayo, as a dynamic advocate for the sacred medicines that bridge the modern and ancient worlds.
Erika is the author of the book "Return to the Origins," a work that seeks to educate about sacred medicine and the cosmology of indigenous peoples. Erika is a custodian of the Healing Altar of the Amazonian Kamentsa Nation. This sacred responsibility speaks to her over two decades of experience working with plant medicines and healing arts. Under the mentorship of Traditional Medicine Man Taita Juan Bautista Agreda Chindoy, she has honed her craft as a healer and guardian of indigenous knowledge, offering profound insights and compassionate care to those in need. Erika supports indigenous communities in need through her multifaceted work with the OIOC Organization.
In addition to her traditional healing practice, Erika is a professional medical herbalist in the Vitalist Tradition, blending ancient wisdom and modern expertise into her work. With qualifications from the NAIHM and as a Holist Therapist from the University Esneca in Spain, she integrates diverse healing modalities to address the holistic needs of individuals and communities alike.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Erika finds fulfillment and purpose as a devoted mother of two children, instilling in them the values of compassion, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship that define her life's work.