The Siona People: Guardians of Yagé Wisdom in the Colombian Amazon

The Siona People (Zio Bain) are an Indigenous nation of the western Amazon whose ancestral territory spans
the borderlands of southwest Colombia and northeast Ecuador. Their lives are interwoven with the Putumayo, Piñuña Blanco, and Aguarico rivers,
and with a living cosmology centered around yagé (ayahuasca).

Who Are the Siona?

The Siona—who call themselves Zio Bain, “people of the river”—belong to the Western Tucanoan linguistic family and share deep ceremonial ties with neighboring Secoya and Cofán peoples.
In Colombia, contemporary communities are found in resguardos such as Buenavista and Santa Cruz de Piñuña Blanco.

A History of Resilience

From the rubber boom’s violence and displacement to later pressures from oil exploration and armed conflict, Siona history is marked by endurance.
Despite these forces, the Siona have protected their territory, rebuilt community life, and continued to transmit their language, stories, and ceremonial knowledge.

Language, Story, and Song

The Siona language, Baicoca, carries ecological knowledge and ceremonial guidance. In yagé ceremonies, songs aren’t decoration—they’re instruments of protection and healing.
Skilled elders employ song to orient the space, call protection, and guide each participant’s journey.

Art, Adornment, and Material Culture

Siona artistry—beaded necklaces (chaquiras), feather adornments, weaving, baskets, and body painting with genipa (jagua) and achiote—expresses identity and cosmology.
These objects aren’t just beautiful; they’re living records of belonging and responsibility to the forest.

Yagé: Medicine of the Forest

Prepared with reverence from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and companion plants, Siona yagé ceremonies take place in a maloca under the guidance of experienced elders.
Protocols—dietary preparation, intentionality, respectful conduct—reflect a view of healing as relationship and responsibility, not a shortcut.

The Siona Today

Contemporary Siona leaders focus on safeguarding land, revitalizing language, and educating youth. Community-led initiatives
work alongside environmental stewardship and legal advocacy to resist extractive pressures and protect cultural continuity.

How This Inspires Our Work at Camino al Sol and Yaogará

• Respect for the medicine. We honor Western Amazonian protocols—diet, consent, and clear roles—so guests approach the work with humility and safety.
• Music as medicine. We treat ceremonial music as spiritual backbone, not entertainment, and credit its cultural holders.
• Reciprocity and clarity. When we learn from Indigenous elders, we seek consent, attribution, fair compensation, and tangible support.

If you’re considering an ayahuasca retreat in Colombia, we invite you to learn about the peoples who have safeguarded this knowledge.
At Camino al Sol in the Colombian Andes, our team integrates this respect into every step—from preparation to aftercare—so your process is held with care.

Visit, Learn, Support

If the Siona story moves you, approach with humility. Learn their history, respect protocols, and support projects that protect land and culture.
Each respectful encounter helps ensure that the voices of the Zio Bain continue to echo along the rivers of the Amazon.