Welcome — take a breath

Many of these come from Kichwa, an Indigenous Andean language. You don’t need to memorize them — they’ll grow familiar as you go. Here’s a plain-language start.

Ayni

Sacred reciprocity. You receive, and you give back, so the whole community keeps thriving. Here it takes the place of tuition and money — we trade help, not dollars.

Rimanakuy

“Speaking from the heart.” A gathering where people share stories and perspectives, which becomes the seed of community research and action.

Minga

A small team — three or more people — who meet weekly for one lunar cycle to carry a shared piece of work.

Medicine Wheel

The cycle we move through together: a rhythm of learning and ceremony. In CoALA, one 6-day cycle equals one unit of learning.

Sky Day & Earth Day

The opening and closing of each cycle — intentions and prayers at the start (Sky), gratitude and integration at the end (Earth).

Polycropping

The Indigenous practice of growing complementary plants together so each one helps the others. It’s the model for how our three organizations grow side by side.

The Three Sisters

Corn, beans, and squash, grown together. Here, three organizations: CoALA (learning & livelihoods), HWSY (Indigenous wisdom), and CDRR (decolonial reparations research).

Alli Kawsay

“Living well, in right relationship.” Community well-being across seven areas of life — the frame behind the Earth Stewardship reflections.

Want more? The key concepts glossary keeps it short, and the Wiki goes deep.