Annual Spiritual Retreat 2025 Speakers
BIBI Naniki Reyes Ocasio – Founder of El Caney Orocobix
BiBi (Grandmother) Naniki Reyes Ocasio is a dedicated practitioner of Taíno indigenous healing traditions, specializing in herbal and natural remedies. Certified by PRIDCO (Compañía de Fomento Industrial) in natural products, Naniki works to preserve and share ancestral healing practices. Her creations include alcoholados (herbal alcohol rubs), clay poultices, salves, tinctures, tisanas (herbal infusions), guarapos, essential oils, and sobos (therapeutic massages). Whenever possible, she gathers the herbs and clay used in her remedies from the sacred land of El Caney Orocobix. Each remedy is prepared with intention, rooted in prayer, love, peace, and harmony.
Naniki embraces the principle that sovereignty is essential for indigenous people. She affirms that the right to self-determination over land and resources is central to cultural identity, community well-being, and economic empowerment. However, Naniki avoids formal titles such as behique (medicine woman), as she believes healing is a gift accessible to all. Rather than identifying herself with labels, she sees her role as a guide—helping others tap into their innate power to heal.
Growing up between two worlds—New York City and Puerto Rico—Naniki’s identity was shaped by the tension of diaspora life. The search for belonging led her back to her roots and to the teachings of her grandmother, mother, and father. Her grandmother emphasized indigenous values, teaching her to grow her own food and reminding her that raising children is a shared community responsibility. Her mother instilled discipline, attention to detail, and structure, while her father nurtured her free spirit and resilience, teaching her to balance order with authenticity.
Naniki founded El Caney Orocobix, a nonprofit organization established in 1993 at the base of the sacred Cemi mountain in Orocovis, Puerto Rico. This organization serves as a cultural and educational center, honoring Taíno traditions, fostering ecological stewardship, and empowering the Taíno people of the Caribbean and their diaspora.
“It is essential for us to Reclaim, Reconnect, and Restore the forests, ecosystems, natural habitats, and resources of Borikén. This mission guides us to return our people to their ancestral lands, reconnect with the sacred roots of Atabey, and ensure her protection and renewal for past, present, and future generations.”–El Caney Orocobix
BiBi Naniki Reyes Ocasio continues to lead by example, embodying the principles of humility, sovereignty, and community collaboration. Through her life's work, she inspires others to rediscover their inner healing power, reconnect with ancestral wisdom, and nurture a deeper relationship with the earth.
Please visit https://sankofiejamaica.org/we-greet-you/
Chief Ori Aare Ago Oluwole Ifakunle Adetutu Alagbede
World renowned Chief Ori Aare Ago Oluwole Ifakunle Adetutu Alagbede a Harlem Native who belongs to Oyotunji African village chiefs. He is an Earth honoring Elder/professional Babalawo (Ifa priest) for over 35 years who lectures and teaches Ifa philosophy. Ifa is a West African Yoruba spiritual/cultural/metaphysical belief system and he is an expert on its modern uses. Ifakunle is initiated to the Aboriginal Ogboni Society as Oluwo which is a society elders. Locally he is the head of “Iyadunni” Aborigine Ogboni in New York and he is the head of the “Egbe Parapo” Ancestral EGUNGUN society of New York and New Jersey. Awo has been initiated into several Congolese lineages where he is known as Tata Nganga keeper of the secrets of mysterious underworld. Vodun (traditional religion) around the entire world is his interest. He is an author, a storyteller, a diviner, a magician, a counselor, chess coach, and a director of ceremonies at the shrine in HARLEM “Ile Omo Ope”. Just to name a few of his chief responsibilities. At his shrine we have bi-weekly service focused on spiritual development, mediumship, and reconstruction of an African spiritual mind-set.
Chief is an experienced life coach and clinical hypnotist with over 30 years of counseling experience. He has worked with clients of all ages and various degrees and types of challenges. For the past 25 years, Baba has used his experience and background in public health to assist children, adolescents, and their families to better their lives he is a long time supporter of training our young people. Baba has shown his passion over the past two decades through his work with two community rites of passage programs. Chief has worked with organizations such as the Harvard University, University of New Castle in London, Hunter College (graduate school of social work), Florida A&M University, Florida State University, and the College of Nyack (graduate school) to mention a few. He believes in both spiritual and cultural diversity. He has sat down with the best of the spiritual world leaders at The United Nations and he has traveled to Korea for a world peace summit where there were 40k spiritual leader from around the world.
Chief's area of expertise includes working with those that are concerned with depression, anxiety, trauma, parenting issues, substance-abuse, mental disorders, relationship problems, and career challenges. In addition part of his training is as a herbalist. Chief utilizes his training as an Ifa Priest to accurately diagnose, treat, heal, abdicate, and adjudicate using a psycho-spiritual process from the ancient past, Ifa. Employing Ifa’s approach of the psycho-spiritual, Chief Ifakunle has made a huge impact on communities around the globe like Trinidad and Tobago, England, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, France, Egypt, Poland, Jamaica, Barbados, Japan etc.
Chief's Egbe Ile Omo Ope was featured by “National Geographic” on January 30, 2017 with Morgan Freeman. He has also appeared in “People Magazine“January 16 edition 2017. Most recently, he appeared on the “travel channel” expelling negative spirits out of a house. Even more recently he appeared on 90 day fiancé.
Every year you can find Chief pouring libation at Malcolm X’s (El Malik Shabazz) burial site and the first Sunday of the year making predictions for the coming new year.
The goal of his practice is to truly have people find freedom, Bliss, connect with their happiness, fulfillment and to be able to re-connect to their life’s destiny in a non-judgmental, fully focused, problem-free-environment. Additionally, his goal is to make a “positive” impact on the world.
Ase!!
Rev. Marvia E. Lawes is a Caribbean Womanist Historical Theologian engaged in Public Theology and pastoral ministry. The Reverend Miss Lawes is a regional partner and co-convenor of the Caribbean Women Theologians for Transformation (CWTT), and a regional representative to the World Council of Churches Just Community for Women, Men and Persons with Disabilities. Reverend Lawes is well known for her views on justice and equity, gender equality and women’s rights, especially advocating for women’s full participation in all areas of the church’s life and mission. She has delivered numerous messages including keynote presentations at women’s gatherings locally and internationally.
She is the current chair of the Social Issues Study Commission of the Jamaica Baptist Union, and Rapporteur to the World Council of Churches Reference Group on Overcoming Racism, Xenophobia and Casteism.
Ordained to Christian Ministry in 2001 by the Jamaica Baptist Union, the Rev’d Miss Lawes has pastored congregations in Jamaica and Colon City, Panama; and, currently serves as pastor of the Sligoville Circuit of Baptist Churches, in St. Catherine.
QueenMother Hajila Adeke NswtMwtAst Dr. ChenziRa D. Kahina
ChenziRa Davis Kahina respectfully known as “Dr. Chen” is a co-founding director of Per Ankh (House of Life) ©, Per Ankh M Smai Tawi©, and Per Ankh Khamniversity Institute © supporting Culture, Health, Arts, Technology and Spirituality for Life, Inspiration, Freedom, and Education (CHATS4LIFE©). Davis Kahina is the CEO of AST Speaks consultancy; inaugural director of the VI Caribbean Cultural Center at the University of the Virgin Islands; and producer/director/writer/narrator of the ethnodocumentary Queens of the Virgins. Davis Kahina’s academic and intellectual research journeys include Rutgers, Pepperdine, UC San Diego, International University of Natural Sciences with certifications from other global institutions. Davis Kahina works collaboratively with interdisciplinary, socioeconomic-focused, Caribbean-centered organizations, and global alliances inclusive of: Caribbean Pan African Network; CARICOM Caribbean Reparations Commission; Afrakan Queen Mother Warriors©; VI Architecture Center for Built Heritage and Crafts; Toastmasters International™; Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus©; CaribAcademy©; Association of Naturopathic Therapeutics; Heritage Education Arts Legacy©; Society of Black Archaeologists; St. Croix Foundation for Community Development-NonProfit Consortium; African Views©; and other academic, sustainable, and humanitarian organizational developments. Currently she is a professor with the University of the Virgin Islands College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.