Empowering Indigenous Communities Worldwide
Our Team
At Teyuna Foundation, we strive to co-create a culture of heart-centered collaboration in honoring our mission. We share a common goal of protecting our Earth Mother and the ancient wisdom of the indigenous elders. We continue moving forward and learning from each other as we progress with our projects.
Mary Gaetjens
Founder
Introduced to Teyuna (Tairona) Elders in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia in 2016 and asked to be of service to Earth through them: to help protect the land they steward, The Heart of the World, and to support them in pagamento, the work they literally believe they exist to do. She agreed and has come to know the mamos and zagas (male and female spiritual leaders) as highly skilled planetary healers she’s had the honor to work with. As a life-long Earth steward she is honored and humbled to have founded the Teyuna Foundation in 2018 to further assist the Teyuna mission.
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She believes that indigenous wisdom is essential to the survival of the human race and she works with the last surviving pre-Colombian tribes to emphasize that. If the industrialized world does not heed the council of the Elders, does not turn to holistic ways of living that are founded on holistic principal: we are not separate from nature; we are the natural world. We were meant to live harmoniously: flora, fauna, ocean, sweet water, and land. We must care for Mother Earth as if she was our own mother, because she is. We must uphold peace, spiritual commitment, hope, and love as our highest values and weave our many cultures into a common thread of connection. We must honor the distinctive combination of insight, vision, and acceptance that empowers people to discover themselves through a connection to Earth, thereby a connection to themselves.
ANNA GALLMAN
Managing Director
Anna Gallman has an extensive background in business development in Hispanic territories across the world for over 32 years. As Founder/CEO of her own business, she has developed an extended network of business associates and engaged in various successful collaborative partnerships.
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Originally from Bolivia, she was exposed to indigenous cultures since an early age, having found an affinity with their ancient teachings about respect for and living in harmony with mother earth.
In 2007 she engaged with Pachamama Alliance as an active Facilitator of educational forums on earth consciousness, stewardship and social justice. In 2019 she started facilitating engagement of various companies and universities in California, with Project Drawdown–The 100 Solutions to Reverse Global Warming.
In late 2022 she engaged with Teyuna Foundation as Managing Director, overseeing all operations, projects, and co-creation of new workshops for the Western World. Also establishing new relationships with key Colombian agencies and worldwide foundations working towards the protection of indigenous communities.
BOARD MEMBERS
ELLEN STONE BELIC
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Ellen created and funds “In Her Infinite Wisdom,” a lecture series celebrating elder women artists for the Chicago Humanities Festival. Served on the Human Rights Watch Women’s Rights Division. Was a trustee of Columbia College Chicago where she founded the Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media. She is a member of the Threshold Foundation and The Philanthropy Workshop, where her focus is exploring the intersection of philanthropy and spirituality.
AMANDA BERNAL-CARLO
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Full Professor at the Natural Sciences Department at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York. In years prior, served as Associate Dean of the Office of Academic Affairs. The Chair Academy: 2006 Exemplary Leader Award Winners. Founder/President of The Great Balance Foundation in USA and Colombia.