Monaco hosted the first Summit of Ancestral Wisdom on October 3oth, where Indigenous leaders and international institutions launched a new ethical framework aimed at reshaping environmental education and governance.
The events, which took place at the Méridien Beach Plaza Hotel, marked the official unveiling of the Ethical Code of Respect 360°, created by Brazilian filmmaker Isabella Vieira. The summit opened with a Sacred Fire Ceremony attended by Indigenous leaders.
Wanka Inti, Grand Spiritual Counsellor of the Andes, and Witxo Fulni-ô, representing five Brazilian Indigenous peoples, participated in person. Leaders from Mexico and the Brazilian Amazon joined remotely.
In a major development, the University of Cambridge will incorporate the Ethical Code into its academic programs, with other international universities set to follow.
Cindy Forde, a Cambridge collaborator, argued that the move addresses shortcomings in how future leaders are prepared. After 30 years of climate conferences with inadequate outcomes, she said a different approach is needed.
“We can no longer be content with training elites who know how to decide. We must train leaders who know how to respect,” she said.
She explained that the Ethical Code should be taught throughout education systems, from primary schools to universities.
Amazon university plans
Plans were also unveiled for a University of the Forest in the Amazon, developed jointly with Chief Ninawa Inu Huni Kui. The institution will focus on Indigenous wisdom and protecting the natural world.
Isabella Vieira, who heads the Monaco-based NA WA SIA Amazonia Alliance, will lead the initiative.
She reframed the environmental emergency as a completely human problem. “It is not the planet that is in crisis — it is humanity,” she said. “The Earth always shows us the path to regeneration. The real question is: will we know how to become once again a people of the Earth?
Wanka Inti, who took part in the opening ceremony, offered: “When we walk with our ancestors, we are never alone.”
Official backing
Fabrice Notari, President of the Commission for External Relations of the National Council of Monaco, attended the summit, demonstrating official support from the Principality.
The Kate Powers Foundation also backed the initiative through representative Karen Bond.
She connected the work to Powers’ legacy: “Kate Powers dedicated her life to bringing people together around consciousness, kindness, and respect for all living beings. What opened today in Monaco continuous that path — one where heart, truth, and commitment become forces of transformation.”
The Ethical Code is designed to serve as a framework for institutions, educational systems, and a guide for those making economic and political decisions. Its architects say it will bridge modern governance with Indigenous knowledge systems that have safeguarded ecosystems across generations.
Witxo Fulni-ô expressed confidence in Vieira’s leadership: “We represent the union of five peoples of Brazil, and she carries our voice where we cannot be heard.”
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More photos of the event can be found in the photo gallery below… (all photos credit: NAWA SIA AMAZONIA ALLIANCE)
