Reconciling the Resurgence: Psychedelics and the Native American Church

Erika Dyck, PhD (Professor & Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, History of Health & Social Justice)
Reanne Daniels (PhD Candidate)
Kelly Daniels (Ceremonialist; Elder’s Helper)

Saturday 22 March, 2025 2PM CET (1PM GMT, 9PM EST, 6AM PST)

Historical Canal House, Huis Vasari – Herengracht 366, 1016 CH Amsterdam

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The psychedelic resurgence of the 21st century revisits some of the therapeutic practices developed in the 1950s, while acknowledging a longer set of traditions existed within Indigenous healing approaches. However, some of the fundamental principles of psychedelic therapy to this day continue to rely on a relationship between western medicine and Indigenous spiritual and healing traditions. While current clinical practices continue to pay attention to “set and setting”, the historical partnership between Indigenous and Western practices has often been overlooked.

In the first part of this presentation, historian Erika Dyck traces some of this early history that combined clinical and ceremonial practices to interrogate key features of the psychedelic experience.

In the second part, Native American Church (NAC) members Kelly and Reanna Daniels reflect on their Indigenous practices and consider how clinical approaches today may benefit from restoring this relationship with Indigenous knowledge keepers.

📍 Join us for this exclusive event at Huis Vasari (Herengracht 366, 1016 CH Amsterdam), a stunning historic canal house in the heart of Amsterdam.

🎟 Ticket prices:

Community members: €15 (Can be purchased directly through the community platform)
Non-members: €20
Supporter Ticket: €30 (For those who wish to contribute more and support our work!)

Who the event is for?

This event is for anyone interested in the intersection of psychedelic therapy, Indigenous healing traditions, and historical perspectives on their relationship. It is particularly relevant for:

Clinicians, therapists, and researchers working in psychedelic-assisted therapy who want to deepen their understanding of Indigenous traditions and historical influences.
Students and scholars exploring the cultural, ethical, and therapeutic dimensions of psychedelics.
Members of Indigenous and spiritual communities seeking to engage in dialogue about the role of traditional practices in modern psychedelic therapy.
Anyone curious about the broader historical and cultural contexts shaping today’s psychedelic resurgence.

If you have any questions or concerns, get in touch with us at membership@open-foundation.org

💡 We’re committed to making our events as accessible as possible while ensuring we can continue to host meaningful gatherings. Your ticket helps us cover the venue costs and fairly compensate our speakers for their time and travel. If you’d like to support us further, consider purchasing a Supporter Ticket—your generosity helps us grow and create more impactful events. Thank you!

READY TO ATTEND
in-person?

Join us for this exclusive event at Huis Vasari (Herengracht 366, 1016 CH Amsterdam), a stunning historic canal house in the heart of Amsterdam.

READY TO ATTEND
online?

Experience the event virtually with a livestream ticket to watch live via Zoom.

If you are already a member, you can purchase the tickets at a discounted rate directly through the community platform!

ABOUT THE SPEAKERs

Erika Dyck is a professor and a Canada Research Chair in the History of Health & Social Justice at the University of Saskatchewan. She is the author or co-author of several books, including Psychedelic Psychiatry (2008); Managing Madness (2017); The Acid Room (2022); and Psychedelics: A Visual Odyssey (2024). She is the co-editor of Women & Psychedelics (2024) and Expanding Mindscapes (2023). Erika is the co-editor of two McGill-Queen’s University Press book series on the history of medicine and Intoxicating Histories. She is currently the President of the Alcohol and Drugs History Society.

Reanna Daniels is a Ph.D candidate with the University of Saskatchewan. She is a passionate educator from the Little Pine First Nation. With two decades of teaching experience, she has dedicated her career to empowering students, particularly in the realm of special education. Currently serving as a Program Coordinator for the Indigenous Education department at the First Nations University of Canada, Reanna brings a wealth of knowledge to her role and is committed to supporting the next generation of Indigenous learners.

She has held the woman’s ceremonial seat for over two decades and had even served as the Treasurer for the Native American Church of Canada.

Kelly Daniels was raised in a traditional way on the Sturgeon Lake First Nation speaking his first language, Plains Cree. Old people chose to train him to carry on various ceremonies and sacred, traditional knowledge: as he grew other people shared different ceremonies with him also. Kelly travelled the world as an invited champion powwow dancer. From a young age, he was asked to present to various audiences. Public speaking is one of his natural gifts. He has vast experience with public speaking of various sizes and all ages. He even presents at various universities with world renowned people like David Suzuki. Kelly is sought out for his knowledge of traditional Cree Creation Stories across North America. He has been featured in various television shows and even in movies like Big Bear. Even as far as being a part of the television show First Contact where non-Indigenous people with unflattering views regarding Indigenous peoples. He is also an award-winning recording artist – Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards – and numerous nominations throughout Canada and the United States.

Kelly is charismatic and accepting, which creates a safe, accepting atmosphere where the audience feels positive and enlightened. For example, his cultural camps are LGBTQ friendly. No matter what, we are just human beings and need to be treated as such.

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