Our story
A path rooted in family.
Meet Taita Oswal Pomaquiza. A father, husband, and ceremonial practitioner from the Andes Mountains of Ecuador.
From the Andes of Ecuador
A life of prayer,
gratitude, and learning.
For Oswal, this path is inseparable from family, community, and a relationship with the natural world.
Originally from Ecuador, Oswal moved to the United States as a teenager. Alongside his wife Joanne and their family, he shares a ceremonial path shaped by his Andean roots and the people he has learned from along the way.
Their work with Huachuma has connected them with communities in Ecuador, Peru, and the United States. Oswal’s teacher, Miguel Mendiburu, is part of that continuing story of learning and relationship.
His work is grounded in an ongoing relationship with the Earth: listening to the places we live, honoring what we receive, and carrying gratitude into daily life.
Read Oswal’s biography on Retreat GuruJoanne, family, and community
A story held together.
Joanne and their family are part of the life and work of Huachuma Moonlight. Their story brings together different backgrounds, shared prayer, and a commitment to relationship rather than a path walked alone.
In New Jersey, that sense of community is also connected with ONAC of New Jersey, a branch of the Oklevueha Native American Church. Family, prayer, and earth-honoring practice are threads that run through their story.
Visit the ONAC branch directory
The documentary
Meet the people
behind the practice.
A film by Natalie Romero offers another way into Oswal and Joanne’s story.
Through their own perspectives, the documentary explores family, prayer, gratitude, and connection with nature. Take some time to hear their story in their own voices.
The film opens on YouTube. No video player or YouTube tracking is embedded on this page.
There is room for a question.
Get to know the traditions, or reach out to learn more about Huachuma Moonlight.