Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
We meet Charles Coocoo, an Atikamekw spiritual leader. Deeply concerned by the arrival of cocaine in his community (Wemotaci, Quebec) and determined to raise awareness among coca farmers about the harmful effects of the drug derived from it, he embarked on a journey to Peru, the world's second-largest cocaine producer, in November 2006.
Guided by Pedro Marticorena, a Wanka spiritual leader, and Nelson Palomino, a coca farmer, Charles Coocoo discovers the profound and age-old relationship between the coca leaf and the indigenous people of the Andes. He learns to distinguish between the coca leaf and cocaine.
The film Mama Coca: The Sacred Leaf was directed by Felix Atencio-Gonzales, from Listuguj in the Matapedia Valley. Throughout his career, Mr. Atencio-Gonzales has shown a strong interest in Native American causes and has been involved in numerous projects related to this subject, whether for television, radio, or print media. He has notably directed several documentaries, including Coming Home and Finding our Talk, in 2003, as part of the Eastern Tide series.
Documentary: The Coca Leaf : A Source of Both Spirituality and Destruction (2007)
Directed by: Félix Atencio Gonzales
Production: PVP Média
#Documentary #FreeDocumentary #cocaleaf #cocaine #peru #andes #indigenousculture #indigenouspeople #amazonculture #southamerica #drughistory #traditionalculture #ethnology
We meet Charles Coocoo, an Atikamekw spiritual leader. Deeply concerned by the arrival of cocaine in his community (Wemotaci, Quebec) and determined to raise awareness among coca farmers about the harmful effects of the drug derived from it, he embarked on a journey to Peru, the world's second-largest cocaine producer, in November 2006.
Guided by Pedro Marticorena, a Wanka spiritual leader, and Nelson Palomino, a coca farmer, Charles Coocoo discovers the profound and age-old relationship between the coca leaf and the indigenous people of the Andes. He learns to distinguish between the coca leaf and cocaine.
The film Mama Coca: The Sacred Leaf was directed by Felix Atencio-Gonzales, from Listuguj in the Matapedia Valley. Throughout his career, Mr. Atencio-Gonzales has shown a strong interest in Native American causes and has been involved in numerous projects related to this subject, whether for television, radio, or print media. He has notably directed several documentaries, including Coming Home and Finding our Talk, in 2003, as part of the Eastern Tide series.
Documentary: The Coca Leaf : A Source of Both Spirituality and Destruction (2007)
Directed by: Félix Atencio Gonzales
Production: PVP Média
#Documentary #FreeDocumentary #cocaleaf #cocaine #peru #andes #indigenousculture #indigenouspeople #amazonculture #southamerica #drughistory #traditionalculture #ethnology
