The Ancestral Teachings Institute®

A Journey to Decolonize. A Pathway to Thrive.

The Ancestral Teachings Institute provides educational workshops, cultural programming, Indigenous centered learning, and community engagement opportunities grounded in ancestral wisdom and decolonial practice.

Who We Are

The Ancestral Teachings Institute was created from a simple belief: our communities deserve access to the histories, knowledge, and cultural traditions that have too often been ignored, erased, or left out of mainstream education.

ATI exists to create spaces where people can reconnect with Indigenous knowledge, engage with history from multiple perspectives, and explore creativity as a tool for learning, healing, and community building. We believe education is not limited to classrooms—it also lives in stories, language, ceremony, art, land, and the relationships we build with one another.

Founded and directed by Dr. Angélica M. Yañez, ATI grows through collaboration with educators, artists, cultural practitioners, Elders, youth leaders, and community partners who help shape and strengthen its work.

Interested in bringing ATI to your community?

Contact ATI
A group of people dressed in colorful traditional indigenous costumes are performing a dance at a cultural festival, with some playing musical instruments and others dancing.
A group of people dressed in colorful traditional indigenous costumes are performing a dance at a cultural festival, with some playing musical instruments and others dancing.
A man wearing glasses, a black cap, and a red T-shirt holding a small plant, standing in a desert landscape with sparse bushes and a cloudy sky.
A man wearing glasses, a black cap, and a red T-shirt holding a small plant, standing in a desert landscape with sparse bushes and a cloudy sky.

Upcoming Programs & Events

We’re currently planning new workshops, educational programs, and community gatherings. Check back soon for updates or follow ATI on Instagram to stay connected.

My God is Brown Book Tour (2026)
Supporting the release of My God is Brown through readings, workshops, and community conversations.

Educational Workshops
Creative writing, Ethnic Studies, and cultural education programs are available for schools, libraries, museums, community organizations, and individuals.

Moon Time Teachings
The current Moon Time Teachings cohort is full. To be considered for a future cohort, please submit an inquiry through the Contact page. Pictured below are participants from one of our recent middle school cohorts.

Five young women standing in front of a purple screen with the text 'Moon Time Teachings by Dr. Angelica M. Yanez', all dressed casually.

FAQs

What does ATI offer?

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The Ancestral Teachings Institute offers workshops, educational programs, and community gatherings that can be presented as one-time events or multi-session series. Programs are tailored for schools, libraries, colleges, museums, nonprofits, community organizations, and individuals.

Creative Writing & Poetry

Writing workshops, poetry readings, storytelling, and literary arts experiences that encourage creativity, reflection, and community while uplifting historically underrepresented voices, cultural memory, and the power of personal storytelling.

Ethnic Studies & Decolonial Education

Interactive workshops and educational programs exploring Ethnic Studies, Mexican American history, Indigenous perspectives, identity, social justice, and decolonial approaches to learning.

Moon Time Teachings

A youth centered program that creates supportive spaces for learning about menstrual health, body literacy, cultural traditions, self-esteem, and community through an Indigenous informed and culturally affirming approach.

Healing & Ceremony

Community gatherings that bring people together through Indigenous teachings, ceremony, storytelling, creativity, and cultural practices that encourage reflection, connection, and collective awareness.

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How do I get started?

Interested in working with ATI? Send an email using the contact information below and simply include “ATI” in the subject line. Let us know a little about your event, organization, or idea, and we’ll be happy to continue the conversation.

For the most up-to-date information on workshops, programs, and community events, follow ATI on Instagram.

What makes you different?

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ATI brings together scholarship, lived experience, creative practice, and Indigenous knowledge in ways that encourage meaningful learning and genuine community connection. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all programs, every workshop and presentation is thoughtfully designed for the people, place, and purpose it serves.