The Omelois as indegenous people

The huacasera ritual is practiced for the communal healing and decision-making of
the Council of Elders by brewing the dried and smoked taproot of the purahuaca
tree. The brew also cures several diseases. The huacasera ritual and the purahuaca
tree were included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO.

The agreement between the Omelois and the Ayasan government

Ayasa bought shares and funded Rylov Corporation to develop treatment for limara.
Rylov researchers were caught stripping barks of purahuaca in the Ramigian side of
the Lusewa river. The Council of Elders understood the Ayasa’s need to find a cure
so they entered into an agreement for the limited harvesting of purahuaca trees.
When the elders were invited to check the production process, they saw the grafting
process and said it was against tribal customs. Also, they were shocked when they
saw the abbreviated version of the smoking and drying process since there was no
community involvement and no prayers have been said. The elders claimed that the
Ayasan government broke its promise when it did not consult them of the production
process.

The search for the cure

Dr. Li Chae-jen and Dr. Ela Nadajo conducted a research among the Omeloi tribe.
They suggested that the huacasera ritual and the brewing of purahuaca would have
cured limara. The researchers did not patent the formulation of the brew even with
offers to produce a drug out of respect to the Omelois. Out of this study, Rylov
used modern techniques to develop a drug called Huacaxin. They patented this as
well as the smoking process. Aneesa Wygai informed the elders about the patenting
and asked if they have been paid royalties. She then filed a complaint for the
nullifying of the issuance of the patent and for the recovery of royalties.