Álvaro Estrada was an engineer by profession and originally from Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, the same town of María Sabina. This allowed her to speak the Mazatec language fluently and earn the confidence of the healer; recognized worldwide for building the ultimate cultural and linguistic bridge between the Mazatecan worldview and the Western world. Died in late 2008, Estrada combined his scientific training with a deep sensitivity to his indigenous roots.