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Modern societies all over the World are facing numerous challenges of sustainability owing to a growing human footprint. A materialistic view of nature has resulted in unchecked consumption that has been propagated through Western colonization. Examples include, water and food shortages, global warming, soil degradation owing to chemical agriculture, deforestation, loss of species and biodiversity leading to the sixth massive extinction of biological species and possibility of a civilizational collapse. Incorporating our ancient and indigenous heritage into an educational programme requires a paradigm shift in the current education model. Here, we present results from a unique collaboration among scholars with great interest in ancient and indigenous culture to develop and to implement a multi‐cultural science education model of sustainability at the National University of Colombia, Medellin. Colombia has 87 different tribes comprising 3.4% of the country's population, which presents a unique opportunity for in situ model development and implementation. The proposed new education model can be shared as an illustrative example with other institutions in Colombia, and all over the world. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.